Deepening Or Drifting

Here we go again. Christmas is in the rear view mirror. The New Year is upon us. I really hope you got a refreshing break after Christmas! If not I’m sorry. Like it or not the responsibilities, strategies & schedules are back in full swing, or about to be. I wonder, does that excite you or exhaust you? Either way it might be a good time for a quick check up. Let’s do some personal game planning around your spiritual health for the next season.

Spiritual health always matters, but especially for those in pastoral leadership. Only the Spirit produces spiritual fruit & impact. When we allow the press of ministry to prevent the work of Christ in us, everybody loses. The ministry impact we dream of can never be achieved by pursing it first. We must always pursue Jesus first (i.e. Matt. 6:33)! You already know this of course, but we all have seasons of forgetful drift.

My main question for you this month is: how will you make sure you deepen with Jesus and minister out of the overflow as the new year begins?

This question comes from two crucial passages. Psalm 127 which reminds us that UNLESS the Lord build, our work is a waste. John 15 specifies that UNLESS we abide in Jesus, we can’t produce any true spiritual fruit. We can birth thorns, leaves and sticks for the fire, but nothing of eternal value. That is why I ask this question.

To help you begin, I want to give you two suggestions and two approaches to make it work.

Prov 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

TWO SUGGESTIONS

Keep Watch over Your Soul

What are your warning lights that your leadership health is out of whack and how often do you check them? When your soul is out of gas instead of abiding? Does they show up in your emotions, your relationships, your schedule? Are you aware of them? If not ask those who serve closest with you!

When you are alone with Jesus consider: How are you with Jesus really? Are you abiding in Him? Depending on the Spirit? Does your daily ministry overflow from the Spirit’s work in your heart or is it driven by something else? How will you know? What will you do about it? Does your schedule reflect faithful pursuit of His calling for you?

Keeping watch will help you catch the beginning of a drift and prevent it from going on too long. If you want to chase this further consider Don Whitney’s book Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health.

Intentionally Deepen to Avoid Drift

What will help you deepen instead of drift? What would a more intentional pursuit of deepening leadership health look like for you in 2023? I’m talking about progress not perfection. I’m not talking about flesh driven discipline. I am talking about deepening intentional spiritual rhythms that keep us abiding more often, more frequently for longer periods of time so our work is actually more spirit than flesh.

The core real time ministry question to assess reality is “am I walking closely enough with Jesus to follow His direction and rest in His power?” If not what is my next step to deepen with Him?

I trust you to work out the specifics with the Lord and wise teammates in your church. Even better is to share with your pastor cohort. (but I’ll take that up another time). I’m glad to have a conversation with you about this if I can be of help.

TWO APPROACHES

Plan Regular Times of Reflection

It is good to have regular times of reflection to focus on the first two suggestions. These are “half- time moments.” They are planned times between ministry stretches where we can reflect, assess and adjust  with a bit less pressure. They might be daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly times we have made a habit through our schedule. I encourage you to take some time to do this and extend it in the next season for your own sake and the church you lead.

Call “Time Outs” as Needed

Time Out moments are brief moments in a game when you realize something is out of sync and need addressed immediately. If you have made used of the planned breaks then in these you go back to just two questions. Am I abiding in Jesus right now? How do I sync back up with His presence and calling? For me these prayer breaks involve responsive listening to Jesus about what is happening. This can lead to repentance and renewal in living out our calling in dependance on Him.

Don’t let another year begin without leaning in on your spiritual health. When this deepens, it empowers everything else for the better. As one of my early mentors said, “What your church needs most from you is that you have a vital relationship with Jesus!” I’m praying for you as this new year begins. May you so deepen with Jesus that His fruit multiplies in your life, family & ministry!

1Tim. 4:15-16 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.