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Article by Dr Barbara Louw
It is nearly Spring in Pretoria. Not too cold and not too warm and my garden is filled with promises of renewed beauty as the season changes.
I realize that seasons also change in ministry. We started with great zeal and passion. Academic studying, training people and practical ministry to make a difference in people's lives became part of everyday life. All the wins, losses, successes, and disappointments are moments that add up to who I am as a counsellor.
Over time, I went through many changes in my ministry life, family life and who I became. These changes are not signs of failure, but they are opportunities to heal, grow and thrive. Being open to change allows me to get rid of toxic relationships and futile habits. That being said, there are endless possibilities to living your God-given calling.
When we became comfortable in the rut of life, we cannot enjoy a healthy, loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. We become lethargic because the voice of the Holy Spirit becomes too faint. After all, we are too busy. Stagnation is our enemy because it brings frustration, boredom, and apathy. These things don't just have to come out of our heads because it is time to change.
If you're happy doing whatever you do, that's great! However, maybe you're tired of what you've been doing and don't feel deep joy and the creative spark from being in the presence of God anymore. It may be time for a change. Doing something different can be intimidating because it's not comfortable. Everything in us rebel against change but you know when God is calling you to a better place.
The next question is "How?" – Simple. Stop doing what you are doing. Take stock of what is going on in your life and your ministry. Look at things differently.
- Change your attitude. You are not in a perfect place and what you are doing is smothering the life out of you. Is stagnation the will of God for any of His children? I don’t believe that God wants His children to be in a hurting place filled with obligations and burdens that have nothing to do with Him or the vision He gave us. Have courage and become willing to make a change of some kind.
- Change your viewpoint. As you stop being so busy it is a good place to look at the story of your unique relationship with God. How did you become aware of Him in your life? How did He lead and guide you over the years? Are there things in your life that are not from Him? It is time to throw out things that don’t add value or make sense.
- Reach out to someone. Reaching out goes two ways. Look for someone who can help you to heal and grow. Make a solid commitment to be gentle enough to take the step to make the changes you need to and firm enough to stick to your commitment. The second reaching out needs to be to someone who needs encouragement and kindness from you. The change of reaching out must be a cycle of giving and taking.
- Change your set ways. Most often we need to go back to basics and add what we have learnt through studying and experience. Sometimes the most liberating thing you can do is to try something new. Listen to new kinds of music (see Psalms 96); read something new like poetry or master a new hobby. You are a creative person and making something is a new way of sharing your inner message.
- Enjoy renewing your mind. Go back to spending time in God’s presence without a preset agenda. Read His Word and talk to Him like He is your Friend, your Mentor and your Holy Father. You can only break free from the bondage of boredom and stagnation when you allow His Spirit to renew you (Romans 12:2). This will be challenging at first because it is human nature to oppose change.
It takes time to try different things, to see what kindles the fire in you. Embrace the challenge to be renewed so that you can heal, grow and thrive. Together we can become well through the wholeness that God gives.
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Stepping out and committing to fulfilling the ministry that God called you for can be a lonely place. The Association for Christian Ministries has received several prayer requests from people saying that they are feeling lonely and confused.
The people who supported them before grew quiet since they put their God-given dream into action and started ministering to those who needed a touch of God the most. Colleagues seem to give glory reports of the great things that are happening where they are active. They get wonderful donations and breakthroughs.
After more than 35 years in ministry, I can guarantee you that there will be a lonely patch in your life when you step into that God-given calling. You will experience self-doubt and wonder if you are an imposter. When you try to share this experience with others you will also find that people are keen to give advice. They love to dream up more things you should do, leaving you more overwhelmed than ever.
Stop! Don’t look back because you can never go back to “square one”. There is no such place. You have new experience, knowledge, and insight. Despite what you are feeling right now, you grew in your relationships with people and God on the journey in your God-given calling.
Let’s get back to basics. You know that God is faithful and that He called you to do what you do best. Now is the best time to trust Him for the wisdom and energy to fulfil this calling.
When you are doing what you are supposed to do, there is no time for pity parties. It is essential to be careful of the company you keep. You can’t afford doom-sayers and negative people in your life.
Here are a few things I do daily:
- I focus on my relationship with God. The ministry is never more important than being in the right standing with Him.
- I am faithful in prayer and reading His Word.
- I am careful of jumping into every opportunity just because they all seem like a “once-in-a-lifetime” chance. “It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows” Proverbs 20:25 (NIV). There are plenty more opportunities where they come from, and it is more important to do the right things at the right time.
- I do my utmost best to stick to commitments, especially to my spouse and children. Paul wrote to Timothy saying: “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” 1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV).
- I pay close attention to the calling God places on my life and ask Him to bless my colleagues in what they are doing. I don’t waste time comparing blessings lists because I stay busy with what I need to do. Job 42:10 says that after Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.
Being faithful in your walk with God and ministering to His people is a continuous commitment. We pray that you will enjoy the fruit of the ministry God blessed you with.
“The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear”
(Hebrews 13:5).
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Paul thanks God for Christ who leads us in triumphal procession. However, our walk with God is not just a matter of faith because we have a role to play. Our role is to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. Our gratefulness is like the carrier oil that forms the base to spread this precious fragrance. Glory to God for giving is a sound foundation of the knowledge of Him!
Keep on doing what God called you to do. You know what He has done for you. Your ministry and testimony are part of spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.
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Being in a Christian Ministry is about so much more than preaching to people. Ministry is serving and blessing God’s people in a way that brings glory to God. The foundation of our God-given calling and serving to meet people’s needs starts in a ‘quite’ place. This ‘quite’ place is a point where your heart and mind join to meet in conversations with God. The best point of departure to start these precious conversations is always with thanksgiving.
Teresa of Avila noted: "Prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God."
May the peace of God be with you as you spend time with Him today.
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