The New Normal - What will Life Post COVID be Like?

__________________________________
​
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Phil. 3:14 (NASB)

__________________________________
​

​The New Normal

...

What will that look like for you?

As we move towards the end of the quarantine, Ohioans are starting to ask what the "new normal" will be like. 

Things are going to be different when society reintegrates.  COVID has come and its fingerprint will forever be left on this world.  We'll have new customs (like rabid hand washing and social distancing taboos).  Things like the 'elbow bump' will now define our daily existence.  

It would be foolish to think that the whole C19 experience won't change us to some degree.  The good news is that we can be proactive and dedicate the new normal to Christ.  

I highly recommend you make your own list of goals and set yourself up for your new normal (see the worksheet below).  But here are a few items that I'd like you to consider:

1.  Church Attendance - I love that so many in our group are already eager to get back to physical gatherings on Sunday morning.  But the question is: Are you one of them?

"It's been kinda nice sleeping in each week and watching worship in my pajamas," said a church member to her pastor.  Those words are chilling.  

Over my 20 years in ministry, I've seen how easy it is for people to fall out of the habit of worship.  A skip here; a conflict of schedule there. Before you know it the ritual of getting out the door on Sunday morning is too much of a hassle.  Church easily becomes a byword.

Imagine what havoc a 4-6 week stay at home order could have on someone's worship habits.

Now is the time to determine how important the worship of God really is.  Is Jesus is really worth my all in all?.  When the doors open again will you be persistently present at His feet each Sunday? 

If you're already a stay-at-homer or are being tempted towards it, seek accountability from one of our elders right now.

2.  Muscles of Graciousness - Being sequestered has likely brought out new frustrations.  When you live in close proximity to other sinners your sanctification will be challenged. 

You'll need to flex your spiritual muscles and tone the fibers of your heart.  It takes a Christ like love to live with those people who now seem to be crawling up your nose every moment.

If you discipline yourself towards godliness, you can be saved from the frustrations and temptation to vent you anger.  Christ can help you develop greater amounts of graciousness, patience, and self control.

Those 4-6 weeks can create habits of affirming words, settled hearts, and gentle smiles.  With a little work, you can begin to love in ways you never have before.  Christ can help you...

• stay calm when the kids act out
• respond graciously when your spouse spouts off
• teach the lessons that are piling up
• rejoice when your space is invaded
• be patient when your desires are not met

Be sure to check out that worksheet below and make a plan to make marked improvement in one of these areas. 

3.  Media Flab - While shut up in your house, you've probably not been doing calculus like Isaac Newton was during his quarantine.  It's likely that you've stepped up the amount of time on the television, social media, or the video gaming. 

And that's okay.  There's certainly nothing wrong with killing some boredom and passing the extra time with a bit of fun.

A season of increased media may be a good distraction, but, again, we must talk about patterns of life.  While media is a gift of God, it can also be an idol that keeps us from "redeeming the time."  

Some have even warned about online porn in particular during this quarantine.  The stay at home orders have provided unfortunate opportunities in the internet sex market.

It is obvious that porn should be cut altogether.  But we may want to watch what we watch in other respects too.  We do not want the new normal to be excess media taking the place of work, spiritual disciplines, and relationships.

4.  Zeal for Evangelism - I've loved how our families are praying for and seeking opportunities with unbelieving people.  It's raw energy I wish I could harness and unleash in a venue. 

There's a sense in which the quarantine has made this desire a little difficult to achieve though.  Since people are pent up in their homes, it's hard to reach out to them.  

The good news is that when the world opens up again, there will likely be plenty of opportunities:  On the streets, in the marketplace, with hospitality to co-workers and neighbors, etc.  What's more, there will likely be diaconal needs.  People will likely seek us out to help with bills and debts.

While the land may be dry now, it will likely be ripe for harvest in a matter of weeks.  The only problem is that we may be tempted to sink back into the old routine when the world revs up again. 

I encourage you to plan now for those evangelism activities and consider how we may effectively extend the gospel of grace to those in need.

5.  Constant Prayer - How beautiful it has been to be driven more towards God in prayer!  There's been fasting, prayer groups, and individuals setting aside specific times of prayer.  We've felt our need and it has brought us nearer to the Lord.

To be sure, Gov. Dewine has been prayed for so much that the angels assigned to him have been given all access ID passes.  Has there ever been a leader for whom there has been so much prayer in these last few weeks?

But what if God answers our prayers?  What if the economy kicks right back in when the restrictions are lifted?  What if everything returns to the old normal?  Will we be as eager to pray?

I would assume that bulking up on prayer for weeks on end will energize us spiritually and create a new 'old normal.'  If prayer is practiced for this long and this hard, it will be a hard habit to break.

All in all, its an encouragement to further that habit and keep on praying.  
   

Experts say that habits are formed in 6-8 weeks.  That just happens to be the amount of time we expect to spend in this quarantine.  So you can see how this period of time is so critical.  The new normal can be a wonderful experience if we take the right steps now.

 
________________________________


Turning It over to You
What are your thoughts?  How do you expect life to be different in the coming weeks?  Are there areas which you would see need for caution?  Or are there opportunities or goals for which we can be striving? 

Send us an email and share your perspectives.

​

'New Normal' Worksheet
Don't wait.  Make the change now and get moving in the right direction. Download this goal setting worksheet and make a plan to establish your 'New Normal' now.  When you're done, share it with a friend or two. Challenge them to do it with you and ask them to keep you accountable.

Download Now

Join us in the Worship of Christ!
Looking for a church where Jesus is precious?  We'd love for you to join us as we worship our Lord & Savior.  Presently we are worshipping in an online conferencing platform.  You can join us by phone or on a device at 10:30 am.  Contact us for access.

Contact Us Now