There
are many ways that we can avoid coming to the place of burn out. The most
important way is for us to walk in the Spirit instead of in the flesh
(Galatians 5:15-25). If we make our own plans, and rely on our own human
resources, and "burn our candle from both ends at the same time", we
will eventually burn out.
If
we fill our schedule with busyness, attempt to carry our burdens alone rather
than sharing with trusted friends, hang out with the wrong people, share more
resources with others and neglect our own soul, fail to spend time with our
church family and communing with the Lord and reading His Word, we will most
definitely burn out.
Yet,
if we run to God, our tower of strength, we find contentment and fulfillment
that has no boundaries. He is our Everything. He made the sky and all in it,
the earth and all of its dwellers, the sea and the creatures to the very depths
of it, etc.
God's
love has no bounds and He made plans and provision for us before we were ever
born (Psalm 138:8, 139:15-16; Ephesians 1:4). We are the most important part of
God's creation (James 1:18). We are always on His mind.
Our
eternal destiny is in our hands, but God knew before He created the world in
which we would live - even before we took one breath of life, what our decision
would be (John 3:18; Ephesians 2:10; Acts 17:26). He restores us from burn out
when we focus on Him and His will for our life.
God
is never surprised, because He sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). When
we are born, God carries us through every step of our life (Isaiah 46:3-4,
45:18). He knows where we gain our inspiration, our strength and our wisdom (Philippians
3:15).
When
we are depressed, God gives us His family and His Word to make this process of
His restoration to move even faster. He restores our soul - our thoughts,
emotions and choices, to a peaceful place of rest in Him as He brings joy to
our heart and lifts up our soul (Psalm 23:3, 86:4).
Prayer:
Father
God, satisfy us anew each morning with Your loving devotion to Your Saints, so
that we may sing for joy in our praises to You. We will be glad all the days of
our life (Psalm 90:14). You provide us with Your loving kindness in the morning,
and at night You give us a new song and a prayer to You on our lips (Psalm
42:8). You are our Almighty God, our Provider and You call us Your friends
(John 15:15).
If
we trust in You with all of our heart, and do not rely on our human reasoning
and resources (Proverbs 3:5-6), You bring abundance to our soul and lift us up
above the trying circumstances that we are experiencing (Psalm 86:4). You are
our Rock, our Sword, and our Shield when we face our battles (Judges 5:8). We
have faith in Your faithfulness alone to deliver us from our enemies and to
prosper us, even as our soul prospers (3 John 1:2).
Thought
for the Day:
The Lord quickly answers us when our strength fails, because He never hides His face from us, abandons us, or forsakes us; when we trust in Him, His loving devotion to us is music to our ears each new morning; He teaches us His ways, so that we can walk in them; and He protects us from all of our enemies when we flee to Him for our refuge.
The Lord quickly answers us when our strength fails, because He never hides His face from us, abandons us, or forsakes us; when we trust in Him, His loving devotion to us is music to our ears each new morning; He teaches us His ways, so that we can walk in them; and He protects us from all of our enemies when we flee to Him for our refuge.
-
Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 143:7-9
