Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Romans 12:11-13 MSG

There have been many days when I’ve said, “That’s it. Enough is enough.”  Frustrations and failures have a tendency to foul life up.  They can impact our focus, fortitude and future.  At times, it seems less distressing and demanding to just “lock up, pack up and give up”.

The believers in the early Church of Rome were struggling.  Their needs were too numerous and the persecution was too problematic.  With encouraging words, Paul reached through their heartache and heartbreak and gave them hope . . . “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame.”

When a sense of “burning out” begins to smolder, here are some inspirational thoughts to keep us “fueled”.

Praise. 

This is the starting line.  Praising God in the midst of problems is our pathway to peace. Instead of giving up, we need to “give it up.”  The psalmist wrote, “I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.” (Psalm 71:16 NKJV). Right living is only possible in God . . . we praise Him for the life we are able to live through Him.

Pray.  

Paul reminded the Christ-followers in Rome to “pray all the harder.” (Rom12:12 MSG) When hard times cause our hearts to cry, it’s time for our hearts to cry out.  E. M. Bounds wrote, “Prayer is the easiest and hardest of all things; the simplest and the sublimest; the weakest and the most powerful; its results lie outside the range of human possibilities-they are limited only by the omnipotence of God.”  Even when we don’t know what to say . . . we still need to pray.  Author C.S. Lewis reminds us, “Pray what is in you; not what should be in you.”

Pick Up.  

Solomon reminds us, “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” (Prov 24:16 NLT).  Get up. Get up, again. Get up, one more time.  And, keep on getting up.  We make the first and every effort to get back up . . .

Persevere.  

Paul wrote, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Gal 6:9 NLT)  Keep your eyes on the prize. God’s timing is perfect.  The seeds of your perseverence will produce a promising harvest.  The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Is 40:31 ESV)

Prepare.  

The author of Hebrews encourages us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb. 12:1 ESV)  Sometimes our problems indicate needed pruning and purging.  We may have attitudes, activities or aspirations that are holding down our altitude and hindering our aptitude.  Cutting away the clinging can create new energy and effort.

Provide.  

Looking “in” focuses on our hurt, looking “out” frees us for our healing.  Paul encouraged the Romans to “Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.” (Rom12:13 MSG) Serving others eases our own suffering.  Giving with our heart generates hope.

Grammy Award winner Mandisa understood the struggles of wanting to give up.  In her song “Overcomer” she wrote these encouraging lyrics,

“Whatever it is you may be going through,
I know He’s not gonna let it get the best of you.
You’re an overcomer.
Stay in the fight until the final round.
You’re not going under
‘Cause God is holding you right now.
You might be down for a moment,
Feeling like it’s hopeless,
That’s when He reminds You,
That you’re an overcomer.
You’re an overcomer.”

We are overcomers through the One who has overcome.  

Praise. Pray. Pick up. Persevere. Prepare. Provide.

Don’t give up . . . instead, give in to God.