iShineInMinistry

Romans 12:3: For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…

Do you ever get frustrated when you are at church, trying to get a task done and one of the volunteers stops you in your tracks because you are attempting to enter a “restricted area”? They are doing their duty in the ministry they serve in by making sure that people are not just wandering about, but you are on staff and can be in that area. As you sweetly tell them you are on staff, do you get a little irritated and think to yourself, “Don’t you know who I am?” Of course you are allowed in those places, but they may not know it.

Do you sometimes think that teachings don’t need to be taken to heart when they have a heavily convicting message since you are already on staff at church and considered a leader? Do you not really listen to some of the wiser ladies on staff as they kindly try to show you things because you are ‘just as important’ as they are?

Have you just said no to all of these questions and do not really want to admit that we are all sometimes prideful because of the position that God has so graciously allowed us to serve in? Let’s have a little heart check!

Philippians 2:3-8 (ESV)

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

First off, we must remember that we are serving the Lord as leaders- we are not elite. We are being obedient and exercising our spiritual gifts; however, we are still sinners that have been saved by grace that can do nothing apart from the Lord just like the people we minister to. Sometimes we just need to get over ourselves- ha!

Second, we can easily be replaced and someone else can be raised up to do the work of the ministry. God can do just as much, or possibly more with another obedient heart…especially if we do not stay humble. We know that we have a certain personality that is a blessing to the women we minister to, but there are so many ladies that have the ability to meet someone where they are at just like we can. We have to be mindful of the fact that God is very much able to work through any person that says yes to the call of godly service, not only us.

Lastly, this is a privilege and an honor. We sometimes start to indirectly have the mindset that we are doing God a favor by allowing Him to use our ‘fabulous selves’. We need to be thankful everyday, let those volunteers do their job and be kind to them even when they don’t know us. W should be gracious and teachable in every moment so that other godly woman can help us continue to grow as we walk in faith and serve in spirit and truth. We should ask God to continually search our hearts…and when He reveals something, fix it! We must not dismiss or try to talk our way out allowing God to help us in that particular area we need to work on because we have enough ‘good things’ that balance out to make the other heart issue insignificant in our eyes. We are all works in progress so let us continue to let God do the work He started in us.

We have not arrived…we have answered the call to serve. Let us be humble, kind, loving and faithful examples of what it truly means to serve the Lord. Our ultimate desire is to be please the Lord, not our image or egos, so let us all be mindful of this as we serve.  Hearts and Hugs!

Are you serving and getting a little puffed up because God is using you so mightily? Please be careful and also allow someone to help hold you accountable. Pride always comes before the fall and we never want to be in that place as women in leadership.