Preventing BurnoutSample

In our day and age, convenience and quickness are king. We want faster iPhones, faster internet, and faster cars. We want speed, and we want it consistently. But when we look at the way we are called to live our lives, we don't necessarily see that this model is the most effective for producing long-lasting fruit. In fact, it takes time for maturation to take place in the fruit we love. Why wouldn't it be the same for our own lives? Be okay with the wait.

More than giving you keys that will somehow make you less burnt out, I simply desire that you come to the realization that apart from Him, we can do nothing. When we understand that, the pressure of constantly producing for others in our own efforts vanishes on its own. All expectations to give more than we can come from fruit that was never produced by the Lord, to begin with. When we return to abiding in Him, the pressure comes off of us. For He gives and takes away. He is in control, not us.

If our inner life is bankrupt, then we will never really produce anything worthwhile. Rather than just caring for everyone else around you, I want to encourage you to take some time to be with the Lord. More than just the regular daily prayers and devotionals, I want to encourage you to get away to be with Him one-on-one for an extended time. I have made this a regular habit in my life to keep my inner life balanced and far from burnout. I have noticed that these are key moments where the Lord recalibrates my heart. If possible, make this part of your monthly or quarterly routine. Choose a place where you can get away for a night or for the weekend to just be with Him.

Taking care of your inner life is of primary importance for ministry, leadership, and everyday life. Everyone and everything else will demand your time. You will have to fight and make sure that you take heed of yourself.

You need to take care of your inner life and your health before you can take care of others.

Remember that while machines need to be “on,” branches need to be “in.”

Machines need power, but branches need sap.

Machines produce, but branches reproduce.

Machines make products we use, but branches make fruit we eat.

You need to be with Him because you're called to be a branch of His, not a machine.

Take some time to look at your calendar, talk to your family, and be intentional about setting a date to spend extended time with the Lord. At first, this may be hard, especially when there is such a demand on your time, but in doing so, you will be fed and satisfied in a way that nothing else will ever satisfy. After all, He is true bread and true drink (John 6:55).

Get back to what matters, His Presence, and you'll quickly notice that He will clear the fog and begin to rekindle the flame in your heart that was once there. Trust Him to lead you in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).

Let's Pray:

Lord, I surrender my expectations and ideas of how things should be and I pray that You would overtake my heart. I surrender. Have all of me. Recalibrate, restore, and renew me. Build me into whatever You desire. Lead me in the way everlasting.

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