Who Shall Love the Lovers?

Come on an imagination trip with me. I'll keep it short, I know you're probably busy.

Imagine that all day, every day, you make food and serve it to the hungry. It's your purpose in life, your mission, your ministry. Every morning, you get up and bake bread rolls and croissants for people's breakfast. Once you're finished serving up those, you start making sandwiches for lunch. When the lunch rush is over, it's time to start preparing dinner - a few choices so that everyone can find something to their taste.

People depend upon you. Some even appreciate your service. You drag yourself home at the end of the day knowing that you've really helped some people, that they're fed and content. Good job!

Of course, this all takes a lot of time. You don't have time for regular meals, and your usual evening snack before bed is a chocolate bar or packet of chips. Simple, easy, and satisfying enough.

Back to reality.

There's a good chance you read that scenario and thought, "How silly! I'd end up starving and malnourished in no time - and a lot of good that'd do the hungry. How does it help to feed the hungry and starve myself?"

There's a good chance that if you're in any sort of ministry, you've felt as though taking a break in order to spiritually recharge as a sign of weakness. A good christian is constantly refilled with the Holy Spirit, right? Spiritual retreats are for the servants who're losing touch and losing the plot.

After sending them off, he climbed a mountain to pray.
Late at night, the boat was far out at sea; Jesus was still by himself on land.
Mark 6:46-47

Jesus took spiritual retreats. He 'neglected' his ministry to do so. Tell him he was weak. Go on, I dare you!

Being in top spiritual health is the absolute best thing you can do for your ministry, whatever it is. And if that means you need to take a break and let God refresh you - so be it.