Do you find yourself meeting everyone’s needs but feeling like no one makes the effort to encourage you in your time of need?
These are valid questions and I have asked them myself from time to time.
My heart was never to be self absorbed but I needed to find a balance
in scripture that showed me how to give myself away but also to stay
spiritually strong and feel connected to others that love me and that I
love. I believe that every answer and example for living is in
scripture so I started searching.
What I found in my search is that Jesus spent incredible amounts of
time pouring his life out amongst the hurting. He spent times of
solitude in prayer with God alone. Jesus also did community with his 12
disciples. He ate, laughed, taught, slept and worked alongside them.
I know that we are not Jesus but we see a balance of the greatest life
ever lived. The only one that could meet his spiritual needs was God.
His 12 friends/disciples met his communal needs and he gave himself
away to the crowds according to God’s perfect instruction. The only way
to hear from God and know His will is to walk intimately with Him.
Jesus served some of the masses, healed some of the people and made
demands of others. He did not have one mode of operation for all
people; he listened to his heavenly Father and served accordingly.
There is a strength that comes when the enemy cannot turn your minds
eye back to worrying about yourself. Here is a secret, the more in love
you are with Jesus, the more you desire to please and delight Him.
Doing the things that please and honor Him turn out to be energizing
and life giving. If anyone has ever been in love we know that this
relationship principle never fails. The happiest in life I am in my
marriage is when I do things that I know Roger loves and enjoys. His
joy just about doubles my happiness and that is the prevailing
principle of loving and serving God without the worry of burn out or
self focus. God will be clear in direction to a heart that loves and
waits to hear from Him.
God never intended for us to feel lonely or neglected in ministry.
Choose your spiritual friends wisely. Spend time with them sharing and
doing life. Let them know when you need encouragement or an extra dose
of time.
Cultivate your alone time with God to be constant and delightful. Make
sure to hear from God so that you know who, where and when to serve.
Then serve with all your heart and know that whatever you do for the least of them you do also for Him.
