iShineInMinistry

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them…Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Do you love the sound of children singing worship songs as they dance around a room? Is your idea of a great time cooking up your favorite dish in preparation for a potluck? Is decorating the chapel with your volunteer committee enough to make you boil over with excitement?

Did you say yes to any of these questions? I hope that one of the questions (or something similar) resonated with you as you serve in full-time ministry. There are so many different parts of working at a church that are completely different from any other job in the world. It is so much fun and a great way to spend your days. However, if you are a ‘lifer’ you may start to get into a place where this just seems like the ‘same old, same old’ with each passing year. You may even begin to dread some of the different things that make ministry such a blessing.

In those moments where you feel more drained than joyful, we need to really seek the Lord and ask Him to help us to see the situation clearly. We may get to a place where we are becoming perpetual Marthas and never choosing the better thing. We need to have the heart of both ladies, where we serve willingly, but also take the time to regroup and get refilled with Jesus. If we are not careful, nothing will feel joyful and everything will just feel like something that needs to be crossed off a ‘to-do’ list.

Make sure to take a heart inventory often to make sure that you are:

1) Serving joyfully and not in your own strength

2) Getting rest that is needed after you have been doing many things

3) Being ‘re-filled’ with God’s word through teaching, personal devotional time, prayer and attending worship services

We do not ever want to run the risk of being sorrowful as we are doing what God has called us to do. Let God show us what is needed as we serve Him so that we continue to be joyful.

Do you feel worn down as you serve? Are you joyful as the Lord shows you opportunities to serve? Are you a little of both? See if you are doing the three things listed above.