AXIOM
•AN ANTIDOTE TO SPIRITUAL STALENESS IS FRESHNESS IN THE LIFE OF GOD.
•Beginning to understand the condition of spiritual staleness.
•Turning doubt into joy. Love is patient, love is kind....... For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
1 Corinthians 13:4, 9-10 NIV
It is in moments when I say I will not accomplish anything that I become spiritually stale. An earlytwentieth- century Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher, Oswald Chambers, best known for his devotional “My Utmost for His Highest,” said spiritual staleness is “an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God.”
He believes spiritual staleness happens when you feel obligated to do something you “should” do.
The antidote to spiritual staleness is freshness. Chambers defines freshness as “a continual surprise of the life of God.” This freshness comes from being born of the spirit of God. A new life, or a continued renewal of life, keeps us alive in our faith. Our relationship with God and our doing in life is an invitation to be devoted to God, even if there are things we don't want to do. It is an outcome of what matters and what to do about what matters.
So, what do we do instead?
We find joy in God. We find joy in God by devotion to Him. Service to God is the “deliberate love gift of a nature that has heard the call of God.” The idea is that you desire what you are devoted to. When you feel obligated to do something, it is tempting to “should” yourself when it comes to your priorities. “I should do that” or “I shouldn't do this.”
This doubt causes us to miss what matters most. What matters most is our joy in God. Joy can be found in the small moments, helping us tap into the life of God.
But you doubt, so what does God do?
“God must destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions,” said Chambers. We enjoy God because we want to, not out of obligation. And by “destroying,” Chambers meant revealing. God will reveal what we lack and what we need to know. And when He speaks, and obligation is our focus, we unknowingly tell God, “I know what I should do, but do what I shouldn’t do.”
We are burdened by our obligation to serve God, or our responsibilities, and ignore the fact of enjoying our lives and serving God with delight.
When we do, Chambers continued, “Suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance.” We think we know, whatever that standard may be, but compared to God’s standard, do we really know? It is an active choice to put our lives in God every day and then make things possible based on how we serve, not by our own efforts.
Chambers said, “The life of God means much more than we usually think. It gives us a new vision and keeps us fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.” I made a joy list to challenge myself to be kinder to God and myself. One of those things on my list that I find joy in is coffee.
Waking up early in the morning can be difficult, but simply enjoying a cup of coffee and being in communion with God is a way to overcome that and experience a moment of joy. It’s a reminder to deal with doubts or difficulties by doing things that I enjoy, not just what I should do. I’m not obligated to be with God; I am with God because I want to be with Him.
As a result what happens? And what about your joy?
You end up being kind in a way that pleases God. In the way that kindness to God is the little things that cheer His heart. Until I began to pursue joy, I did not consider being kind towards God. Something that helped me to change my perspective is making a joyful list, a list of things that bring joy into my life. Making a joy list helped me get out of my staleness. I felt more alive when I found joy in the little things. I must follow through on my responsibilities, but that is not my focus. By pursuing joy, I found I focused on my devotion to God. It turns the reality of obligation into what is possible with God.
An easy way to actively put your life in God daily is to invite Him into the things that bring you joy. That way, you can enjoy Him more and not be burdened by obligation. You won’t know unless you try to invite God into it.
Inviting Him into your joy can be an act of love, as 1 Corinthians points out. Love is kind, and if you want to experience this, then you must not forget to act out of love, or God may reveal how much you do not know and miss a joy-filled life. That is the kindest and most fulfilling way to live out your joy in Him!
Prayer: God spread joy and gladness around me today. Let Joy abound. God, would you keep my spirit fresh?
Show me if something in my spiritual life is stale. Amen.
Oswald Chambers, Are You Fresh for Everything? My Utmost For is Highest Oswald Chambers, How Could Someone Be So Ignorant!
My Utmost for His Highest Original publication on Becwritesfaith.com revised 12/22/2025
HLN Editor Becca Roberts ✲
