Connected

"One of those days Jesus went out to

a mountainside to pray,

and spent the night praying to God.

When morning came,

he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them,

whom he also designated apostles:

Simon (whom he named Peter), 

his brother Andrew,

James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas,

James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,

Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot,

who became a traitor."

Luke 6:12-16

Here is a simple quiz you can take to help determine whether you are at risk for burning out on the job or in your ministry:

1.  Do you feel run down and drained of physical or emotional energy?

2.  Do you find that you are prone to negative thinking about your job or ministry?

3.  Do you find that you are harder and less sympathetic with people than perhaps they deserve?

4.  Do you find yourself getting easily irritated by small problems, or by your co-workers or team?

5.  Do you feel misunderstood or unappreciated by your co-workers or team members?

6.  Do you feel that you have no one to talk to?

7.  Do you feel that you are achieving less than you should?

8.  Do you feel under an unpleasant level of pressure to succeed?

9.  Do you feel that you are not getting what you want out of your job or ministry?

10.Do you feel there is more work than you practically have the ability to do?

Not only is this a great tool to use to determine whether or not I'm susceptible to burnout, but it is also an excellent way to gauge upon whose strength I am relying.

Jesus always stayed connected to His Father.  Consequently, His mind was always focused on His Father's will.  (Luke 2:49)  His habit of getting away from the task at hand and spending time in prayer with His Father kept Him in touch with the Source of all His power and gave Him an advantage when tackling the day to day frustrations that come with being human.

Wisdom

The world says that wisdom, or the power to judge and discern properly what is true and right, comes with age.  Psalm 111:10, however, says that, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."  Revering and placing God in the highest, most prominent position in my life begins a flow of His wisdom into my mind.  As I get closer to Him, He shows me how to live His way.   

Offering myself as a living sacrifice to God, committing myself to living for Him instead of for me, prompts Him to reveal His will to my transformed mind. (Romans 12:1-2) His way starts to become the preferred way for me.  

So when I'm connected to God and I'm faced with a major decision, my mind will be clear with the option He prepared for me at this time.  

When I'm following His lead and I come to a fork in the road, His preferred route will stand out to me as the clear path to follow.

When I am rightly related to my Father and disaster strikes, my heart will be at peace as He guides me through the steps He has for me.

Staying connected to my Father as Jesus did will give me wisdom to know His will for my life.

Strength

As a young adult, I competed in powerlifting.  As someone who was naturally strong, this sport seemed like a perfect outlet for me.  I ended up going to the Drug-Free Nationals and broke several records for my age group.  I had learned how to gain much physical strength.

But strong muscles do not naturally translate to emotional or spiritual strength.  If I'm physically fit, I am no better prepared to face the stresses and difficulties of life than my out-of-shape counterpart. 

I know a woman who is struggling with the loss of her daughter.  Her child did not die from a terrible disease, or run away from home.  No, this precious 14-year-old girl was abducted from the safety of her own bedroom.  To this day, the mother knows who took her, but not what her fate is.  Even though she is going through every parent's worst nightmare, she has an inner strength few can understand.  Some have called her cold and uncaring, others have assessed that she's in denial, still others wonder if she somehow played a part in this horrible act.  

The truth is, this mother has claimed, "The LORD as my strength and my shield." (Psalm 28:7) She knows from where her help comes (Psalm 121) and Who is the source of that assistance.  (Psalm 46:1-3)

Nineteenth-century clergyman Phillips Brooks put's it all into Kingdom perspective when he advised, "Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people!  Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers: pray for powers equal to your tasks.  Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle but you shall be a miracle.  Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God."

Staying connected to my Father as Jesus did will provide an unlimited source of strength to live for Him, no matter what comes my way.

Purpose

John the Baptist never suffered from an identity crisis.  He had been taught from the moment he could understand what his purpose was here on earth: "to make straight the way for the Lord." (John 1:23)  John's purpose was clear and he never wavered from fulfilling that plan until his death by beheading.  (Matthew 14)

Unfortunately, most of us don't know so clearly the plan God has for us.  (Jeremiah 29:11)  Just the fact that a plan exists, however, is enough to give my life meaning.  If, instead, I thought life was a giant cosmic mistake, a series of events that occurred randomly and unintentionally resulted in the complexity that is human life, I would tend to think my life was pretty worthless.  What's the point if there's no greater plan?  

Thankfully, there is a purpose for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and God is the author of that plan!  Knowing there is a reason for my life gives me an impression that I possess value and also gives me a sense that I'm a part of a bigger plan that includes more than just me.  My piece fits into all the other parts and helps to create the whole.  (1 Corinthians 12)

When I put my life into the hands of the Master Artist, He creates a masterpiece.  Solomon poetically penned the thought that, "He has made everything beautiful in its time."  (Ecclesiastes 3:11)  Trusting God with my life means He's already done a beautiful thing, it's just a matter of waiting on the appointed time.  The fact that it will happen is a done deal.

As a child of God through faith in Jesus, I can count on the truth that God is transforming me into the image of His Son.  Continuing to walk in faith by obeying His personal guidance and allowing Him to keep up that transformational work means I'll develop godly desires to do what pleases Him. (Philippians 2:13-14)  This all comes through cultivating my relationship with the God who loves me.

Staying connected to my Father as Jesus did gives me a sense of purpose that guides me confidently through life as I follow His plan.

It's easy to burn out when I'm trying to live my life based on worldly wisdom, by working in my own strength and in creating my own plan for my life.  But endurance will come when I instead stay connected to my Father who dispenses His wisdom through me, gives me the strength I need when I need it and colors my entire life with a sense of purpose and design.  Then I will not only be able to avoid suffering from exhaustion and discouragement but will soar on wings like eagles.  (Isaiah 40)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stay connected to my source of wisdom, strength and purpose.

How do I try to rely on my own strength?

When do I float through my day, bouncing from one thing to another, instead of intentionally living according to His will?

My Own Eyes

"But you have seen the LORD

perform all these mighty deeds

with your own eyes!"

Deuteronomy 11:7

The man holding the gun was calm and steady, never taking his eyes off his target.  The one who was the focus of his attention, however, was acting erratically, foolishly taunting the gunman.  "Go ahead, shoot me.  What are you waiting for?"

Meanwhile, customers at the gas station where my husband and I were filling up the tank of our truck were driving frantically away, trying to escape the strange showdown over a gas pump.  The gunman did finally fire the gun into the ground, earning the agitator an injury to his shin.

As a witness to this bizarre crime, I gave my account to the law enforcement personnel.  I had seen with my own eyes what had happened.

It is the same with me and God.  I have seen His works with my own eyes, both disciplinary and delivery.  These personal experiences with a real and living God have shaped my faith in ways adherence to a set of religious standards and practices can not.  

Since I have seen God's mighty hand at work in the softening of a once hardened heart, in the transformation of a life, or in the rescue from a near death encounter, I personally know of His power.  Therefore, I take Him seriously, knowing that He holds my very life in His hands.  When He says to be careful to obey His commands, I know He means it and that there will be repercussions.

Strength

When I was 19-years-old, I set a national record at the American Drug-Free Powerlifting Association National Championships held in Chicago, Illinois.  I always thought of myself as naturally strong, so this sport seemed an obvious choice for me.  

That physical strength, however, does not help me to forgive those who are mean and cruel to me.  That kind of power does nothing to give me what I need to be kind in the face of evil.  Strong muscles cannot help me to endure a difficult circumstance with joy in my heart.

Physical strength does not translate into spiritual strength.  The kind of might I need to accomplish the mission God has set before me comes from Him as I live my life His way.

God warned the Israelites to pay special attention to every Word that came from His mouth, following His commands to the last detail, "so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess."  (Deuteronomy 11:8b)  Obedience leads to strength.  Doing things God's way empowers me to succeed.  Forsaking my self-interest and embracing the fulfillment of God's desires results in the ability to do His will.

Strength has nothing to do with my abilities, gifts or talents.  It has everything to do with God's might.  In order to get through the trials that come with each day, I must surrender my will to His and allow His power to flow through me.  

As 19-Century pastor and author Phillips Brooks said, "Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people!  Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks.  Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle but you shall be a miracle.  Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God."

In order to showcase God's grace, it is necessary for me to live by God's strength.

Longevity 

Whenever I buy a new appliance, whether it be a hairdryer or a dishwasher, it usually comes with a lengthy booklet of instructions the manufacturer put together to inform me how to get the optimal performance and longest life from their product.  The one who made the device understands how it should be treated in order to get the best results.

It is not so different with me.  One of the best ways to experience superior performance and durability is to live my life according to the operating instructions given to me by my Manufacturer.  God's way is always better than my way.

God's wisdom dispensed through King Solomon tells us that, "The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short."  (Proverbs 10:27)  Solomon did not always possess this kind of wisdom, but as the son of David, he was taught under someone who loved and revered God.  When it came time for the young man to take the throne, he did so with a serious attitude of respect and honor for God.  

One night, God appeared to the new king in a dream and told Solomon to ask for anything and it would be granted.  Solomon asked for discernment in leading his people.  This request pleased the Lord, prompting an even greater blessing of wealth and honor.  Additionally, God went on to say,  "if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." (1 Kings 3:14)

God has a plan for each of our lives and our days are written in His book before we are even born.  There is no secret formula or "fountain of youth," but those who tend to live longer are those who don't fight against God, but submit to His authority in their lives.

Following the Manufacturers instructions offers the best results and longest life.

Provision

Each of us is motivated to act by something or someone.  It could be the drive to succeed, to make a name for oneself, to provide for a family or to live in comfort.  Whatever it is, we do what we do for a reason.

The world is filled with messages that tempt my self-centered nature: 

Go for the gusto 

"Tonight's the night.  Let's live it up.  I got my money.  Let's spend it up."   -Black eyed Peas

Live for today, don't worry about tomorrow.

"Get it while you can" -Janis Joplin

Living for my own pleasure, comfort and success may feel good for awhile, but it will ultimately lead to emptiness.  Trusting in God to supply my needs and instead living for His pleasure will lead to contentment and true happiness.  

God gives me this promise in Deuteronomy 11:13-15.  He says, "if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today-to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul-then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil.  I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied."

If the drive in my life is to please myself, I will never be satisfied.  If the motivating factor is to put God first in all things, He will provide all that I need and I will experience true satisfaction in my present circumstances.  Things I used to think I needed, I will realize are unnecessary.  I will wont for nothing.  My heart will be content.

Making God my ultimate goal in life will lead to His faithful provision and a pleasing sense of fulfillment.

I have seen God do many things in my life and in the lives of others.  There is no doubt He is LORD of all things.  In order to live my life under His Lordship, I must pay careful attention to His ways and be cautious not to get off-track.  Then I will receive the strength I need to endure, a long life to live for Him, and the faithful provision of my needs. 

If I use what I have seen God do as an impetus to enter into a personal relationship with my Lord, I will experience more than I ever dreamed possible. "To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen."  (Ephesians 3:21)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will keep God in the highest position of importance.

How do I try to do things out of my own strength instead of letting God work?

When do I spend most of my time trying to supply my needs instead of relying on God?