The Power of Divine Contentment (part 2) – Richy Clark
(or Recovering from “Burn-Out”) (read part 1 here)
It’s actually possible for believers who have been actively involved in Christian service to become somewhat unmotivated or disoriented after receiving a fresh revelation of the all-sufficient love of God for them. Many times the activities we are doing are really, unknowing to us, in the pursuit of favor from God or men. When someone comes to the realization that they are already in full possession of everything they need, the only motivation remaining to do any good works is genuine love.
Real ministry comes from the overflow of abiding in this divine love, manifesting itself in selfless giving. What I just described is a positive reason for “ministry burnout.” The other is simply that the “why we are doing what we are doing” is burned out! Both give an opportunity to be motived by a greater love.
As you may have guessed, I personally have experienced this particular “problem” of ministry burnout on several occasions during my 17 years of Christian experience. Mixed motives have caused me many times to be in pursuit of the public limelight. I’ve experienced burnout because of disappointments and failed expectations, and burnout because I became more aware of the all-sufficient God. I much prefer the latter. Either way, any of us in this God-ordained situation can only pray like the Psalms, “Enlarge my heart, that I may run the course of your commandments.”
Maybe you’ve been struggling in ministry? Pastors and leaders are under a barrage of assault from immature sheep (being sheep-bitten) and genuine satanic assault. Some efforts are birthed simply from the wrong desires, and need to be reestablished by the Lord himself. (“unless the Lord build the house…”)
Whether you are discouraged or being “reestablished” by the Lord, we can pray two ways.
1. Father, increase my capacity to love. Enlarge the borders of my heart to love like You love.
2. Father, bring a deeper revelation of Your all-sufficient love towards me. I welcome the reestablishing of Your work through my life.
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…” (Ps 23:1)
“Pursue love…” (1Cor. 14:1)
- Richy Clark
