Today's Lesson: Reduce the stress of serving
Scripture Reference: Ephesians 2:10
" Created in Christ Jesus to do good work" (Ephesians 2:10)
"You were saved to serve, not sit on the sidelines." (Daily Devotion) But even though we are appointed to serve, there is the possibility of stress overload. Even though we love serving God, our attitudes may stress us. Burnout can be caused by a deadly mix of perfectionism and inadequacy in serving. This mix may cause a decrease in our joy and increase in tension. We may behave compulsively and obsessively as a result. In essence, we feel trapped.So what are we supposed to do? Do we quit? or do we keep going and continue to feel overwhelmed? If we keep going, it can lead to us being overly responsible for the task at hand and we take on our work load as well as others.
So, how do we resolve this problem?
#1 Stop serving to please others: When we operate with this motive, it never works! It then leads us to disappointment because we find ourselves working harder for approval. In Galatians 1:10 it says these words " I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant" So work to receive the "well done" and the pats on the back from God and not man.
#2 Stop serving in your own strength: Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does" (John 5:19) Cooperation and interdependency...Like hand in glove, they move together. "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me" (John 15:4)
It's okay to work hard, but let God be source of your energy. If you remember your source of effectiveness, it will reduce your stress in serving.
Pray for someone today...Today, I am praying for each of you.
That's all for now. Have a blessed morning/afternoon/evening.
Your Sister in Christ,
LA
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