It was a typical Sunday night after a day full of services; I was tired, but full at the same time. Know the feeling? You’ve exhausted everything you have. You’ve given everything thing you have to give, and as the long day comes to a close, I reflect. As worship leaders, we have this incredible opportunity to lead people into the presence of God every week! Nothing, to me, is more fulfilling and, sometimes, exhausting. Back to my story!
I had led four services and was about to drive to my wife’s parent’s house two hours away for Memorial Day. I thought to myself, I’m going to need a treat! So off to Sonic I went! As I pull up, I rolled down my window to order, when I heard the lady in the car next to me telling someone on the phone that her car battery had died. In this moment I had two choices, pretend like I didn’t hear her, and justify it by telling myself what a long and exhausting day it had been (the excuses could go on and on), or I could offer to help. I decided to ask her if I heard correctly, and I checked to make sure I had my jumper cables with me (thanks to my father-in-law). A couple of minutes later she was driving away with relief, and I was drinking my milkshake headed down the road. I was so glad that I was able to give her a little bit of power so she could be on her way!
Immediately, I began to think how sometimes we try to go through life like this woman. Getting little jolts of power here and there just to make it to where we are trying to go. I know God has called us to so much more than this.
Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” I believe that we are to operate in this power every minute of every day, not just when we are at church. He also says in the same verse that this is how we will be witnesses for Him. So through the power that the Holy Spirit gives us, we are to tell our world of what He has done in us. Think of it this way, if I didn’t have any power to give, this woman and I would’ve both been stranded. But instead, I knew what I had to give was something that could give “life” to her car, and I gave it freely (even when she offered to buy my milkshake J).
Church leaders: don’t try to do ministry out of your own strength. God has given us the power of His Holy Spirit to bring guidance, conviction, comfort, and vision.
He has given us a connection to Him so powerful that it raised Christ from the dead! Praying in the power of the Holy Spirit gives us the mind of Christ and keeps us aligned with His will and purpose. Romans 8:5-6 says, “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;”
If you are feeling drained, or like you can’t ever catch your breath, I encourage you to make sure your relationship with the Holy Spirit is where it needs to be. Make sure to keep your time with the Lord sacred and holy, so that when hard days come, you will not be facing them in your own strength, but the strength you have in Him! If you do this, you will maintain the perspective that ministry is a joy. And the greatest gift you can give anybody is your personal relationship with the Lord. Then you will be giving out of the overflow of what the Lord has already poured into you, and that, my friend, is the sweet spot!
