Those Old Grooves
May 30, 2023
“So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” (1 Peter 1: 13-16)
At any given moment we’re either living in a way marked by God’s design or we’re drifting into “those old grooves.”
Those old grooves are so comfortable. Even though we hate where they lead us when we’re in those old grooves. They’re just so easy to slide into.
Mental Grooves:
Our thought life (often slanted toward the negative)
Our insecurities (often rehearsed and highlighted)
Our same sense of self-consciousness which has no real benefit to anyone, ourselves included!)
Emotional Grooves:
Still triggered easily by any notion that things aren’t going to go our way.
Still lamenting over things that happened a really long time ago
Still easily offended by someone else’s critique
Spiritual Grooves:
Still the same old limiting view of God and what is capable in your life through him.
Still the same assumptions about how this faith journey works.
Same restraining view of your soul, focus on the heavy yoke, and inability to rest and receive.
The grooves are so well worn. Years are going by. Often new addresses, new promotions, new opportunities.
Same old grooves.
To say we need to lock in would be the understatement of the century. The problem with these same old grooves is that we slide into them effortlessly.
That’s what drifting does.
Effortlessly floating away, look up and realize we’re way off course and are struggling on the inside.
Make no mistake. These grooves are a problem, not only for your leadership life, but your life in Christ.
These grooves head to one thing and one thing only.
Living life in a languishing state.
Wilting away, failing to thrive.
It takes effort to create new pathways. It takes intentionality and purpose. It can only be done in bite-size action and can only be committed to a day at a time, or often an hour at a time.
And when we do. We flourish.
The world needs more leaders who live in a flourishing state.
Set apart. Pure. Pure in motive and pure in execution.
Leadership is the overflow of your lifestyle. And your lifestyle is marked by your grooves.
It’s time for some new grooves.