GOD’S NEXT FOR US: CONQUERING COMPLACENCY ( PART 2)
Last week, we discussed how dangerous it is to be too comfortable. Amos 9 is a powerful reminder of what will happen if we get too comfortable with our good fortune and stop seeing the Lord's hand in our lives.
The Israelites had become satisfied with their success and had turned away from right and wrong. They had forgotten that the Lord brought them to the land of plenty and didn’t see that they had become too comfortable.
We can get used to how things are, too, just like the Israelites did. We can get so used to our success and good fortune that we forget to praise and thank the Lord. We can get so caught up in what we want to do that we don't notice what other people need.
But, my friends, we can't let ourselves fall into this trap. We must remember to thank the Lord for all the good things in our lives, and we need to use those good things to help other people. When we keep the Lord at the forefront of our minds and hearts, our focus will always be on the right thing.
We can learn from the book of Amos and make a promise to live lives that honor God. Here are some ways to deal with our complacency so that we can really be Christ's light in this world.
RE-EVALUATE YOUR PASSIVITY BEFORE GOD
One of the biggest risks of being too comfortable is that we stop trying to please God. When we get too comfortable with our faith, we can start to take God for granted and stop trying to grow closer to Him. We might stop looking for Him, stop reading His Word, and stop trying to grow spiritually.
Before we can reevaluate how passive we are in front of God, we must first admit there is an issue. We should take a step back and look at our relationship with God, looking for signs of self-satisfaction and indifference. Once we know what these problems are, we can take steps to resolve them. One important step is to actively look for God through prayer and Bible study daily. These two simple steps shape how we think and act.
RENEW YOUR PURSUIT OF GOD
Get familiar with every aspect of the Bible. Learn more about God and the path He intends for your life by reading the Bible and giving careful consideration to what it teaches. Have conversations with other Christians. Carve out time to help other people by performing acts of service.
Join a club, and be there to aid others. You can grow closer to God and deepen your friendships with other Christians by participating in the events and activities that are hosted by your local church. Intentionally resist the urge to be complacent.
Actively taking part in the life of the church. Don’t just go to church; join small groups or a Bible study, and help out in our communities. By being involved in the church's life, we are reminded of how much we need God and how important our faith is.
Also, it's important to know that we're not alone in being passive before God, and we should look for accountability partners who can help us stay accountable and focused on our faith. To reevaluate our passivity before God, we must recognize it, actively seek God through prayer and reading His Word, actively participate in the life of the church, and look for accountability partners or mentors who can help us stay accountable and focused on our faith.
RECLAIM YOUR PREFERRED FUTURE IN GOD
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11
Complacency in faith can blind us to God's plans for our life. This can cause spiritual stagnation and hinder our advancement toward His intended outcome. We need to recognize that we have lost sight of our desired future in order to retrieve it from God. We must analyze our lives to see where we have become complacent and stopped pushing for more of the things that are not in alignment with God.
Setting concrete, quantifiable, and achievable goals that fit God's purpose is crucial. Make a plan to reach these goals, taking into account resources, time, and problems. Trust all into His hands as you do.
RENEW YOUR PASSION FOR GOD
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” - 2 Timothy 1:6-7
Our faith can diminish when we become complacent. 2 Timothy 1:6 reminds us that God has given us a gift, passion, and purpose, and we must keep it burning.
We must develop meaningful methods to communicate our love for God. We need to feed our spirits with more of God and less of the things of the world.
To get our love for God back, we must actively look for God and do things that will make that love burn brighter. Believe in the promises of God. Feast on His Word. And declare it over your life every day.
