A Monday

Mondays can be challenging for pastors as your thoughts include such things as . . .

• Forgetting to recognize from the pulpit the family with a new baby.
• Blowing the introduction to your Sunday AM message.
• Reading the tweet from another pastor who had seven salvation decisions, twelve who became members of the church, plus ten baptisms on Sunday.
• Feeling like you failed again.
• My heart wanting to take credit for anything that seemed good and successful.
• Hearing of a disgruntled church member leaving without coming to talk to you in a spirit of gentleness and meekness.
• Seeing that empty pew of a family that you have tried to visit for the past three weeks but just haven’t gotten it accomplished.
• Not communicating the announcements very well.
• Getting a phone call from a fellow pastor and the first thing he asks is, “How’s your church doing?”
• How tired and drained you feel mentally, physically and spiritually.
• Wondering what “Brother or Sister ___________” was thinking when they left the service. Their countenance and posture appeared liked something was bothering them. Was it something I said? Was it something I didn’t do?
• Would the “grass be greener” somewhere else?

These and many other assorted thoughts run through the minds of pastors everywhere on Monday.

Sunday was a blessed day in many ways where I serve, but the battle in the mind still waged its war. How grateful for the oasis of God’s Word that helps on Mondays to redirect my focus and get my heart right again.

Such was the case yesterday.

While reading Numbers 20, my attention was brought to the fact that Moses had experienced two deaths (Miriam and Aaron), two conflicts (Meribah and Edom) and his own disobedience to God’s command at Kadesh where he struck the rock instead of speaking to the rock. Nevertheless, Moses did not give up. He didn’t quit. He kept on moving forward doing the work of God by faith.

As I read these chapters, the following quote spoke to my heart, The Christian life is a series of new beginnings. It’s always too soon to quit!

“Thank You, Lord, for the testimony of your presence, power, and patience to sustain Moses. Thank You for redirecting my thinking as you reminded me of Your goodness and grace which enables me to ‘take up my rod’ and move forward.”

This I know, that God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

13 For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.

(Psalm 56:9b-11a, 13)

From a pastor’s heart,

dale