BURNED OUT: When you have nothing left to give in ministry Day #3

This week and last we have discussed Burn Out in Ministry. We have discussed practical application for avoiding it as well as how to get out of it if you find yourself experiencing Burn Out. So, how do you know if you are Burned Out?

While this is by no means an exhaustive list, these are some ways to recognize the signs of Burn Out:

1. Your joy for ministry is gone. What used to give you pleasure and fill your heart no longer does or doesn't in the way it used to. This can also be a sign that you are ready to move on from that ministry. This is when prayer comes in. Pray for God to reveal the reason for your lack of joy in that area and a clear path to follow. 
2. Excessive tiredness, cloudy thinking, easily distracted. Granted these signs can also match a myriad of situations and ailments, but are often found during a season of Burn Out. When we have been burning the proverbial candle from both ends, our thoughts are often crowding one another as we attempt to organize it all in our over-tired, scattered mind. 
3. Your sense of obligation supercedes your sense of purpose and peace. Does the ministry in which you serve match your gifts? Are you serving because you feel led by the Lord? Or are you serving because the ministry simply needs a warm body and you volunteered? Serving in an area simply because there is a need is a quick way to Burn Out. It's imperative that we listen for God's calling so that our Spiritual Gifts match those needed for that particular ministry. Filling in for a short time in a pinch is commendable, but long-term service in an area outside of our calling and outside of our spiritual skill-set can have negative consequences, not only for us but also for those who should be serving in that area. If the need is filled by someone who shouldn't be there, there is no opening for the one who should be. 
4. There is no "white space" in your life. Are most days and evenings filled up with activities, meetings, planning sessions, activities, and commitments? Do you find yourself struggling to be in the Word daily? There is a Pin on Pinterest that says something along the lines of: "If you're too busy to be in the Word daily, you're far busier than God ever intended you to be." We all need down-time that will benefit us physically, mentally, and spiritually. 

Bottom line, the best method, by far, to avoiding Burn Out is in seeking God's wisdom and guidance in all of your ministry pursuits. He will never lead you to a ministry that you aren't meant to be in, nor will He lead you to one that He will not fully equip you for. 

Devotional written by Mandy. 

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"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).