Prevent Burn Out By Developing Pastor - Life Balance

I am sure you have heard the saying, ‘you cannot pour from an empty cup.’ This is why you need to learn to take care of yourself. Keeping yourself healthy in ministry is vital to the Kingdom of God. You might do an excellent job at teaching, preaching and growing in ministry, but if you are not taking care of yourself, you will not be able to continue and remain engaged.  These are not words of negativity or defeat, they are real words that are supported by the Word of God. 

3 John 3:2 Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers. ”What stands out to me in this verse is God says, "good health" before he says "as your soul prospers" This is clearly letting us know that good health will benefit us not only naturally but spiritually also. 

It is hard to keep pushing yourself to do more when your body is giving you signs and symptoms of feeling overwhelmed, overloaded and overextended.  Many Pastors have experienced stress which led to burnout due to constantly serving, supporting and pouring into others while forgetting to care for themselves. While it is true that sacrifices will need to be made in ministry, your health and relationships should not be one of them. In short, thriving in wellness mind, body and spirit is key to remain strong and last long for the Kingdom of God.

REST 

Mark 6:31...Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. 

In this verse Jesus was speaking to the apostles, letting them know rest of mind and body is needed in the demand of life. When we choose to rest, our body and mind can refuel and recharge.

The average human being needs about 7 – 9 hours of rest each day. Unfortunately, with the demands of ministry, caring for your family and pushing yourself to always be present, sacrificing sleep might seem like the only logical solution to getting everything done.  On the contrary, lack of sleep will also cause burnout.

Exercise

There are very few people in this world that enjoy exercise. Thankfully, that number is steadily increasing as more and more people are beginning to realize the benefits of doing so. Constantly feeling fatigued and achy is a sign that you may need to get more exercise. One of the main reasons why people avoid exercise is they fear it might be too hard and also feel they cannot find the time in the busyness of life.  

In fact, here are a few benefits of getting sufficient exercise:

• Regular exercise helps to strengthen your bones
• People who exercise often sleep better at nights
• The condition of your skin will improve as you sweat and excrete waste from your pores
• You will be better able to manage your weight
• Exercise also reduces the risk of suffering from certain ailments like diabetes and heart disease
• You often feel better after you exercise because working out releases the hormones that will improve your mood
• Regular exercise can reduce stress

"As you pour into others; make sure you pour into yourself".....Gloria Joy Ingram