Mistake #2 – Allowing the business of ministry to affect my time with God
By Stovall Weems
This one probably should have been listed as #1 in my “Top 10” because this is the most important. This is a killer for pastors.
I allowed the business of ministry to affect my relationship with God. Too many times I allowed my time studying for the message to replace my time in the Word to fellowship with God. Too many times I was looking for the right series instead of seeking God and waiting for Him to burn something on my heart. This is the quickest way to burnout and the fastest way for the church to stop growing.
There is so much emphasis on church leadership right now and that is very important. But if you are out of balance -constantly reading leadership books and not spending enough time with The Leader of the Church (Jesus) your leadership is going to suffer big time. I have had seasons where I devoted too much time to developing and working on the ministry but neglecting prayer and time in God’s Word. Lot’s of creative meetings, discussions on church strategy, etc. Those are all so important but they cannot be to the neglect of the Word of God and time with Jesus. So many pastors today can get message and leadership resources so easily. That is a good thing. But it cannot replace the ONE THING they have to have to be a success in God’s Kingdom-sitting at Jesus feet and spending time with the Master! We are all blogging and twittering, but are we praying and fasting?
If there is one thing I have learned over the last 10 years- this is the non-negotiable in my life- time with Jesus.
Stovall
Comments
13 Responses to “Mistake #2 – Allowing the business of ministry to affect my time with God”
Leave a Reply
-
Recent Comments
- Raj and Ruth, INDIA!: Great, Pastor Stovall! Thank you so much for the blog. Thank you for your regular blogs.We are...
- Lin Holyfield: I don’t, but I have a few friends that attend Celebration…they’v e shared a few CD...
- Jesse: Wow – great insight. Thank you. Enjoying your blog immensely. Jesse
- Tina: Great response doing these 2 things. Thank You
- Tina Kirby: Thanks Pastor Stovall, I’ve been praying for God to help me say and do the right things. I pray for...
- Alisa H.: Great info! Thanks Pastor, will help me with preparing for Hardee Sisterhood!
- Jill Dykstra: Ameeeeeeeeeen Amen Amen
Pastor Stovall, this is a topic that has been in my thoughts in regards to our new church home. I hope that the new santuary will have an area where people can sit, kneel, pray and worship quietly. A kind of meditation room. I believe one way to honor Jesus is to dwell in His Presence, not for a message, but just to be near Him. I spend time in the word and meditation books almost every mornging. It would be nice to have a quiet area at my church home since our services are not geared for this type of time with the Lord. God Bless!!
P.S. I think an organ at Celebration would be awesome!!!!
That’s good Pastor…
Actually you can interchange the ministry with
“my kids, my marriage, my hobbies” or whatever….
If God isn’t 1st, then everything else tends to get screwed up
Great word!
Martin
Waiting on God, Whoa! I struggle with this big time. When I have waited, and God burned my heart with something, it always brings the right calliber of obedience and power. Waiting on God is were I fall short, and this causes my motives to get mixed up.
Thanks Stovall!
This is some good chicken.
Its crazy, I love leadership books, but I’m learning lately a lot of them say the same things. There for a season I thought to stay fresh as a leader, I must read the new cool leadership book.
But spending time with Jesus is what really makes us and keeps us fresh as a leader.
I don’t want to be recognized as a great leader, but one who is recognized by what Jesus has already put in me.
This has been about 6 months ago are more .And one of your sermons you said we need to have a relationship with our Bible ,I knew you were speaking rigth to me. because up to then I had been reading alots of good books ,but not the right book . And now I have even wrote in my Bible . Thank you Pastor Stoval Love you guys
I know EXACTLY what you mean. We had to shut down (well God shut us down) for a while at DanceJax because it was just taking over everything. Now we’ve had a break, we are straight out and full on in the right direction. Alone time with our Maker keeps us “tuned up” and ready to feel and hear the Holy Spirit when He wants to guide us.
Just being sensitive to Him and keeping close takes care of where and what to focus our time on for the ministry – after all – it is His ministry…..
Love you man!!!!! You are MY pastor and I appreciate you keeping it so REAL!
Thank all of you for your comments!
I continue to be thankful for the real life way that you speak. Your ability to speak the Word in understandable terms is a gift.
Needed to hear it. Even more than I think I did right now. Thank you sir!
Thanks for your honesty Stovall, this post is a great reminder for me of what really matters.
Thanks for sharing these personal lessons with us. While we all will have things to go through on our own journies, your lessons will save a lot of us alot of unnecessary pain. I LOVE YOU PASTOR STOVALL!
So true! When in a leadership role I have found myself on the hunt for good ideas when the search was really for God ideas! I appreciate your candor and transparency! God bless you!
Good stuff Stovall! As one of the leaders in the church I too have found myself trying to be the best leader sometimes by reading one too many “good books” instead of looking to the “One book” that has ALL the answers. I think we look at being a leader a little too political sometimes and need to step back, pray and fast, and just be an imitator of Christ and everything will fall into place. God is so good, He amazes me more and more every day…with Him, all things are possible