Last night we attended a cookout and fireworks that was put on by some friends. We had a good time visiting, eating, and enjoying the fireworks. Fireworks are fun. They are pretty, there are lots of colors, and they are loud! They are exciting and nice to look at.
But what is left? After the fireworks go off, there is an empty shell that is now useless, ready to be discarded. Garbage. After the excitement and flash, there is emptiness. It is burned up.
Is your life like this? Is there a lack of substance beneath the flash of your life? Are you more about the experience, the flash, the "bang," only to have nothing left after that flash has been extinguished? Do you burn out just like fireworks do?
Or do you draw from a deeper source? Do you spend time with God, reflecting on him, drawing strength from him to go out and serve? Many Christians, ministers even, who burn out do so because they have not abided long enough with God.
I'm part of a group, a huddle, where we are learning about discipleship. One of the key things we're learning about is that we must rest in God, and that we work out of that rest. We do not rest from our work.
Psalm 36:5-9 says:
"Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep...
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house...
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light."
We know God's abundance, righteous, faithfulness and love when we rest in him. As we draw from him daily, we find strength to serve so that we do not burn out.
Do you rest in God each day? What can you do today to begin drawing strength from God?
But what is left? After the fireworks go off, there is an empty shell that is now useless, ready to be discarded. Garbage. After the excitement and flash, there is emptiness. It is burned up.
Is your life like this? Is there a lack of substance beneath the flash of your life? Are you more about the experience, the flash, the "bang," only to have nothing left after that flash has been extinguished? Do you burn out just like fireworks do?
Or do you draw from a deeper source? Do you spend time with God, reflecting on him, drawing strength from him to go out and serve? Many Christians, ministers even, who burn out do so because they have not abided long enough with God.
I'm part of a group, a huddle, where we are learning about discipleship. One of the key things we're learning about is that we must rest in God, and that we work out of that rest. We do not rest from our work.
Psalm 36:5-9 says:
"Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep...
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house...
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light."
We know God's abundance, righteous, faithfulness and love when we rest in him. As we draw from him daily, we find strength to serve so that we do not burn out.
Do you rest in God each day? What can you do today to begin drawing strength from God?
