Sometimes, as Christians, we can develop a resentful heart. How? When you are in ministry, whether pastoring or teaching or helping etc., you can get hurt. People do not always respond the way you think they will when it comes to teaching and/or preaching. This can lead to resentment.
As ministry continues, you can begin to look at that person, and others, and not see them the way Jesus sees them. Vision can become clouded over with the painful thoughts of what they said and/or did to you. That is why it is important to practice forgiveness. It's important to lay the situation at the foot of the cross. God will help you overcome what others do and say. Our example is Jesus. He looked past the fact that people had just crucified Him and asked God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing.
Now I'm not saying that you go around telling people they just didn't know what they were doing when they said or did whatever they said or did to you, that can be very arrogant. What I am saying is learn to let things go. Recognize the fact that you have been forgiven and forgive others. Resentment can develop very quickly. So take steps now to recognize that hurts will come and know how you will respond to them, by placing them at the foot of the cross. Prepare yourself now so that you are ready to defeat resentment when it comes your way. It's easier said than done, but the truth is the truth, it must be done. And it can be with Jesus' help.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Your Heart, Part 2...
We must also be careful of the Proud Heart. Pride can hinder our intimacy with God.
Pride can also lead to self-reliance. I notice it in myself. Maybe you've heard people talk about how others can't do things the way that they can? I admit that I've done it. Why? Pride. Instead of giving others a chance to grow in ministry, I take that opportunity because I am so focused on me and what I can do and how I can do it. Shame on me. Especially, when I know that there are people out there that can do things 100's of times better than me. That is not putting myself down, it is knowing the truth and we all know that knowing the truth will set us free.
People who minister can be bound by self-reliance so much that it can lead to burn out. We can become full time workers at keeping our reputations instead of letting God do His thing that we burn ourselves out and quit our ministry or leave the church altogether. Why burn out when the answers are sitting all around you... other people. Don't worry about your reputation of always being on top of things or having things altogether. Those talents of getting things done are God given for us to use for His glory, not to be abused by thinking we have some kind of super power that we can't let others be a part.
The Proud Heart must be repented of and humbling ourselves must become our daily routine. Humbling ourselves starts with worshipping God and declaring that without Him we are nothing. He is our source of strength. All the glory and honor and power belong to Him.
Lord, forgive me of my proud heart. Help me realize everyday that it's all about what You do through me, not what I can do. I gladly lay pride down so that I don't burn myself out trying to do what I cannot do. I don't want to try and keep up an appearance for the sake of my ego. I confess and repent and accept Your forgiveness. Amen.
Pride can also lead to self-reliance. I notice it in myself. Maybe you've heard people talk about how others can't do things the way that they can? I admit that I've done it. Why? Pride. Instead of giving others a chance to grow in ministry, I take that opportunity because I am so focused on me and what I can do and how I can do it. Shame on me. Especially, when I know that there are people out there that can do things 100's of times better than me. That is not putting myself down, it is knowing the truth and we all know that knowing the truth will set us free.
People who minister can be bound by self-reliance so much that it can lead to burn out. We can become full time workers at keeping our reputations instead of letting God do His thing that we burn ourselves out and quit our ministry or leave the church altogether. Why burn out when the answers are sitting all around you... other people. Don't worry about your reputation of always being on top of things or having things altogether. Those talents of getting things done are God given for us to use for His glory, not to be abused by thinking we have some kind of super power that we can't let others be a part.
The Proud Heart must be repented of and humbling ourselves must become our daily routine. Humbling ourselves starts with worshipping God and declaring that without Him we are nothing. He is our source of strength. All the glory and honor and power belong to Him.
Lord, forgive me of my proud heart. Help me realize everyday that it's all about what You do through me, not what I can do. I gladly lay pride down so that I don't burn myself out trying to do what I cannot do. I don't want to try and keep up an appearance for the sake of my ego. I confess and repent and accept Your forgiveness. Amen.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Your Heart...
I was recently asked to help mentor someone through their internship class through Global University. What a privilege it is to help another person pursue the calling God has placed on them. I have taken this privilege as a serious responsibility. I believe this person has a great call and I know that Satan will do whatever he can to try and steal, kill, and destroy this calling.
In this class, I read through the same material that the person does, only my reading is abbreviated. The section that we are on now is "Turning from the Wrong Heart." What a powerful section. It has been hitting me hard and bringing me back to the basics of ministry, loving Jesus with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The first heart mentioned in this section is the doubting heart. It is so easy to doubt in ministry. Especially, when people begin to question how you are doing things. And that happens, far too often. But it mustn't dictate the calling and direction that God is leading you. We must remember this. We are put in place to please God, not man.
Sometimes in our doubt we will begin to try and do things on our own, like Jesus is not moving fast enough. Picture Saul when Samuel didn't show up. He got impatient and offered the sacrifices, which was disobedience to God's command. He lost the kingdom. Lord, forgive me for the times I've gotten impatient. The times I doubted whether you were moving because my expectations were not met or someone else's expectations were not met. May the only expectations that count be Yours. May this lead to patience, knowing that God is truly in control. Amen.
As people question, may the calling of God become greater. People will not follow someone who doubts. So be strong and confident in what God has called you to do. We must know who we are in Christ.
"We must conquer our self-reliance, insecurity, fear, and any other reason that turns us from the action God has laid before us. In the life of ministry, people will seldom surpass their leader when it comes to acting on their faith." - pg. 15 Beginning Ministerial Internship - mentor manual
In this class, I read through the same material that the person does, only my reading is abbreviated. The section that we are on now is "Turning from the Wrong Heart." What a powerful section. It has been hitting me hard and bringing me back to the basics of ministry, loving Jesus with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The first heart mentioned in this section is the doubting heart. It is so easy to doubt in ministry. Especially, when people begin to question how you are doing things. And that happens, far too often. But it mustn't dictate the calling and direction that God is leading you. We must remember this. We are put in place to please God, not man.
Sometimes in our doubt we will begin to try and do things on our own, like Jesus is not moving fast enough. Picture Saul when Samuel didn't show up. He got impatient and offered the sacrifices, which was disobedience to God's command. He lost the kingdom. Lord, forgive me for the times I've gotten impatient. The times I doubted whether you were moving because my expectations were not met or someone else's expectations were not met. May the only expectations that count be Yours. May this lead to patience, knowing that God is truly in control. Amen.
As people question, may the calling of God become greater. People will not follow someone who doubts. So be strong and confident in what God has called you to do. We must know who we are in Christ.
"We must conquer our self-reliance, insecurity, fear, and any other reason that turns us from the action God has laid before us. In the life of ministry, people will seldom surpass their leader when it comes to acting on their faith." - pg. 15 Beginning Ministerial Internship - mentor manual
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
