Remember today. You will never have another like it. There will be a number of people, circumstances, and things that try to take you away from what only you can do.
Protect your time. There is this thing called ROI (Return on Investment). Every act, word, dollar, time spent with people etc is an investment you make. With each investment you get a return. Not all investments are beneficial or offer a positive return for the sacrifices you make. Be on guard, you may have good intentions and truly think the deposit you make is worthwhile. If the investment keeps leaving you depleted make a mental note. As a Pastor you can’t stop making investments (even the ones that appear to not have a positive return).
You Can’t do everything. If you do everything you leave no openings for others to utilize what God has called them only to do. People will watch you do it all then watch you burn out. They will criticize you for burning out. It’s not their fault its the only way for them to deal with the hurt which they feel because they love you so much. God has called you to be a light, not to burn out, but to last. One big single blaze is bright but it soon goes out. Wouldn’t it be better to have many individual steady lights instead of one giant blaze? You don’t have to have to be the brightest but you do have to shine.
You must set the tone for how and what is done. Set boundaries, expectations, and deadlines. Don’t pursue relationships/friendships/leaders/workers that aren’t mutually submissive. You must build a team of people who work together. Your team must trust you and you must trust them. Set the minimum expectations and give them the freedom and ability to excel and reach heights beyond what you thought was possible. God has people he wants to bring around you to do what he has called you to accomplish, you have to pray them in.
You are valuable, you are called, you are appreciated. Discouragement is not a spiritual gift but spiritual people get discouraged. In your discouragement be purposeful about making it a point to be around people who can encourage you. Don’t keep pushing your way into the lives of people who keep pushing you away. It may be time to take a break and stop pursuing that relationship. In your effort to try and bring them in you can very well be pushing them further away.
You like to make sure everyone is happy with you, they are pleased. This is called people pleasing. Many times you do it at the expense of your sanity and joy. You spend more time trying to please people that you are left empty because deep down you know you are not pleasing God. Don’t deliberately do things to make sure people don’t like you or the decisions you make but also don’t base your decisions, leadership, and direction based on pleasing people.
You are not cool, hip, trendy be comfortable and confident in that truth. Appreciate those who are those things you are not.
You are not where you are because it was in your plan. It was God’s plan. It’s okay to not know the next steps. Embrace the current step and be faithful to his plan.
There is a lot for you to learn. Be patient with yourself. There is a lot for others to learn, be patient with them.
There is a lot you can teach others, there is a lot others can teach you.
Don’t get so caught up in who you want to become that you forget to look at who you are currently. In order to become you must start with personal self reflection and make adjustments. Through the years you may add to this list. You may consolidate it but there is one thing you must remember, Do you know who you are?
Life Of Pursuit 