A shepherd’s demands are great. They force each pastor to choose daily what will have their time and what will not.
I have noticed that this decision-making process subtly omits three areas that many pastors admit are not essential, but that if neglected for a longer period of time, they can have significant adverse effects.
Because they are subtly neglected, when the consequences come, they are difficult to identify.
Consider these three areas
Being as wise and insightful as many pastors, it’s amazing how many of us think we can run at a high level, sleeping one or two hours a night less than we really need.
Can there be sinful pride at work when we share?4/5 hours of sleep and I’m fine. Meanwhile, we were enraged at 6pm, became sick regularly, and at night we only gave our families leftovers.
Be honest about how much sleep you really need, so do what you need to to rest. I need eight hours a night. Then I’ll do it.
What about you?
This becomes a more visible area of neglect when shepherds gain a lot of unnecessary weight. However, regular exercise isn’t just about weight management.
Exercise is one of the best natural anti-stresses. It increases your energy level and is essential for your overall health.
It’s amazing how bad someone will feel (I know I will) if they eat what they want and rarely exercise. Due to the level of stress in a pastor’s typical life, this becomes even more an essential aspect of the pastor’s life and harmful when neglected. .
Pastors spend a lot of time studying for the next sermon or Bible study.
There is this devotion you must write for the church newsletter, or an article for a newspaper. Much of our study and reading time is devoted to the tasks of our vocation. Obviously, prepare a sermon and reflect on the theological implications of a situation. Counsel is spiritually fruitful and nourishes our souls with words.
However, I found it necessary to look into a time when my reading books and studying the word of God are done only to focus on my own soul.
Not in a sermon
Not in teaching.
Not in counseling.
We must make sure that we not only pray for our flock, but spend time concentrating on praying for the good of our souls.
Since much of what we do revolves around prayer and the ministry of speech, it is an easy-to-slip trap in which all we do is prepare to feed others. Make sure there’s a book you read, a psalm you read in the morning. , or a moment of prayer in your day that has nothing to do with anything but nourishing your own soul and having fellowship with Christ.
I’m on vacation this week trying to honor my word to use all my vacation time, so I intend to pay special attention to these three areas. Honestly, evaluate whether you are negligent in any of these three areas and make the necessary adjustments.
Establish new habits. Constant loyalty in these areas will be essential to your longevity in the ministry.