4. Feed Your Soul and Your Heart
Read books that inspire you. Listen to sermons that build your faith.
Attend conferences that expose you to a “leadership environment” and also provide inspiration and encouragement. Avoid going from conference to conference finding the “next new thing”—just get refreshed and encouraged.
I hear preachers say, “Don’t just read the Bible to get new sermons.” I agree, but most all of my sermons come from my own journey of faith. Many times, reading the Bible for my soul also helps prepare my sermons. It doesn’t necessarily require two separate times of reading.
If you are feeling dry, find a way to fully enjoy and engage in Worship and Prayer.
5. Laugh a little – A Lot
We work hard—we need to play hard.
Learn to laugh. It’s healing to you on so many levels.
If you don’t have a sense of humor—get one. Pray for one.
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Proverbs 17:22 NLT
Watch some comedies. Find the humor in church life, ministry, people, marriage, and problems. Don’t take yourself so seriously—the rest of us don’t.
Celebrate wins. Stop and enjoy the moments. Look for reasons to go to lunch or dinner with your team and celebrate a little. Celebrate a great weekend, a good sermon series, salvations, water baptisms, small groups, the best offering this month, the lowest offering of the summer (a new opportunity to trust God) or a new volunteer.
There is…a time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4 NLT). (Make sure you engage in both!)
What do you think? How do you keep your passion for God and for ministry alive?
