{"id":108919,"date":"2023-02-02T14:22:25","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T19:22:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discover-grace.flywheelstaging.com\/?p=108919"},"modified":"2023-09-19T16:53:20","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T20:53:20","slug":"one-simple-prayer-for-the-spiritually-exhausted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discovergrace.com\/one-simple-prayer-for-the-spiritually-exhausted\/","title":{"rendered":"One Simple Prayer for the Spiritually Exhausted"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-10-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-10-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left-right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][split_line_heading animation_type=”line-reveal-by-space” font_style=”h3″ text_color=”#282e39″ line_reveal_by_space_text_effect=”default” stagger_animation=”true” content_alignment=”default” mobile_content_alignment=”inherit” link_target=”_self” text_content=”The beauty of this prayer is alignment. It\u2019s realigning our hearts with God\u2019s will, which means, it\u2019s a prayer God WILL hear and answer…”][\/split_line_heading][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][divider line_type=”Small Line” line_alignment=”center” line_thickness=”2″ divider_color=”accent-color” animate=”yes”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-10-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left-right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” enable_animation=”true” animation=”fade-in-from-bottom” animation_easing=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text]Sometimes the most honest question we can ask is, Why should I care? <\/i>It feels like a jerk of a question \u2013 like the kind of thing some sour adolescent says from the back row of class with his arms folded across his chest. We grownups are too sophisticated to act like middle school jerks, so it\u2019s not a question we typically pose out loud. But the truth is, from time to time, it\u2019s the real question \u2013 the one we\u2019re already asking deep in our hearts:<\/p>\n

Yes, God has a kingdom mission.\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, I have a next step toward Christ.\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

But honestly? Why should I care?\u00a0<\/i><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_column_text]\n

Signs of Spiritual Exhaustion<\/h4>\n

If you love Jesus, yet feel apathetic, withdrawn, or shut down, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019re spiritually exhausted. In my own life, spiritual exhaustion often shows up in the form of upside-down values. Little things become big (\u201cYou FAILED an algebra test?!!\u201d<\/i>), and big things become little (\u201cFive minutes with God should be enough this week.\u201d<\/i>) I find myself with a \u201cWhy should I care?\u201d<\/i> attitude about everything I should actually care about, and obsessive concern over things that don\u2019t really matter.<\/p>\n

If that\u2019s you right now, the first thing to know is that spiritual exhaustion is real and normal. Just as marathon runners exhaust their bodies over the course of a race, it\u2019s normal for Christians to grow weary and depleted. If it wasn\u2019t common, the Bible wouldn\u2019t constantly exhort us to stay the course and finish the race (Galatians 6:9, Philippians 3:14, 2 Timothy 4:7).<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think the goal is to avoid exhaustion. That\u2019s like telling a runner, \u201cDon\u2019t get thirsty while you run this marathon! The goal is to feel fresh and perky the whole way through!\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

If you live like the primary goal of Christianity is to always feel refreshed and positive, you\u2019ll be discouraged by noon. The goal of a race isn\u2019t to feel good. It\u2019s to finish \u2013 to keep running when you\u2019re exhausted, thirsty, and desperate to quit.<\/p>\n

Similarly, I think our goal in running a spiritual race is to recognize<\/i> exhaustion and address it, so we can keep running. Recognize your thirst, quench it, and keep going.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-10-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” enable_animation=”true” animation=”fade-in-from-bottom” animation_easing=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text]\n

What Causes Spiritual Exhaustion?<\/h4>\n

There are many reasons we become spiritually depleted. Here are a few of them:[\/vc_column_text]

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