I'm Tired of Serving the Most High God... and a Link Up!

I've been in full-time ministry for many, many years now.

Ministry to my husband.

Ministry to my children.

Ministry within my home and outside of my home.

I'm tired of serving others all in the name of Jesus Christ.

I'm tired of being rejected and persecuted for my faith.

I'm tired of living through trials while trying to remain strong in the Lord.

I'm tired of putting forth effort into my marriage.  Sometimes I just want to put it on the back-burner and hope all goes well.  Yet, I can't be so spiritually naive because I know Satan would love to destroy it. 

I'm tired of serving my husband, which is his love language, by the way.  Sometimes I'd like him to get his own dinner.

I'm tired of trying to bless him by looking physically attractive to him, even though he has never once placed those demands on me.

I'm tired of exercising.  That's why I didn't do it at all last week.

I'm tired of doing my hair; it's high maintenance.  Sometimes a hat and a pair of sweats call my name.

I'm tired of parenting and homeschooling my children.

I'm tired of refereeing my children's arguments and I'm tired of training their character.

I'm tired of cooking 3 meals a day, tending to the laundry and cleaning my home.

I'm just plain tired.  I'm tired of laying down my life.  And some days I just don't want to get out of bed. 

I can't take a break from this ministry.  

Going on a leave of absence isn't really an option either.  

And all mothers know that going on a vacation with one's children does not mean rest, it just means that you're parenting in a different location; and quite honestly that can sometimes require even more work!

I'm tired of pouring out my Alabaster Jar.  Sometimes I don't think there is one drop left of that special and expensive perfume to be found in my bottle.

Bottom line, my flesh is screaming that it doesn't want to die to self.

Yet, I'm a daughter of the Most High God.

I'm called to a life of servant hood.

I'm called to a life of suffering.

I'm called to a life of persecution.

I'm called to a life of dying to myself as I pick up my cross to follow Him.

But God has given me a choice; free will is at my disposal.

I don't have to answer any of those calls above, and quite honestly, there are some days that I just DON'T because my flesh wins out!

But then there are other days, days that I try to answer those calls because I want to bring Christ glory in all I do.

No one forced me to sign up for this Christian race.  I made the choice all on my own.

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:23-27 (NIV)

But like any trained athlete, you get tired and sometimes you even sustain injuries during your race.  And any runner knows that sometimes while running you can barely breathe!

There are times where I find that my spiritual lungs are burning and I'm gasping for air.

I need to be resuscitated by my Savior.  I need Christ to breathe His Spirit into mine.

I need some spirit-filled CPR so I can continue to live a poured out life for the Most High God.

How about you, friend?  Are you tired too?  Do you need some spirit-filled CPR as well?

Here's some things that have helped me to continue on in this marathon race of the Christian life.

9 Ways to Receive Spiritual CPR

1. Stay in the Word.
2. Be still while in the Word so you can hear from Him.  Be all there, giving Christ your full attention.
3. Meditate on what you've read.  Allow the word's of Christ to penetrate your heart and transform you and minister to you.
4. Get in the boat with Jesus; meaning, go away with Him where no one else can have access to you.  Some of you with small children might need to hide in the bathroom for this one! That's okay, consider that place your 'boat with Jesus' and know that it's just for a season.
5. Be in fellowship with others that will draw you closer to the Lord.
6. Don't over-commit; whether it's your ministry to your family or outside of the home to others.  Learn to say 'no' so you can protect your spiritual well-being.
7. Ministry can be taxing on our physical bodies so take a nap and don't feel guilty about it either.  Our bodies need to be rested, restored, and rejuvenated so we can get back up and run our race.
8. Figure out where your Spiritual Gifts are and use them for the Lord.  When you're pouring out in His spirit, He'll in turn pour His spirit into you.  (This is a deep concept that's not taught about very often but someday soon I hope to write on it.)
9. It's all in your perspective.  Keep your eyes turned towards Heaven.  Remember that the life we are living today will not last forever.

I guess living the disciplined life for Christ is designed to suck the flesh right out of us!


Live a poured out life for Christ,

Now it's time to link up your posts!

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Linking up with: No Ordinary Bloghop, These Five of Mine Plus Two, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, Women Living Well, A Wise Woman Builds Her House, Deep Roots at Home, Wifey Wednesday, The Better Mom,What Joy is Mine, Internet Cafe Devotions, We Are That Family,
 

I have a passion for marriage so I invite you to join me every Monday for this link-up!

Please share your post on any and all things related to being a wife, i.e. homemaking ideas, ways you minister to your husband, dating ideas, and/or hearing what the Lord is telling you about your most important earthly relationship!

All I ask is that you link back to this community, either by using the button below or a text link.  Link to your actual “Marital Oneness Mondays” post, not just your general blog address--that way if readers come by later in the week, they can click your relevant post.

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