If I were to ask you what type of shoe best symbolizes the life of the pastors wives, I don’t think you would say “stilettos” or “ballet slippers”. Probably a runner or cross trainer would be a better visual of you life: something flexible, supportive and ready to run anywhere you are needed at a moment’s notice.
So often as mothers, wives, friends, career women and volunteer church workers, we place ourselves last in everything. We give our family the priority; we put the church calendar’s importance above our own; we work to meet the needs of friends and church programs. All very good and necessary but not when we place these needs before our own need of growing in our personal relationship with God.
God wants us to place as much emphasis on tending our own spiritual health as we do on nurturing others spiritual health. He wants us to be nurished by Him rather than just running to serve Him.
When a flight attendant demonstrates the airplane safety procedures they demonstrate how to use the oxygen masks correctly. They always remind people travelling with small children to place the oxygen mask on their own faces first before helping others. Why? Without proper oxygen, even the most devoted person grows listless and unable to help.
The same idea applies to our spiritual oxygen intake. We cannot help others unless we first anchor ourselves to the strength-giving flow of God’s Spirit in our lives.
Never allow ministry to take the place of personal growth! That can prove disastrous. Have you ever been guilty of substituting activity within ministry as a way of growing spiritually? It’s so easy to do – but it usually burns you out!
According to Matthew 6:33 what happens when you put God first and focus on your relationship with Him? How does this apply to our busy schedules and the many needs in our church?
When we place God first in our lives, our priorities align, making us better able to live the abundant life described in John 10:10. May you have the desire and courage to make spending time with God and feeding your own soul, a priority today!
