A few weeks ago, I ran out of gas. What a pain that was. I had to walk to the gas station, buy a new gas can, fill it up, walk back to the car, and pour the gas into the car. Then back to the gas station to fill up.
All of this could have been avoided if I had paid closer attention to my gas level and taken time up front to fill up.
One of the areas I need to grow in is being proactive and keeping plenty of gas in my car.
But...I hate having to take the time to stop and fill up. I don't have time for that. I have places to go and people to meet. I tell myself I can go just a little farther without having to stop and get gas. But that comes back to bite me when I am stuck on the side of the road.
This is a metaphor for an even more important tank that I must keep full if I am going to go anywhere and make a difference in the lives of people. I have to face reality...if my spiritual tank is on empty, I will not be able to effectively minister to others and I will eventually burn out and not be in the right place to help others with their spiritual gas levels.
Bottom line...you can't run on empty. It will eventually catch up with you.
Here are some practical ways you can avoid running on empty.
Spend time with Jesus every day - it will refill your tank.
Don't...don't...don't neglect your time with Jesus. Look what Jesus told His disciples in Mark 3.
"And He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach."
Did you see that? Jesus first call to the disciples was to spend time with Him. Then their ministry would flow out of that.
Read God's Word every day.
I am currently reading through the Bible. One chapter per day. This morning, I read Psalm 69. It reminded me that God is with me and will care for me in my darkest times. It filled my tank.
Rest.
Use your day(s) off. Go on vacation.
Learn to say "no."
Sometime the most spiritual thing you can do is to use an eraser on your calendar.
Make spending time with your family a top priority.
When people ask you to do something on your day off, let them know you already have an appointment on that day. The appointment is with your family. Nothing is more important. Ministry tasks can wait. You only get one opportunity to raise your kids and invest in them.
Remember that running on empty can take you out of ministry.
You can literally burn out doing what you love. After 18 years of doing ministry, I completely burned out and it took me a year to get back to full strength. You can read more about what happened to me in this article.
Find things you can do outside of ministry that will fill your tank and help you keep stress from taking over your life.
Exercising
Playing sports
Hobbies
Working in your yard
Crafts
Reading
Taking some extensive time off
Remember that ministry is a marathon not a sprint.
You must find a pace that you can sustain for the long haul. Running at a sprint all the time will eventually take you down. Yes, there are times when you have to go the second mile. But you can't live there all the time or you will burn out.
Identify what is draining your spiritual tank and don't let it control you.
So...take a look at your spiritual tank. Where is your gauge? If it is dangerously low, please get filled back up. You can't effectively ministry on E. Your best days are ahead...if you keep your tank full.
Have you read my book "52 Devotions for Children's Ministry Leaders?" It has devotions that will encourage you, uplift you, and help fill your tank back up. You can get it at this link.
Get off of E. God still has much for you to do and an impact that you never dreamed you could have.
