The Passive Spirit

The passive spirit is a spirit that always wants to keep us in our comfort Zone. It can put us to sleep spiritually by causing us to be filled with our own thoughts and desires. It tells us that what we want now is most important. Tomorrow is tomorrow but now is now. This spirit helps us to center on our most immediate need or feeling. It urges us to enjoy things now and not worry about how we might have to pay for it later. This spirit centers us on the self and not upon others. Isn't it me that always matters the most anyway? During this time or compassion and empathy is dimmed or deemed non-existent. It tells us that it is ourselves that we have to worry about.

Romans 12:11
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

I Timothy 5:13
Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

Acts 17:21
All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.

The passive spirit can attempt to discourage us by telling us that things will
never change and that we will never change. Change is too difficult or next to impossible. It is too much work. It tells us that even if things changed that people would not appreciate the changes anyway.

It tells us that growth and change are too overwhelming and too much hard work. Hard work is alien to the passive spirit which loves to promote extensive relaxation and pleasure. The passive spirit tells us that growth may make things personally difficult for us. 

It tells us that whatever we do will not make any difference
anyway. This spirit attempts to convince us that we are powerless and the situation is hopeless. What can such a little person due in the face of such large problems?

It tells us that we do not need to do it now and that we can get by with doing it later. It offers plenty of distractions to keep our minds off of real growth and change.

This spirit weakens and destroys our relationship with the Lord by distracting us or putting us to sleep. The passive spirit persuades us that everything is fine. Let someone else rock the boat. After all the Lord will understand if we put off talking with Him right now.

It wants to make us feel so powerless that we will not be able to bring things to the Lord. The passive spirit makes our problems overwhelming, and solutions all but impossible.

This spirit causes us to dwell on the problem and not the solution. Problems grow larger and larger when we listen to the passive spirit. Trusting in people to give that to us will be frustrating and unfruitful. Trusting in the faithful memory of God is our only sure reward.

This spirit divides us from people and can cause us to feel isolated. It destroys community and creativity in those whom it touches. It wants to destroy our relationship with the Lord.

It tries to tell us that God does not care about the situation. God is so busy. Why would He care about my problems?

How do we overcome a Passive Spirit?

Ask God to give us a more loving heart for Him every day. Pray that the Lord will teach us the difference between laziness and rest.

Exodus 15:13
"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Genesis 2:3
And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Exodus 16:23
He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning."

In laziness we have no plan of action, but in rest we do It is to get closer to Jesus.

Leviticus 23:3
[ The Sabbath ] " 'There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

MAKE AND PURSUE PRACTICAL DAILY GOALS!

Psalm 20:4
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Psalm 33:11
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

MAKE A PLAN TO FILL YOUR LIFE WITH ACTS OF KINDNESS!

Ruth 3:10
"The LORD bless you, my daughter," he replied. "This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.

2 Samuel 2:6
May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this.

BE INVOLVED IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS NOT JUST YOUR OWN!

 Acts 28:2
The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.

2 Corinthians 6:6
in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;

LET YOURSELF BE AFFECTIONATE, AND ALLOW YOURSELF TO CARE ABOUT OTHERS

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

2 Corinthians 6:6
in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;

PRAY FOR A SERVANT'S HEART TO HELP OTHERS SUCCEED!

1 Samuel 3:9
So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Psalm 90:16
May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.

Psalm 119:76
May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

Amos 3:7
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

PRAY FOR A PASSION FOR JESUS AND FOR THE GOALS AND DESIRES HE GIVES YOU!

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 145:19
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

REMEMBER WHATEVER YOU GIVE TO OTHERS WILL COME BACK TO YOU!

Proverbs 15:23
A man finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!

Matthew 6:1
[ Giving to the Needy ] "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:4
so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

A PASSIVE SPIRIT IS DEFEATED WHEN LEARN TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE SEE THE FATHER IS DOING!

John 14:10
Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.