Leaguership: Pastor, are you emotionally healthy?

Pastor, are you emotionally healthy?

Ministry can be draining. You know you are beginning to be drained emotionally when…

• You find yourself getting angry with the people who work with you for petty reasons – or no reason at all.
• You’re having imaginary arguments with people over things that really don’t matter.
• You are feeling a strain on your marriage.
• Your energy level is low & you feel like you’ve run out of time to give your spouse & kids.
• You think about quitting the ministry…routinely.
• You struggle with your thoughts.
• You can’t seem to sleep at night & have a hard time staying awake during the day.
• I could go on…but I think you get the point.

How do you snap out of it?

Here’s my take…

#1 Confide in your Spiritual Father/Mother

You can’t go on pretending that everything is fine while you’re slowly dying inside. Confide in your spiritual mentors…someone…but do not think you have to bear the burden alone.

#2 Step away from work & do something fun

Pastors often struggle with this because they think that going out & doing something “fun” while there is so much to be done is sin. However, I know from personal experience that when I allow myself to disconnect & do something that I enjoy…I get my batteries recharged. Also, it’s during those times that I usually come up with some really great ministry ideas.

#3 You may need to also get some Christian counseling

It’s not a sin to see a counselor or a therapist. There may be times that the load is so heavy that a confidential counselor can help walk you through those times. There are also some great places that provide pastors a place to rest for a few days. Beverly & I have been blessed to connect with these resources over the years.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed & emotionally drained, perhaps this is a step for you to take. Yes, it may cost money…but you can’t afford not to invest in yourself.

Pastor…you are the only that can take care of your emotional health. It is your responsibility to keep the flame burning. You are too important to be another ministry casualty.

Culture CANNOT change God's STANDARD.

God has always had a STANDARD. The OPINION of a crotch-grabbing, pot-smoking, alcohol-guzzling, fornicating, gender-confused, cheating, you owe me a trophy & a check world...can never change it.

Culture CANNOT change God's STANDARD.

There is NO CREDENCE when worldly lifestyles applaud worldly lifestyles.

It matters not how many people go along with it. If The Bible (The Standard) calls something a SIN...it is a sin. No amount of AMENDING, BLENDING or TRENDING can alter its plumb line.

What is a plumb line?

A plumb line is a tool used by builders & painters to find the true vertical. Basically, a leaded weight is suspended from a string & gravity then makes the string hang perfectly straight. This enables a builder to build & a painter to paint exactly.

In The Bible, God references a plumb line a few times. In Isaiah 28:16-17 God says, "BEHOLD, I AM THE ONE WHO HAS LAID A FOUNDATION IN ZION, A STONE...AND I WILL MAKE JUSTICE THE LINE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS THE PLUMB LINE." God says that justice & righteousness are the standard by which His people will be measured.

A plumb line exposes anything that is crooked.

God's Word is the only true standard we have for assessing our actions. In fact, Psalm 119:11 says, "I HAVE STORED UP YOUR WORD IN MY HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU."

God's Word reveals God's standards.

God is absolutely perfect & pure, and sin of any kind is an offense to Him. That's why the Bible says we have "all sinned & fallen short" ... because His standards (ways) are much higher than ours.

What I love about God is that He opened up a way for us to come to Him...in spite of our fallen nature & sin! A way for us to be forgiven of all our sins & clothed in perfect righteousness. That way is Jesus Christ. He was without sin, but on the cross all our sins were transferred to Him & He died in our place. Now by faith in Him we can be forgiven & cleaned of our sins & made ready for eternity!

If you are a follower of Jesus, you are responsible for truth. Even if you're struggling to live it, you must never deny it. If we remove THE STANDARD because we can't live up to it at that moment, we will have removed the only landmark that points us to wholeness.

The church is called to lead culture - not live in constant reaction to it.  We're the head...not the tail!

We are desperate to have a STANDARD of speech that is FREE of racial discrimination...where people continue to say things like, 'White this"..."Black this"...etc.,  A STANDARD that speaks the NEW COVENANT not the overtones of ignorance.  A STANDARD of a clean mouth & a pure heart.  "From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)

Do you have a BIBLICAL STANDARD in your life?  

The world needs to hear more than a DEFINITION...they need to see APPLICATION. 

This is why we need Spiritual Fathers & Mothers!  Those in our ranks who possess the fear of The Lord & who love us enough to tell us to straighten up, stop sleeping with people you're not married to, pull your pants up, shun the very appearance of evil, consecrate your life, sanctify your heart & run after God with everything that's in you! 

May 2021 be the year we see Zion #Restored! 
(Isaiah 1:27)

Hungry

 

Ultimately, as a leader there's no one who can force you to get better except for yourself. YOU are the only person who can make YOU get better. And… a hungry person doesn’t have to tell anyone that they’re hungry - they show it by their actions.

Even before my daughter was able to talk, we still knew when she was hungry; not because she could tell us, but because her actions told us she was HUNGRY.

If you're the smartest person in the room...you might be in the wrong room. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, so that you can continue to grow & learn.

#Leaguership

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