So You Had a Bad Day, Now Serve the Lord

On Wednesday the motto of my day was I wish I could go back to bed.  I woke up late to lift weights after not even hearing my alarm clock, I of course was overly grumpy with everybody in the car on the ride to work.  I was presented with a conversation that I did not want to hear, and then I sat down with my wife and talked for 45 minutes about how I handled all of those things poorly.  After the quick shower I dashed into my office excited to get the day over with and go home, but wait I remembered about youth group that night.  It was somewhere in the midst of my 4 hours of Hebrew studying that I realized that I needed to refocus.  I dropped everything and just took time to refresh.
I know that so many times in ministry whether it is vocational ministry, volunteer ministry or even the ministry to your family, we get stressed out, tired and frankly wish we could quit.  So I want to share the thoughts that went on in my head and read your interaction.

Is your ministry a get to or a have to event?


So many times I find myself saying things like I have to do this and I have to do that.  For instance I have to prep this lesson, or I have to mow the grass, or I have to change the taillight on my wife's car.  When these thoughts come I need to step back and decide do I get to or do I have to.  When I feel I have to then I need to change my attitude to I get to.  I count it all joy that I am in the ministry.  Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart.  As I begin to change my perspective on the issue I remember that God has put that opportunity there specifically for me to grow.

Do you really believe in the Sovereignty of God, or is that just a confusing concept you choose to ignore?


When tough times come into your life do they ruin your day or is it simply an opportunity to grow.  So many times people talk about the sovereignty of God and still do not apply it to everyday life.  We make statements like All things work for good instead of realizing that those things are for the goal of making us more like Christ.  You want to talk about a bad life, look at the things Christ went through for you.  He suffered so much yet in the end He sought nothing other than to please His Father.  Are you willing to do that in your life? Will you learn from the situations God has placed in your life, or are you going to refuse to learn the lesson?

Is it about pleasing God or about your pleasure?


How do people die for their faith without even thinking twice about it?  How do leaders suffer through terrible diseases and continue to serve God until they die?  How do those sweet widows make it to the church every time the doors are open even thought it is so hard on them?  How can I overcome the rough start to my morning and be an effective tool for God?  The answer is found in pleasing God instead of striving to please yourself.

Are you refreshed through your relationship with Christ?


Alot of times when we are getting ready to go to a potentially stressful event and are stressed my wife will ask to stop at a grocery store and by an Acai Berry Juice.  As silly as it seems every time we drink one of these it seems to help us relax and have a good time.  In the same way are you being refreshed in your relationship with God?  Are you running to God to help you handle the tough things or are you fighting the battle on your own?


These are just some thoughts I had, and they really helped me out alot.  Take a look at why you serve and then adjust your attitude accordingly.