The Lord Sustains

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Psalm 54:4 NIV

We hear a lot about personal burn-out within ministry - pastors, church staff and volunteers. Ministry demands more from a person than most other vocations - spiritually definitely, but also physically and emotionally. I think it has a lot to do with how busy one gets trying to meet all the needs. We get so busy trying to DO, that we tend to forget or neglect our time with the Lord - the ONLY One in Whom we live and move and have our very being. As David tells us in our Promise for Today, Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

When we think WE have it tough, let's think about our first-century counterparts and what all they endured! In this excerpt from 2 Corinthians 11 NLT, Paul writes, 

23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 

24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 

25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 

26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 

27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 

And yet Paul counts it all joy - a pleasure! Chapter 12, verse 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I urge you and encourage you to make time in your busy life for Christ your Lord. Without Him, there is no strength to sustain you.

Prayer:

Father,

          You promise Your strength in us in order to fulfill Your plan and purpose for our lives. You ARE our very present help in times of trouble. Strengthen and sustain us according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen