Mistake #9: Not Resting
By Stovall Weems
This mistake can be an easy one to commit. Working in the ministry, (while it has it’s challenges and difficulties), is very satisfying. It’s exciting to see people’s lives transformed and help meet people’s needs through the love of Christ. There’s passion and purpose in knowing that what we do has eternal impact connected to it. So it’s no wonder that we can easily start “burning the candle at both ends” and put off taking time to rest, as there’s always so much to do. However, not taking time to rest is basically a violation of the principle of the Sabbath, and God’s principles cannot be violated without consequence. If we ignore this, and don’t take time to rest and get refreshed, this can lead to burnout very fast and it will be extremely difficult on us individually, as well as our families.
The bottom line is this- we can never finish all our “ministry work”. People have needs 24/7. Hell does not take a day off and there is always so much to be done for God. But we have to keep looking at the big picture and think long-term. We will be much more effective for Jesus in the long run if we take our proper rest.
Personally, I have found that this is something I have to be intentional about and work hard at protecting, but it always pays off.
Stovall
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How about this for a great Stovall quote:
Stovall Weems comments: “When we get saved, and the Holy Spirit comes in on the inside of us, remember the promise of the New Covenant when God says that I will take out your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh? That’s symbolic. That doesn’t mean that you actually had a heart of stone. Yet, you still had a human heart. But what He’s saying is, ‘I’m going to give you a heart that can feel Me.’ You’re going to have a new spirit, where you can experience Me, and that’s why Jesus said in Matthew chapter 4, the first test that the devil gave Him, and he said, ‘Jesus, turn these stones to bread,’ and Jesus says, ‘Look, for now on, man (He’s talking about the Church), for now on, man doesn’t live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,’ What Jesus was saying is this: For now on, guess what? God’s children will have an inner drive, that the things of this world cannot satisfy. For now on, there is going to be this affection, there is going to be this drive, that only God can satisfy, that only God can fulfill, and what’s happened to us as the Church is that we have settled for such cheap substitutes in trying to find happiness.” (What is Love, 2009)
Very good.
AMEN! John and I just went to the beach Monday and it began pouring on us (we kinda knew it might sprinkle). We just looked at each other, put up our little umbrella over us as we laid on our tummies and laughed because we were going to enjoy some Sabbath no matter what happened. Thanks for all your good words!
Amen!! My Girls and I look forward to our weekly sabbath time together. We always do what we can to protect that time to focus on God and on each other!