Fresh Air

1. Overcome Spiritual Doldrums by Seeking God's Fresh Air

We all know what it is like to feel stuck, when it seems like we are going nowhere fast.

Recognizing the Doldrums. Life can often feel stagnant, leaving us stuck in a cycle of routine and dissatisfaction. This spiritual "doldrums" is characterized by a lack of motivation, a sense of going through the motions, and a longing for something more. It's a state where the winds of the Spirit seem to have died down, leaving us adrift and uncertain.

Identifying the Causes. Several factors can contribute to this feeling of being stuck, including drifting away from God, being caught in the eye of life's storms, and losing balance due to weariness and spiritual fatigue. These factors converge to create a sense of immobilization, making it difficult to move forward.

Seeking God's Breath. The key to escaping the doldrums is to actively seek God's presence and allow His breath to fill our sails. This involves disconnecting from the world and connecting with God through prayer, fasting, and studying the Word. It's about allowing God to change us from the inside out, renewing our hearts and attitudes.

2. Cultivate a Life-Giving Environment to Thrive

His visits revived me like a breath of fresh air.

The X Factor. Certain environments and individuals possess an intangible quality that brings life, energy, and inspiration. This "X factor" is characterized by enthusiasm, a positive approach, and a genuine love for others. It transforms any environment into a magnetic, life-giving, and enjoyable place to be.

The Importance of Soil. Just as plants thrive in good soil, our spiritual growth depends on the environment we cultivate. This involves creating a culture of life characterized by attitudes, values, and practices that promote health and vitality.

Seven Qualities of a Life-Giving Culture:

• Enjoying your relationship with God
• Embracing your uniqueness
• Feeling empowered to be creative
• Having a sense of purpose
• Laughing and finding humor
• Developing life-giving relationships
• Focusing on others

3. Prioritize Relationship with God Over Religious Duty

God loves us the way we are, but too much to leave us that way.

Religion vs. Relationship. Many people approach God through religion, focusing on external efforts to please Him. However, God desires a genuine relationship with us, one characterized by love, intimacy, and authenticity.

The Heart of the Matter. Jesus often clashed with religious leaders who prioritized rules and traditions over a genuine connection with God. He emphasized that worship is an internal posture of the heart, not a mechanical pose.

Falling in Love with God. The key to escaping spiritual numbness is to fall in love with God, allowing our actions to flow naturally from our love for Him. This involves enjoying His presence, seeking His heart, and offering our lives to Him out of delight, not duty.

4. Shift Your Focus to Eternal Values and Perspectives

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The Problem with Expectations. Unfulfilled expectations can lead to cynicism and despair, leaving us feeling powerless to change our circumstances. Focusing solely on earthly pleasures and achievements ultimately leads to emptiness.

Fixing Our Eyes on the Eternal. The key to overcoming this is to shift our focus from the temporary to the eternal, recognizing that our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. This involves focusing on what is happening in us, not to us.

Living for Eternity. We can cultivate an eternal perspective by enjoying our relationship with God, embracing our design, feeling empowered, keeping focus, laughing often, cultivating relationships, and focusing on others. These practices help us to see beyond our present circumstances and live for something greater.

5. Adjust Your Attitude to Reflect God's Light

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

The Power of Attitude. Our attitude significantly impacts our ability to experience joy, peace, and purpose in life. A positive attitude, rooted in faith and gratitude, can transform any environment into a life-giving space.

Foundational Beliefs. To cultivate a "breath of fresh air" attitude, we must embrace certain foundational beliefs, including appreciating life, loving people, and recognizing God's sovereignty. These beliefs shape our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Practical Steps. We can adjust our attitude by making a conscious choice each day about how we want to respond to life's challenges, giving thanks in all circumstances, and turning our worries over to God. These practices help us to maintain a positive outlook and experience God's peace.

6. Experience the Bible as a Living, Dynamic Word

The word of God is living and active.

Beyond Rote Reading. The Bible is more than just an ancient text; it's a living, dynamic word that has the power to transform our lives. However, it requires our faith to be activated.

From Logos to Rhema. We must move beyond simply reading the words on the page (logos) to experiencing the revelation and understanding (rhema) that comes from the Holy Spirit. This involves meditating on Scripture and allowing it to speak to our hearts.

Key Principles. To experience the Bible as a living word, we must accept its authority, make it a part of our daily lives, and put it into practice. This involves reading it with faith, meditating on its truths, and applying its principles to our everyday decisions.

7. Transform Prayer from Obligation to Enjoyable Conversation

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.

Beyond Rote Recitation. Prayer is often viewed as a religious duty, a chore to be completed. However, it is meant to be an enjoyable conversation with God, a lifeline to our all-powerful Father.

The Lord's Prayer as a Guide. Jesus taught us to pray by providing an outline for our communication with God, including connecting with Him relationally, honoring His name, seeking His agenda, asking for our needs to be met, seeking forgiveness, and asking for protection.

Cultivating Intimacy. By approaching prayer with honesty, sincerity, and humility, we can transform it from an obligation to a delightful experience, one that deepens our intimacy with God and brings us closer to His heart.

8. Express Your Love to God in His Preferred Language

God loves us the way we are, but too much to leave us that way.

Worship as Love Expressed. Worship is not about what makes us feel good, but about expressing our love to God in a way that pleases Him. This involves understanding His love language and responding accordingly.

The Seven Hebrew Words for Praise. The Bible uses seven different Hebrew words to describe praise, each conveying a unique aspect of God's love language, including exuberant singing, shouting, making music, lifting hands, and giving thanks.

Directing Our Worship. The key is to direct our expressions of love towards God, rather than allowing other people or things to take His place. This involves loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

9. Build a Supportive Community for Mutual Growth

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

The Importance of Community. God never intended for us to walk through life alone. We need the support, encouragement, and accountability that comes from being part of a community of believers.

Overcoming Barriers. Several factors can prevent us from building meaningful relationships, including naïveté, temperament, fear, and busyness. However, we must overcome these barriers in order to experience the fullness of life.

The Power of Fellowship. Genuine fellowship, characterized by openness, honesty, and mutual support, can make our trials bearable and our triumphs worth celebrating. It provides a safe space for us to grow in our faith and become who we were created to be.

10. Manage Finances with Integrity and Generosity

Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it.

Beyond Materialism. Money matters often control our lives, leading to stress, anxiety, and a sense of bondage. To experience financial freedom, we must shift our focus from accumulating wealth to living with integrity and generosity.

Four Key Values. This involves embracing four key values: integrity, stewardship, generosity, and a focus on eternal impact. These values guide our decisions and help us to manage our resources in a way that pleases God.

Practical Practices. We can put these values into action by tithing, creating margin in our finances, following a budget, and focusing on the eternal impact of our resources. These practices help us to break free from the cycle of greed and experience true financial peace.

11. Embrace Rest as a Vital Principle for Renewal

A field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.

The Importance of Rest. In today's high-pressure world, rest is often overlooked and undervalued. However, it is a vital principle for renewal, allowing us to recharge our bodies, minds, and souls.

The Sabbath Principle. God designed us to need rest, setting aside one day out of seven to stop working and focus on restoration, relaxation, and renewal. This involves disconnecting from our responsibilities and connecting with God and our loved ones.

Practical Strategies. To embrace rest, we must set firm boundaries, remove distractions, engage in community, and learn the art of celebration. These practices help us to experience the peace and joy that comes from honoring God's design for our lives.

12. Recognize the Holy Spirit as Your Constant Companion

[May] the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.

Beyond Misconceptions. The Holy Spirit is often misunderstood and misrepresented, leading to fear and confusion. However, He is not a ghost or a force, but a person who desires an intimate friendship with us.

The Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is not an "it," but a "He," a person of the Trinity, fully God. He is our constant companion, our comforter, our teacher, and our guide.

Embracing the Spirit's Presence. By embracing the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to fill our lives, we can experience unprecedented power, joy, and transformation. He is the source of breath, the wind in our sails, the key to living a life fully alive.

Last updated: April 13, 2025