How to Get Out of a Deep Rut
Mark 10:46-52 ESV
46And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you." 50And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me recover my sight." 52And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
A rut is an activity or pattern of our life that is not in accordance with God's will.
1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
1st - He assumed responsibility for his situation
Mark 10:47 ESV
47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
2nd - He didn't wait for the ideal circumstances
Mark 10:46 ESV
46And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV
4Whoever watches the wind will not plant;whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
3rd - If you want to get out of a rut, you can't worry about what others will think or say
Mark 10:47-48 ESV
47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
4th - Don't be afraid to step out boldly and believe God
Mark 10:49-50 ESV
49And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you." 50And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.
Mark 10:51-52 ESV
51And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me recover my sight." 52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
Mark 9:23 ESV
23And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."
Mark 11:23-24 ESV
23Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
5th - Once you are out of the rut...stay out
Mark 10:52 ESV
52And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
