EP 223 – RAISE YOUR EBENEZER
Hey there Bootcampers! We hope you had a great Christmas. We’re taking some time to reflect on the past year and the year to come and wanted to encourage you to engage in the same. Here are some thoughts related to a blog Jimbo read over at Practical Shepherding.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. – 1 Samuel 7:12-13
As you close the door on 2023, think through your year in ministry. But be sure to factor in the most important part of ministry and Christ-following in general: faithfulness. Below are some questions to get you started:
- Did I seek the Lord in His Word and in prayer regularly? Did God faithfully teach me from His Word and faithfully listen to me in prayer?
- Did I respond to God’s love for me by loving others? Did God faithfully love me even when I didn’t?
- Did I worry about ministry, finances, and church relationships? Was God faithful to carry me through my fears?
- Did I pray for my church regularly? Did God faithfully soften my heart towards others and protect me from bitterness as I prayed?
- Did I speak the gospel to both believers and unbelievers? Did God faithfully strengthen and uphold my own faith in the gospel?
- Did my church express care for me and my family? Did God faithfully care for me and my family even if the church failed to do so?
- Did I serve as unto the Lord, knowing that God faithfully sees what others don’t?
God will never stop being faithful to you, no matter how things are going in ministry and in life. It’s His very nature to be faithful to you. And you can lean on His faithfulness. It’s what upholds your own faithfulness. Paul encourages us this way, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Because our ministry is done ultimately for, through, with, by, and to Christ, it can never be in vain. It’s never wasted, even if the metrics don’t look great through earthly eyes. Press on. Walk into this new year of labor knowing that God will faithfully walk with you every moment, every step. He is always faithful to you.
Think less about goals and more about your rhythms in ministry. Check out Andy Addis’ book by the same name.
Get your year started off in the right way by getting our good friends over at One Eighty Digital on your website and branding. They have the know-how and expertise to make this year a great one for you on the interwebs.