Recently, I wrote a blog entitled, “5 Basic Barriers to Fulfillment in Marriage, Ministry and the Marketplace.” I listed what those barriers were and explained them in detail. Without identifying and proactively addressing when and why a moral breakdown, biblical barrenness, vocational bewilderment, spiritual bankruptcy or mental/emotional burnout has occurred, frustration will set in … and frustration overshadows and undermines every good intention and purpose that may be on the horizon.
A very wise man who happens to be my husband often says, “To do the work of God produces frustration and fatigue. To do (or be in) the will of God produces fruitfulness and fulfillment.” Too often, Christians focus more on “doing God’s work” rather than “being in God’s will.”
Being in the center of God’s will is what causes us to fill up rather than give up. Here are 10 suggestions that, if heeded, will assist us in our pursuit of being fruitful and fulfilled in every area of our lives:
Take the time to rest.
Don’t be in a hurry.
Focus on one thing at a time.
Surround yourself with positive, praying people.
Acquire resources that will keep you on the cutting edge of what you need to know (intel) to grow (excel).
Practice principles that help to sustain you.
Seek professional counseling when necessary.
Make your family your first ministry. No matter how gifted we are, we must remember that our first gifts of operation must be evident in our family roles and responsibilities.
Choose an outlet outside of marriage, ministry and the marketplace that nurtures your need for mental/intellectual, physical or social development and growth.
Be willing to pay the price. Maintaining balance (or as I prefer to say, "harmony") between marriage, ministry, and the marketplace is a constant challenge, but it is well worth the investment of consistent evaluation, prioritization and organization.
There is always strength, help, hope and encouragement available for us. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV), the Apostle Paul proclaims, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
We cannot pour into the lives of others when our own metaphorical cup is empty. Let’s fill ourselves up in ways that feed our spirit, mind and body as we seek to serve God, ourselves and others on a daily basis.
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