Today’s Truth
Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31 NLT)

Friend to Friend
I sat on the edge of my seat as I watched my son’s first track meet. The crowd was abuzz as moms and dads chatted, waiting for their teens to dash, sprint, or endure the eight laps of the 3200-meter race. But when the boys lined up for the hurdles event, the visiting stopped and the crowd watched with rapt attention. 

Why? In the hurdles event, the stakes were higher. It became less about who would win, and more about who would gracefully leap and clear the metal roadblocks or tip and topple over the intentional barriers.  

Hurdles—they are not simply found on the asphalt of track and field but also in the great race called life. As women, we struggle finding balance with our many roles and responsibilities. Our flame of enthusiasm begins to diminish when we are doing more than God intended or when we are doing what God intended, but on our own strength rather than His.

In the Bible we see many who experienced times of burnout. After Jonah’s miraculous delivery from the big fish and prophetic announcement to the people of Nineveh, he sank into a depression and wanted to die. “Now, Lord, take away my life,” he cried. “For it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:3).

After Elijah destroyed 850 false prophets and called down fire from heaven that miraculously burned up sacrifices to Baal, the fire in his own life went dim (1 Kings 18-19). And yet, after it was over, he wanted to quit. Elijah prayed, “I have had enough, LORD. Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4).

How do we avoid those same feelings of burnout, even after a great success? The first step is to realize that it can happen and does happen to the best of us. Burnout is real. We can run out of steam and lose our drive.

What was God’s response to Elijah’s cry to quit? Let’s take a look at 1 Kings 19. I suggest you pull out your Bible and follow along.

  • He allowed Elijah to sleep (19:5)–rest.
  • He sent an angel to provide food for him to eat (19:5)–refreshment
  • He allowed Elijah to sleep again (19:6)–more rest
  • He sent an angel to provide food for him to eat again (19:7)–refreshment
  • He caused Elijah to ponder what he was doing: “What are you doing here?” (19:9)–reflection
  • He spoke to Elijah personally (19:11)–response
  • He caused Elijah to ponder what he was doing, again. “What are you doing here?” (19:13)–reflection
  • He told Elijah what to do next (19:15)–redirection
  • He showed Elijah whom He had appointed to help him (19:16)–reinforcement

 

Even Jesus had to take time to rest, refresh, reflect, respond, redirect, and gather reinforcement. The Bible tells us this about Jesus: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed” (Mark 1:35 NIV).

Early in the morning Jesus went off by Himself and spent time alone with His heavenly Father. Interestingly, Simon and his companion interrupted Jesus’ time of prayer. 

“Everyone is looking for you!” they exclaimed. (I’ve been there. I bet you have too.)

The day before, Jesus had healed many men and women. No doubt, the disciples and the townspeople wanted Him to return to perform more miracles. But Jesus had a different idea. ”Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also,” He said. “That is why I have come.”

I love that Jesus said “no” to a good thing so that he could say “yes” to the best thing. That is the bull’s eye to avoiding burnout. But how do you know when to say no? He prayed.

If you’re feeling a bit burned out today: Consider the following.

  • Rest often. (God rested on the seventh day.)
  • Refresh with proper diet.
  • Re-evaluate priorities and responsibilities on a regular basis (monthly).
  • Relegate and delegate.
  • Review commitments regularly (monthly).
  • Resist saying “yes” to demands and requests that do not line up with what God has called you to do.
  • Resist being ruled by your schedule and allow for divine appointments from God that may not be on your schedule.
  • Remove superfluous activities that interfere with or choke out God’s agenda.
  • Refocus on what God has called you to do rather than what others would like for you to do.
  • Remain in close and constant communion with God.

Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, I’ll admit, I’m tired today. I need the refreshment that only You can give. Send the Holy Spirit to reinforce my spirit today! I am expecting His energizing force! Help me to reflect on You and Your goodness all day long.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

Now It’s Your Turn
Go back up to the Rs. What would each one of those look like in your life? Be realistic. I know Hawaii would be a great idea for refreshment, but that probably won’t happen in my life today.

For example: Rest—stop all activities at 8 p.m. rather than 10 p.m. and soak a long hot bath.

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  • Yes we must self exam ourselves and we must know who we are and don't let our selves get to burn out if we need to rake a back.

  • Rest being the number one factor in my life as of now centering myself and focusing on what God will have me to do.

    Refreshing with proper diet. I'm learning and practicing eating healthier for i know that your wealth is in your health. 

    Resist saying yes to demands and request that do not line up with what God has called me to do. Yes, indeed that will happen. Loyalty is Royalty

    Resist being ruled by my schedule and allow for divine appointments from God that may not be on my schedule. Yes Yes and more Yes I don't want to miss not one divine appointment with My God.

    Remove superfluous activities that interfere or choke out God's agenda. This has to happen

    Refocus on what God wants me to do rather than what others would like for me to do. Yes I have to make sure i am doing what he has called me to do.

    Remaining close and in constant communication with God. This is a must for I know that I must hear God for myself and do what he desires for me to. In order for me to be pleasing and acceptable in his eyesight.

  • 1.Rest Often? I could use more sleep and do better in that. 2. Refresh with proper diet? I have change some of the ways i been eating to obtain a healthier life style. 3. Re-evaluate proirties and responsibilities? Yes i have been doing this yes i need to double check with myself after changing things. 4.  Relagate and delagate? I like to delagate authority. 5. Review commitments regularly. Yes. 6. Resist saying yes to a request that dont line up to what God call for you to do. Yes i have said no before. Because it its out order i wont do it. 7. Resist being rule by your schedule and allow for divine appointments from God that may not be on your schedule? Oh yes i give God his time. When i need to have a moment with him i do it need to have more frequent appointments made with him time. 8. It is hard to avoid some distractions from interventing but i fight hard as i can to not let it happen especially when it comes to God agenda. 9. Refocus on what wants me to do rather than others want me to? Yes i have stayed the course and. Told myself refocus. 10. Remain in close and constant communion with God? I have to admit i have..ive have remain close for a long while now.

  • Avoid all burnout article's content is informative, I can relate to it in many ways. I appreciate the examples you gave of Jonah and Elijah and how God performed great miracles through them, but they windup experiencing burnout in their own personal life. 

    • Blessings Apostle Trina, what strategies of the R's that touch you deep within, that you know you have to apply to your life ASAP

  • Go back up to the Rs. What would each one of those look like in your life?

     

    Rest often: After studying for 6 hours each day, I will rest for at least an hour during my study time.

     

    Refresh with proper diet: drink more water every day and don’t eat past 6pm

     

    Re-evaluate priorities and responsibilities: collect a list of all my task, identify urgent and non-urgent jobs, assess what’s of value to my ministry and personal life

     

    Relegate and delegate: I take personal interest in interest in the process of delegating authority

     

    Review commitments regularly: Exam dedication and faithfulness to God and the calling upon my life

     

    Resist saying “yes” to demands: I will not hesitate to say. “No”

     

    Resist being ruled by your schedule:  I will allow God to have full control over my time

     

    Remove superfluous activities: I will cut back on any extra activities as needed

     

    Refocus on what God has called you to do: In 2019 I will set my gaze on God

     

    Remain in close and constant communion with God: I will continue pursuing intimacy with God

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