Unmotivated to live my life

[hies]

I don't feel motivated to engage in any of my hobbies because I know it's all meaningless self-indulgence and I'll have time to do them and much more in heaven anyway.

Acts 20:24 says:

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

And that's how I feel, like only God's will actually matters, which I know is true. However, because I'm not indulging in myself I feel quite depressed. Like I'm missing out on opportunities and not really living my life. I know I don't need to do anything to earn salvation as that was already accomplished by Christ for me, but I know that nothing I do outside of Christ is meaningful. But that doesn't stop me from wanting or even needing to do things outside of him, like getting good at guitar or having a good time with my family and friends.

It's weird because I really don't want to indulge in myself, and I really only want to focus on Christ entirely, but I feel like depriving myself of normal things and hobbies is making me isolated and depressed. That doesn't seem like a good thing at all. I'm really not sure what to do.

 

[hies]

Well I think I've come to realize that I haven't been living entirely for Christ, and not entirely for myself. I've just not been living. Sort of like I'm on auto-pilot. I think the solution is to actively question what I should do for Jesus and his glory every day instead of just allowing my life to slip me by.

 

[Debp]

I don't feel motivated to engage in any of my hobbies because I know it's all meaningless self-indulgence and I'll have time to do them and much more in heaven anyway.

Acts 20:24 says:


And that's how I feel, like only God's will actually matters, which I know is true. However, because I'm not indulging in myself I feel quite depressed. Like I'm missing out on opportunities and not really living my life. I know I don't need to do anything to earn salvation as that was already accomplished by Christ for me, but I know that nothing I do outside of Christ is meaningful. But that doesn't stop me from wanting or even needing to do things outside of him, like getting good at guitar or having a good time with my family and friends.

It's weird because I really don't want to indulge in myself, and I really only want to focus on Christ entirely, but I feel like depriving myself of normal things and hobbies is making me isolated and depressed. That doesn't seem like a good thing at all. I'm really not sure what to do.

Well I think I've come to realize that I haven't been living entirely for Christ, and not entirely for myself. I've just not been living. Sort of like I'm on auto-pilot. I think the solution is to actively question what I should do for Jesus and his glory every day instead of just allowing my life to slip me by.

Friend, there's nothing wrong with you having some hobbies and enjoying some wholesome time with family and friends.

God is always with you....even when you are having some fun, enjoying activities.

I always remember God created and we as His children also have that desire to do some creative things like our Heavenly Father.

 

[Pearl]

I don't feel motivated to engage in any of my hobbies because I know it's all meaningless self-indulgence and I'll have time to do them and much more in heaven anyway.

Acts 20:24 says:


And that's how I feel, like only God's will actually matters, which I know is true. However, because I'm not indulging in myself I feel quite depressed. Like I'm missing out on opportunities and not really living my life. I know I don't need to do anything to earn salvation as that was already accomplished by Christ for me, but I know that nothing I do outside of Christ is meaningful. But that doesn't stop me from wanting or even needing to do things outside of him, like getting good at guitar or having a good time with my family and friends.

It's weird because I really don't want to indulge in myself, and I really only want to focus on Christ entirely, but I feel like depriving myself of normal things and hobbies is making me isolated and depressed. That doesn't seem like a good thing at all. I'm really not sure what to do.

God is creative he is our Creator God. We are made in his image - to be creative is unique to us humans. So do you hobbies with no feeling of guilt, do them out of the creativeness within you. God doesn't want us to live boring lives. You are letting the thief rob you.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 

[Angelina]

I don't feel motivated to engage in any of my hobbies because I know it's all meaningless self-indulgence and I'll have time to do them and much more in heaven anyway.

Acts 20:24 says:


And that's how I feel, like only God's will actually matters, which I know is true. However, because I'm not indulging in myself I feel quite depressed. Like I'm missing out on opportunities and not really living my life. I know I don't need to do anything to earn salvation as that was already accomplished by Christ for me, but I know that nothing I do outside of Christ is meaningful. But that doesn't stop me from wanting or even needing to do things outside of him, like getting good at guitar or having a good time with my family and friends.

It's weird because I really don't want to indulge in myself, and I really only want to focus on Christ entirely, but I feel like depriving myself of normal things and hobbies is making me isolated and depressed. That doesn't seem like a good thing at all. I'm really not sure what to do.

Well I definitely believe that having a hobby and/or joining in with others (believers or not) gives us opportunities to live our lives out as believers and most importantly, have that opportunity of sharing the good news to those who do not know him.

 

[Cassandra]

God is creative he is our Creator God. We are made in his image - to be creative is us unique to humans. So do you hobbies with no feeling of guilt, do them out of the creativeness within you. God doesn't want us to live boring lives. You are letting the thief rob you.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Wonderful way to think about this!!!!

Isaiah 65:22​

“They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”

 

[Raccoon1010]

I don't feel motivated to engage in any of my hobbies because I know it's all meaningless self-indulgence and I'll have time to do them and much more in heaven anyway.

Acts 20:24 says:


And that's how I feel, like only God's will actually matters, which I know is true. However, because I'm not indulging in myself I feel quite depressed. Like I'm missing out on opportunities and not really living my life. I know I don't need to do anything to earn salvation as that was already accomplished by Christ for me, but I know that nothing I do outside of Christ is meaningful. But that doesn't stop me from wanting or even needing to do things outside of him, like getting good at guitar or having a good time with my family and friends.

It's weird because I really don't want to indulge in myself, and I really only want to focus on Christ entirely, but I feel like depriving myself of normal things and hobbies is making me isolated and depressed. That doesn't seem like a good thing at all. I'm really not sure what to do.

@hies there appears to be something missing from your life as expressed in those first two posts. A Christian experience is serving the Lord in a church based capacity. You should really find a church that allows you to serve others and proclaim the gospel of Christ and God as a whole. The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are wonderful at rewarding us for good conduct towards ourselves and others. We are to love God and secondly love others. We do that thru various means, one of those is charity.

We need to do things that God can provide which are good. We need to be baptized, confirmed with the Holy Ghost and also receive the bread and wine of the new covenant. The Holy Ghost provides wonderful feelings when we serve God and his children in good ways. There are the fruits of the Holy Spirit as stated in the new testament given thru Paul:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit of God is our comforter and also the Jesus the Christ and his body and God the Father. And they direct us to do their goodness towards ourselves and others. We must honor our God and that can be fasting and prayer. Fasting is not meant to be harmful to people. It can be short and perhaps not too long, I drink water during such times and keep it less than 3 days. Perhaps broth and other minor food items can be used during such times. The intent of fasting is to cry out to the Lord for ourselves and others in hopes that he will hear us. Not that he doesn't, but it can be a very spiritual experience, while denying some of the needs of the body. It is directed in the Old Testament already to take the food or money used for food and help the poor with it. That pleases God I believe.

 

[Windmill Charge]

However, because I'm not indulging in myself I feel quite depressed. Like I'm missing out on opportunities and not really living my life. I know I don't need to do anything to earn salvation as that was already accomplished by Christ for me, but I know that nothing I do outside of Christ is meaningful.

Istanbul please go a d speak to your doctor. Feeling depressed should be checked.
2nd. What are you doing to serve Jesus?
How often do you go and witness to someone? Or are you just sitting at home feeling depressed?

We are to live our lives for Jesus, that means our job we do for him, our hobbies we do for him, our family life is lived for him.

Sport can be played for Jesus, ever noticed how foul the language of non Christian players and spectators can be compared to Christians.
Your hobbies can be used to start conversations about Jesus and at work, how one works, the boo,s one reads at work in breaks can all serve to witness to Jesus.

That you feel depressed needs to be checked by your doctor, once you have a clean bill of health, talk to your minister about areas where you can serve.

 

[Skovand]

God never tells us to ignore this life. God never tells us to hate our lives and be miserable. We can do anything Christians. For example webcam hike and still be Christians and use hiking as a way to better know our natural world, feel more indebted to protecting it and the wildlife and can always share the gospel to random people we encounter.

Diet and exercise can really affect mental health also. So can loneliness. Like instead of binging a series alone, watch 1-2 episodes a week with a few local friends and cook food together.

 

[DuckieLady]

I don't feel motivated to engage in any of my hobbies because I know it's all meaningless self-indulgence and I'll have time to do them and much more in heaven anyway.

Acts 20:24 says:


And that's how I feel, like only God's will actually matters, which I know is true. However, because I'm not indulging in myself I feel quite depressed. Like I'm missing out on opportunities and not really living my life. I know I don't need to do anything to earn salvation as that was already accomplished by Christ for me, but I know that nothing I do outside of Christ is meaningful. But that doesn't stop me from wanting or even needing to do things outside of him, like getting good at guitar or having a good time with my family and friends.

It's weird because I really don't want to indulge in myself, and I really only want to focus on Christ entirely, but I feel like depriving myself of normal things and hobbies is making me isolated and depressed. That doesn't seem like a good thing at all. I'm really not sure what to do.

Is your hobby guitar? Worship. Play for him.

And if it's something else, how can you involve him? How can you use it in your community?

Good things are practiced in private before they are brought into light.

I used to feel like my budgeting/cooking hobbies didn't really amount in anything extraordinary valuable and sort of best myself up for wasting time, until God led me to a place where those skills made me a manager. Like right away. I had no other experience. He taught me, but it wasn't me that made it happen.

 

[Mjh29]

I don't feel motivated to engage in any of my hobbies because I know it's all meaningless self-indulgence and I'll have time to do them and much more in heaven anyway.

Acts 20:24 says:


And that's how I feel, like only God's will actually matters, which I know is true. However, because I'm not indulging in myself I feel quite depressed. Like I'm missing out on opportunities and not really living my life. I know I don't need to do anything to earn salvation as that was already accomplished by Christ for me, but I know that nothing I do outside of Christ is meaningful. But that doesn't stop me from wanting or even needing to do things outside of him, like getting good at guitar or having a good time with my family and friends.

It's weird because I really don't want to indulge in myself, and I really only want to focus on Christ entirely, but I feel like depriving myself of normal things and hobbies is making me isolated and depressed. That doesn't seem like a good thing at all. I'm really not sure what to do.

Hello Friend!

Firstly, I would like to commend your bravery for admitting the things going on in your life. We tend to paint this perfect picture of what it means to be a Christian in our minds, and a lot of the time miss the part that we all have troubles and struggles - to be in Christ is not to be perfect, but to strive towards perfection. Mistakes will be made, and to admit when you are struggling is indeed something commendable!

I believe that perhaps I might, through God's grace, be able to share a little bit of the wisdom I have learned in my (admittedly) short life thus far.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13​

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.​

13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.​

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Ecclesiastes 8:15​

15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.​

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Ecclesiastes 5:19​

19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.​

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From what I have studied, there is nothing wrong with enjoying the things that God has given to you on this earth; and the idea that things like playing the guitar, or spending time with friends and family don't amount to anything in the eyes of God are not at all what the Scriptures teach! So enjoy your hobbies, expand your horizons, spend time with friends - rather than seeing these as 'useless' to His Kingdom, realize that whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, so long as you show forth the glory of God while doing so, you are being a witness to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God's people; that Spirit of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control all being showcased in your daily life. ​

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I hope this helps alleviate your worries at least a little - have a blessed day! ​

 

[David in NJ]

Well I think I've come to realize that I haven't been living entirely for Christ, and not entirely for myself. I've just not been living. Sort of like I'm on auto-pilot. I think the solution is to actively question what I should do for Jesus and his glory every day instead of just allowing my life to slip me by.

Do this - read the Gospel of John, take your time and read slowly with prayer as you continue thru it.

You will see what you are missing and how it will change your life in a UP-Lifting Way.

 

[quietthinker]

I don't feel motivated to engage in any of my hobbies because I know it's all meaningless self-indulgence and I'll have time to do them and much more in heaven anyway.

Acts 20:24 says:


And that's how I feel, like only God's will actually matters, which I know is true. However, because I'm not indulging in myself I feel quite depressed. Like I'm missing out on opportunities and not really living my life. I know I don't need to do anything to earn salvation as that was already accomplished by Christ for me, but I know that nothing I do outside of Christ is meaningful. But that doesn't stop me from wanting or even needing to do things outside of him, like getting good at guitar or having a good time with my family and friends.

It's weird because I really don't want to indulge in myself, and I really only want to focus on Christ entirely, but I feel like depriving myself of normal things and hobbies is making me isolated and depressed. That doesn't seem like a good thing at all. I'm really not sure what to do.

Be mindful of the 'religious spirit'.
In the zeal of many to be doing God's will they have removed themselves from the bleeding, sweating, crying hearts of the human family and isolated themselves into monasteries and cloisters. They have become so self focused on their perceived holiness or lack of it, they have lost sight of their Saviour.

 

[Pearl]

Be mindful of the 'religious spirit'.
In the zeal of many to be doing God's will they have isolated themselves from the bleeding, sweating, crying hearts of their human family and isolated themselves into monasteries and cloisters. They have become so self focused on their perceived holiness or lack of it, they have lost sight of their Saviour.

Yes, @quietthinker a very profound truth.

 

[WitnessX]

So I praised merriment, because a man has nothing better to do under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will be present with him in his labor all the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.† (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.† Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. (2 Corinthians 7:1-4)

Align yourself with Him. God wants us to be joyful, thankful on Him. Especially in these times of tribulation in the world and all of its own insanity can be overwhelming. Seek him in all that you do, go to Him in prayer and ask Him for peace.

 

[WitnessX]

one final thought, through your alignment with God, and your talents, whatever they may be, your light will shine and lead others to Christ. People will see it in you, some will inquire, that is a joyful opportunity to share the Good News as others have pointed out. Your peace, love, joy will be a beacon…a beacon of light in the darkness of the world. I hope for you too see the blessings in your life and move forward with conviction, strength, and courage on Him.