1 Timothy 4:16
16Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Personal Application:
Wow, the words “pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching” jump out at me today.
What are the best ways to pay close attention to myself and my teaching?
1. The best way to pay close attention to myself is to give the Holy Spirit access to my life through the Word and prayer.
- I need an unhurried time in the Word and prayer daily.
2. I need to make time to discuss my priority time with Karin and others (Andy, Jason and staff).
3. I need to read people who challenge and push me in my walk.
4. I need to make time for a mentor to motivate me, challenge me and sharpen me.
5. I need a vision/support team. I need a team of people that I dream with, a team that holds my arms up in battle.
6. I need to diligently protect myself from the enemy.
7. I need to prioritize my walk to protect myself and to save those who hear me.
What is the significance of the words “pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching” to me today?
If you look at my journal entries you can see how much I’m evaluating myself and the internal workings of our church right now.
- I’ve paid close attention to myself physically this year, but I still need to improve my eating habits in order to reach my goals.
- I’ve paid close attention to myself spiritually this year, but I still need to slow down more, pray more and read more outside my priority time.
- I need to pay closer attention to my leadership.
I need to do less counseling.
- Counseling truly drains me emotionally.
- I’m not trained enough to really help people.
- I don’t have the time to really help people.
- I constantly feel like I drop the ball with people in counseling.
- I constantly feel disappointed because I can’t help them as much as they need help.
I need better metrics to know how to lead us, how to improve us.
- In the absence of metrics, I worry.
- In the absence of metrics, I second guess my decisions.
- In the absence of metrics, I don’t lead as aggressively.
- In the absence of metrics, I don’t lead with as much confidence.
I need to prioritize my leadership in the areas of vision and values.
- I need to constantly put energy into our vision and values.
- I need to dedicate time to clarifying our vision.
- I need to dedicate time to improving the ministries that carry out our values.
- I need to dedicate time to leading those who lead our ministries.
- I need to prioritize my teaching.
I need to do less so I can pray more.
I need to do less so I can study more.
I need to do less so I can read more.
I need to do less so I can teach more.
I need to do less so I can write more.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, I feel the weight of this vision. The problems and pains are so big that we can’t afford to have distractions. We can’t afford to be mediocre. The church must be on its A-game all the time. We must constantly be pushing our people to raise the bar. We must birth new babies, parent toddlers, parent elementary age, parent middle school, parent high school and develop men and women of God. The spiritual growth process is just like the parenting process. It is never-ending and it is demanding and challenging every step of the way. Father, I want our church to rise to the challenge. I want our church to fulfill every command of Scripture. I want our church to overcome every cultural barrier and truly be a New Testament church in today’s world. Father, I want our success to be our love for You and our love for others. I want our people to be a people who “go and make disciples.” I want our people to be a people who pursue You relentlessly. Father, give us the vision, ability and resources to equip our people. Help us become an army of soldiers for You instead of a army of attendees.
Father, cause Your Holy Spirit to fall upon us. We can’t do this without the blowing of the Holy Spirit. We can’t do this without results inspiring us to love more and obey more. Father, make us a church that You are proud of. Make us a church that is blessable. Father, make us a church that cause You to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Father, give us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. I pray that more and more people will move from the middle. I pray for more and more people to move from the 80% to the 20%. Father, grow and mature this church. Give me the ability to teach in the power and demonstration of Your Spirit. Give me the ability to be best pastor and leader I can possibly be for this church. Father, “show us Your glory.” Father, I pray the prayer of David Brainerd, “God, let me make a difference for You that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.”
Amen!
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