Zeal in times of "leanness."

 Zeal is a powerful term for the believer.  But there are times when a believer is in a mindset such as Isaiah in chapter 24 verse 16; "My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me!.."  

Zeal still seems to be in this bloggers heart but the words "leanness, MY leanness..." leap off the page today.  If Psalm 57.7 were not buried deep in this heart, "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed...," I could not go one step further at times.

With the pandemic nearly one year old next month, church attendance and sickness have kept this bloggers local assembly out of the house of God as before.  For months, we have only been allowed at church on Sunday mornings.  Being kept from family because of COVID19 has been its own burden and struggle. It is agreed, a rest was needed but the "leanness" in this soul is keen today.  

Much of it is this bloggers fault due to filling time with self-serving pursuits, yet the Lord is bringing me around to the next verses in chapter 25.  The way to move out of "leanness" is found in Isaiah, chapter 25 and verses 1, 4 and 8.

The question is "How does one have 'zeal' in times of 'leanness?'"

"O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise Thy Name; for Thou hast done wonderful things; Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth...For Thou has been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat...He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth:..."

Again, How does one have 'zeal' in times of 'leanness?  Worship!

Daily prayer is usually mundane and wooden.  How is life to be breathed into, well, "life?" It would seem the Holy Spirit impresses this thought through His Word this morning, Worship!  By faith, this blogger knows there is coming a day when sorrow, tears and heartache will be gone. (Rev 21.4) By belief in His Word, I know that each step brings us nearer that end. (Jer 29.11-13)

Thus, take heart, weary one!  You are not alone in your lack of "zeal" towards things of God.  Do not give up, give out or give in, just WORSHIP!  The Psalmist said it best when closing the Psalms, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. PRAISE YE THE LORD!" (Ps 150.6)