At our staff gathering this past week I took some time to introduce myself as Youth World’s new Director with the hope that as a team you might get to know me better and understand certain things about me.
One of the pieces I mentioned was a concept that has historically been a part of Youth World’s DNA. Specifically, the concept is leading and serving from a place of health. This is something I so profoundly value. We are blessed and privileged that the God of the universe has chosen to use people like us to represent him in this world and we need to remember that we will be better stewards of that if we’re not burned out, exhausted, or unstable. Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full. So, we work hard, we steward well what the Lord has entrusted us, and at the same time we prioritize and look for opportunities of rest.
I recognize that leading and serving from a place of health doesn’t just mean being well rested. We want to strive to be healthy in a holistic way— physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. But, if we are to start somewhere, I suggest following the model that Christ gave us. In Luke Chapter 5:15-16 it says, “Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
In the following chapter Jesus heals a man's shriveled hand and then it says, “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” (Luke 6:12) After giving and ministering Jesus needed rest and connection with his Father. So, what did he do? He prioritized it and made it a rhythm that defined his ministry.
Friends, I want to encourage you today to do an inventory of your time. Are you prioritizing times to withdraw from the busyness of ministry? Are you making space to go to the mountainside and pray? Jesus invites you into that rest and into that intimate space of relationship with him. In Matthew 11:29-30 he clearly states, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
If you aren’t prioritizing that rhythm of rest and connection into your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly rhythms, start today! Take the first step and carve out some time to step away from your work and be with your Savior.
Let’s all pursue together this concept of leading and serving from a place of health.
In Christ, Jim
