Women in Ministry United Podcast

Your frame of mind means everything.

Many of us thoughtfully consider specific strategies that we will implement on the road to healthy balance and boundaries, and while getting clear on what you'll do is important, you set yourself up for failure if you do not get your mind right.  Have you decided what you believe as you go on this adventure? Do you understand what lies you allow to sabotage your efforts? These are important questions to ask yourself before you go any further because your mindset matters. Here are three reasons why you want to get your mind right.

It will define the outcome.  Your mindset determines whether or not you will make progress and succeed. Your biggest obstacle isn't your schedule, your season of life or the demands placed on you by your ministry endeavors. The barrier you face is...you. What you believe in your mind is the single, greatest variable that will influence the outcome. If you don't think you'll ever really have a sustainable pace...

Do you feel pressed against the edge every single day? Are you burned out because the pace of ministry is unsustainable? Do you have a hard time maintaining healthy boundaries? You are not alone.

As a female pastor, I was overwhelmed with all there was to do in ministry. I had very little blank space on my calendar. I would run from one thing to the next and I’m just going to be totally honest with you…I was so tired. I felt it. I felt it physically in my body, it impacted my mind and I sensed it in my spirit…maybe you do too. In fact, I know I’m not alone. I’ve had countless conversations with other women in ministry who have shared that they too feel overwhelmed and discouraged as they try to manage it all. Many of us feel like it’s all we can do to show up and survive another day. And we feel defeated because we have resigned ourselves to the idea that this is just the way it’s going to be.

And worst of all, we keep it all under wraps.

Are you a person that makes new year's resolutions? Do you vow to undertake a new hobby or create a different habit? Maybe the end of the year is an opportunity for you to decide what you will NOT do in the year to come. Whether or not you announce your intentions as the confetti flies and the champagne flows, my guess is that you do have intentions for the year to come. There are things you want to do differently, and the start of a new year is a wonderful time to get focused on your priorities.

You probably also know that most of us give up on our new year's resolutions by the end of January and go back to the familiar patterns of the past. Change not only takes time but requires tons of intentionality. But soon our resolve dissipates as the daily grind takes over. Days blur into weeks, weeks into months and before we know it another year has gone by. It happens to many of us. 

What if I told you that you could establish a rhythm of reflection and review that would help you...

You promise to get to something when things slow down. Maybe it’s the desire to spend more time with God or with your spouse. Perhaps it’s to visit a friend or family member. Maybe you want to work out more consistently or serve your community. All good things, but they simply won’t fit into your schedule. You’ll get to them when the pace slows down.

Except the pace never slows down. It is out of control.

I know there are seasons when it is necessary… for a time…to go fast and furious. The problem is we have created a life that requires us to constantly engage mentally and expend all of our energy. The season of busyness never ends and your soul is feeling the weight of it. And here we are, in the midst of one of the busiest seasons in life and ministry. How will you make sure to catch your breath and regroup before jumping into the next thing? Here is one secret to help you create a healthy rhythm.

Have A Re-Entry Play

My friend Patti first...

How many times have you said, "Someday?"

Someday, I will start that new hobby. Someday, I will get control of my time. Someday, I won't be so busy. Someday, we'll get to take that trip. Someday, I will take good care of myself.

Yup, me too. The problem is that "someday" never comes. If you and I don't decide to take what we value and make those things our priorities, well...no one is going to do that for us. We will always live in a "someday" world.

Doesn't that sound insane?? Why would we choose to stay stuck? Yet, many of us do the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. We are desperate for things to be different in our lives, yet we don't do anything to change. We get stuck in the same habits of thinking, acting and being, and repeat the cycle over and over again. We sincerely want healing and wholeness but insanity rules and we expect change to somehow just happen.

The more I look back on my struggles to live fully as the person God has called me to be, the...

You are tired. You’ve spent the majority of your year running from one thing to the next. You have been juggling people’s expectations, ministry responsibilities, and family obligations. Each busy season runs into the next and you know that you can’t keep it up much longer. You need to create healthy balance and boundaries in life and ministry, but how to you do that? Where do you begin? Here are 4 steps to help you create a healthy rhythm so that you can continue to do what you love and not burn out.

Know What You Want

You know you lack boundaries and you need to make a change. That’s great! But what exactly does that mean? What do you want? This is a crucial foundational step. If you don’t know where you want to be you will never get there. If you know where you are headed you can make plans to help you arrive at your destination. Be clear on what you want.

Paint a Picture of What it Would Look Like

Now that you know what you want, it’s time to...

Do you feel drained? Irritated? Restless? Do you feel as though you are constantly running on empty? Many times we attribute these types of feelings to a need for physical rest, and while that may be true, it is just as likely that our souls are undernourished and need some care, especially if we struggle to maintain healthy balance and boundaries.

John Ortberg, author of Soul Keeping says, "The soul is NOT 'a theological and abstract subject.' The soul is the coolest, eeriest, most mysterious, evocative, crucial, sacred, eternal, life-directing, fragile, indestructible, controversial, expensive dimension of your existence. Jesus said it’s worth more than the world.". Yes, EXPENSIVE dimension...think about that...

Most of us rarely think about how the state of our soul affects our overall health and well being. But neglecting your soul has implications that run deep. It can wreak havoc on our relationships, actions, attitudes, energy levels and perspective.

It is important to...