I found myself recently depleted. I was shocked. At first I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. I had been launching my website and future ministry. I had been working very hard; pushing it to the max for an extended period of time. A little voice inside of me said you are giving out too much and not taking in enough. That was the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart. I should have heeded it. I just kept going and realized a short time later that I was completely physically and emotionally exhausted. I had virtually nothing left in the tank, and was running on fumes. I had previously built myself up in the Lord with his help. All of a sudden, I was feeling totally weak and vulnerable. I begin to realize that I was also under attack from the enemy.
My intentions were good. Doing something that takes a lot of effort can be exhausting; but I became so focused on it; that I became oblivious to my own needs and to those around me. If you do this long term it becomes burn out. It would be like the minister who is so busy ministering to others that he neglects himself and find himself totally drained. So what do you do to get that fuel back in the tank? Fortunately, God is merciful and his Word gives us instruction, and he can give us a prescription for our own unique personality. I knew there were some insights that God had give me from before.
First, I began meditating on God’s promises. I would think on them for a period of time, and let them soak from my mind to my heart. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”(Philippians 4:8) Then I began speaking in tongues. Jude 20 says this “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” I have found the Baptism in the Holy Spirit to be amazing. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would be. Where else can you find a counselor, encourager, source of power, etc. for free. These aren’t just mere words to me. The Holy Spirit has saved my life and enriched it at the same time. He is amazing. I also began listening to additional positive Bible Teachings either through Christian radio or pod casts.
I know for me personally, exercise and eating right makes a huge difference. We had several birthdays and I had been eating too much junk food. That affected me in a negative way. I changed that.
Then God told me to stop and smell the roses or the grandkids. Spending time with my wife; enjoying her company, and just hanging out with my grand daughter who lives with us is such a joy. If you need a boost watch something clean and funny. If your spirit in drained don’t watch serious drama watch light comedy. A merry heart works like a medicine the Proverbs tell us. “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”(Proverbs 17:22). I realize now that I had lost my sense of humor. I was so focused on getting this done; that my humor had dried up. Anyone who knows me knows I love to joke around.
Little-by-little, things started coming back again as the fuel tank was being refilled. Do I regret putting all of the energy into this ministry launching? No. Do I wish I would have heeded the signs of spiritual and physically weariness along the way? Yes. Sometimes, when you are driven and doing something and really enjoying it; you don’t realize the toll its beginning to take on you. It’s on you before you know it. Prevention I always say it easier than the cure. But I do thank God even when we don’t do it perfectly; he still helps us after the fact.
So if you find yourself drained; I encourage you to do what I did. It will renew the spiritual, emotionally and physically parts of you. Even better renew yourself before you start running out of gas from giving out more than you take in. I think Barney Fife, from the Andy Griffith show, said it best when he said “Nip it in the bud.” In other words, prevent it or at the first sign do something about it.
My intentions were good. Doing something that takes a lot of effort can be exhausting; but I became so focused on it; that I became oblivious to my own needs and to those around me. If you do this long term it becomes burn out. It would be like the minister who is so busy ministering to others that he neglects himself and find himself totally drained. So what do you do to get that fuel back in the tank? Fortunately, God is merciful and his Word gives us instruction, and he can give us a prescription for our own unique personality. I knew there were some insights that God had give me from before.
First, I began meditating on God’s promises. I would think on them for a period of time, and let them soak from my mind to my heart. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”(Philippians 4:8) Then I began speaking in tongues. Jude 20 says this “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” I have found the Baptism in the Holy Spirit to be amazing. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would be. Where else can you find a counselor, encourager, source of power, etc. for free. These aren’t just mere words to me. The Holy Spirit has saved my life and enriched it at the same time. He is amazing. I also began listening to additional positive Bible Teachings either through Christian radio or pod casts.
I know for me personally, exercise and eating right makes a huge difference. We had several birthdays and I had been eating too much junk food. That affected me in a negative way. I changed that.
Then God told me to stop and smell the roses or the grandkids. Spending time with my wife; enjoying her company, and just hanging out with my grand daughter who lives with us is such a joy. If you need a boost watch something clean and funny. If your spirit in drained don’t watch serious drama watch light comedy. A merry heart works like a medicine the Proverbs tell us. “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”(Proverbs 17:22). I realize now that I had lost my sense of humor. I was so focused on getting this done; that my humor had dried up. Anyone who knows me knows I love to joke around.
Little-by-little, things started coming back again as the fuel tank was being refilled. Do I regret putting all of the energy into this ministry launching? No. Do I wish I would have heeded the signs of spiritual and physically weariness along the way? Yes. Sometimes, when you are driven and doing something and really enjoying it; you don’t realize the toll its beginning to take on you. It’s on you before you know it. Prevention I always say it easier than the cure. But I do thank God even when we don’t do it perfectly; he still helps us after the fact.
So if you find yourself drained; I encourage you to do what I did. It will renew the spiritual, emotionally and physically parts of you. Even better renew yourself before you start running out of gas from giving out more than you take in. I think Barney Fife, from the Andy Griffith show, said it best when he said “Nip it in the bud.” In other words, prevent it or at the first sign do something about it.
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