Did you ever have a moment in your life when sad things were continually happening, and you found yourself thinking only about your problems instead of about who God is and what he has done for you? I know that I have.

Instead of allowing the emotions we are feeling in those moments take over we need to remember that God has given us abundant mercy, hope, and an everlasting inheritance (salvation). We need to allow God to work through the trials to refine our faith in him.

1 Peter 1:7-8 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Enthusiasm is expressing with my soul the joy of my spirit. “What does that mean?”

Our soul is the part of us that relates to the physical world, while our spirit is that part of us that relates to the Lord. When you are “in God,” such as praying, obeying his leading, and meditating on His word, then you are able to experience genuine joy. A joy that can only be found in him. When you spirit is in close fellowship with God, your joy will be obvious to those around you and yourself. This expression of joy is enthusiasm.

The opposite of enthusiasm is apathy. Now I want to warn you that if this is you that I am about to describe, then maybe you need to ask God to show you what has become between you and Him, because apathy is the opposite of being eager and interested. You are indifferent and unconcerned. Usually, an apathetic person ignores the needs of those around them, rolls their eyes or shrugs at ministry assignments, is not moved by missionary reports, and is easily bored. Not good.

Psalm 51:10-12 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Christians are supposed to be in close fellowship with God and when they are they can’t help but express the joy in their spirits. They are eager to talk about what God is teaching them, love to spend time with God, and recognize god’s work in and around them. You can physically see their joy in their conversation, facial expressions, and voice inflections.

So, my question to you is, which one are you today? A person of enthusiasm or apathy?