As we launch into the new year, we talk about one of the trends that always happens anytime we flip the number in the calendar…

Namely, people begin showing up at the gym.

What can we learn from them?

Well, first, showing up is important.

But, second, if you show up without a plan, you’re probably not going to continue showing up for too long.

Enter this discussion about “ruts,” about finding a plan and getting into a groove.

Face it, most of the time we think of “ruts” as things we want to avoid. But what if we could find a righteous rut, a good groove that makes everything supernaturally easier and far more robust?

In this episode of the Standfast-cast we launch a new series about these “righteous ruts.” More importantly, we talk about how to create one.

1 John 2:15 gives us the best way to do to this. There, the Apostle tells us not to love the things in the world.

There are two ways to do this:

First, we can oppose everything that’s bad. That is, we can choose the negative way.

The problem is that, like you’ve probably heard before, “Two negatives only equal a positive in math.”

As George says, “You can’t fight something with nothing.”

That leads us to the second option…

Second, we can embrace that which is the best. That is, we can choose the positive way.

Referring to Thomas Chalmers’ sermon, The Expulsive Power of a New Affection, George notes that we can run from the world OR we can run TO our Father. That is, we can allow our hearts to embrace a new affection, a greater grace, something more worthy.

When we do this, our palette changes. We transform. We crave the spiritual.

So, schedule.

Make the time to “show up,” just like the people in the gym do at the beginning of every new year.

And then look for a grace-filled rut to fall into…

In this next episode, we’ll outline what that rut might look like….

 

Links for this episode:

Go to George’s website: www.GeorgeGrant.net/keystones  – when you purchase the 3-part volume we’ll send you the Expulsive Power of a New Affection (digital version) totally free.

Apple Podcasts- https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-standfast-cast/id1448007323 

Google Play- https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Ifv6ckyjzsg2glq7xqwjjmyqaei?t%3DThe_StandFast_Cast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16 

Stitcher- http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=347205&refid=stpr