Tag: #youversion

Pursue Your Dream To Overcome Weariness

Recently, I read a YouVersion devotional by Rick Warren called “Daring Faith”. He said that our number one problem is not worry or fear or guilt, but weariness. Weariness is so normal that I didn’t really see it as a big problem.

Upon deeper reflection, I realise that it IS a big problem. It is not okay to be constantly tired. As I reflected, I realise that there are different types of weariness and suggestions to overcome it:

Type Description Overcoming Weariness
Body Physical over-exertion; Lack of sleep or proper nutrition; Have more quality sleep, eat well, exercise or play sports, add movement, or dance
Mind Overuse of mental power without proper break; Non-stop scrolling of news or social media; Incessant worrying; Procrastination Take regular breaks at work, reduce news and social media consumption, read jokes or watch comedy, overcome procrastination, take (small) actions, have growth mindset
Soul Lack of community support; Lack of real connection with family and friends Build supportive community; Reach out to people and help others in need; Go out to nature; Read good book; Practice self-care
Spirit Feeling distance from God; feeling alone and isolated and abandoned Pray; Forgive; Daily devotions, Read the Bible; Listen to Christian music; Practice meditation; Journaling
Types of Weariness

Our body, mind, soul and spirit are interconnected – the weariness spills over from one to the other, e.g. from the mind to the body. As I thought about it, something occurred to me: one of the best way to overcome weariness is to PURSUE YOUR DREAM!

Dream and how it will overcome your weariness
Spirit Seek God’s will to reveal the dream He has put inside your heart
Soul Connect within yourself to seek the passion and the dream that has kept you restless – seek until you become excited and scared at the same time
Mind Generate ideas, think of solutions, plan and organise to achieve your dream, monitor and review your plan, overcome negative self-talk and believe in yourself
Body Do the physical things required, let your body be energised
Pursue Your DREAM

This revelation is so thrilling to me! Most of the time, we are weary due to lack of purpose or passion. Pursuing a dream gives us the impetus to overcome this weariness – energising and making us excited for God’s plan for us, and giving us renewed Hope!

Turning into a Pillar of Salt for Looking Back

Today, I was going through the YouVersion plan by Christine Caine called ‘Don’t Look Back’. The main story was Lot’s wife, who was told not to look back as the angel helped Lot and his wife to escape Sodom. She was told to do one thing – not look back – and she did exactly the one thing she was told not to do, and was turned into a pillar of salt.

I believe, we all have our “Sodom” that we look back to:

  • the who we used to be
  • the what we used to have
  • the place we used to live in
  • the “normal” we had before the Covid pandemic
  • the unforgiveness that robs our peace
  • the dashed hopes or dreams or expectations
  • the past seasons of our lives that was much easier
  • the youth and/or health we took for granted
  • the secret thoughts that darken our mind
  • the shame that we hide behind our facade

Even though God had told us to let them go and DON’T LOOK BACK.

This question in the YouVersion plan struck me:

Are you lingering in a place and longing for what was, all the while tolerating what is, all in hopes that if you linger long enough, you might get back what God told you to leave?

Are we so foolish to think that if we linger long enough, we might get back what we long for? In Luke 17:32, Remember Lot’s Wife – Jesus reminds us not to turn back – or face the consequences. God is commanding is to MOVE ON.

As we start a new year, let go of whatever that is no longer serving us or even holding us back, and move forward boldly to a new adventure.