Beauty and Balance

Over 30 years ago I had the privilege of having dinner with Stephen Olford. (A British Keswick preacher) He gave me some advice for my life ministry that I will never forget. He told me to pray for two things every day when I wake up.

"Pray for beauty and balance." I have contemplated that statement and prayed that prayer many times over the last 30 years. But what does that really mean?

Beauty means that as a representative of the Bride of Christ I need to be attractive. When a bride walks down the aisle everybody's eyes are fixed on her beauty. The groom is especially captivated by her beauty.

Let's face it. As pastors, all eyes are fixed on us to be a beautiful representative of what Christ intended for his bride to be. We have a high calling to be pure and right before the Lord. Our hearts must be kept up to date. Our lives must be in accountability.

Balance on the other hand, must not be seen as wishy- washy. Balance simply recognizes that tangents and extremes can be dangerous and disheartening; that dogmatism and legalism can lead to arrogance and inflexibility. Balance means finding some equilibrium, not out of control, temperate.

I want to encourage you to begin praying the prayer of beauty and balance in your life. It has made a difference in mine.

Getting Your Hunger Back

In his book "Leading on Empty", Wayne Cordeiro writes:

"Hunger is renewable. It may require that you disconnect for a while, do something a little bit different from what you've been used to, but that's okay. It's better than playing the game after the hunger and desire have faded--just because everyone expects you to. Whatever it takes you need to find it.

Over the years of ministry, I have found that even good ideas get tired. So good men and women, and when that happens, the endeavor that you are leading is affected. The growth areas are left unattended, the vision flattens, and a leader slowly morphs into a manager.

When that happens, you need a break--a break that has one purpose alone: to restore your hunger.

So what about you? Have you lost your hunger as a leader? Maybe it is time to take a break from the routine? That may be a sabbatical, or a day off, or letting someone else preach this Sunday.