APR, MAY, JUN 2025 VOLUME 18 Issue 2
When I think of burning or being “on fire” (not literally but figuratively speaking) my thought is of being consumed, and on fire for God is being consumed with His Word in every area of my life. Is that possible? I believe it is and can be in our daily walk with the Lord. But in this world with jobs, chores, relationships, and responsibilities, how do we stay consumed as we prioritize our life? We need to seek God for wisdom or become “burnt out” with activities. Yes, even church activities. It is important to pray for God’s wisdom in our life while balancing jobs and family!
Because I have been there… I know we can get burnt out physically, spiritually, and emotionally. We need to prioritize and seek God concerning that which He has called us to do.
While it’s wonderful to look great and be in health, I have seen people become absorbed to the point of causing injury to their body. Instead of looking “burning hot” they become burnt out. Either extreme is not a good thing! In First Corinthians 6:19, Paul reminds us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in us, and we need to glorify God in our bodies, making not just good choices but Godly choices. I can also attest to being at the top of my game, so to speak, with emotions running hot; but, without balance in our thoughts and relationships and giving the correct attention to priorities, making time with God in prayer, our emotions can swing in the wrong direction, causing a burn out!
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And speaking of burn out, I have labored to write this article for two weeks now. I suppose it is what’s called “writer’s block” or maybe it is burn out! As a writer of mostly short articles geared to encourage and inspire, there are times I’ve read about an opportunity to submit to this magazine something and will immediately know I have a word or past personal experience to share. My fingers fly away on the keyboard. Then there are times I struggle. Why? I ask myself. Unfortunately, I do not have an answer at this time. If a little spark of feeling remains regardless of the lack of an answer as to why I struggle to write on the topic, then I push through with prayer and God’s help, knowing I should not let the enemy steal the word that could be just what someone needs to read.
Many years ago, I had a full-time job, husband, and two children. (I am a widow now but thankfully still have my children, both now in their 50s.) Spiritually speaking, I can tell you about burn out when getting too busy even doing good things. Balancing family life with a husband and teenagers, a full-time job, attending church twice on Sunday (including Sunday School), Wednesday night service, Thursday night choir rehearsal, and an additional special practice with the worship team, I was heading towards burn out. This is not even considering extra meetings, conventions, so on and so forth. Everything that I listed were good things, things I loved! But, there came a time I had to stop and think if I was putting other events before the needs of my husband and children, who were also involved in church events.
I’m not talking about my relationship with God. My prayer life—doing what I am called to do—was without question. However, too many activities threatened to keep me from my personal relationship with God, with Bible reading and prayer time. I was a worship leader and rehearsals were important. Church on Sundays was important, and it is good to be in the house of the Lord. I could tout the importance of each activity I was involved in, but trying to make it to everything every time the doors were opened was not a priority ahead of God and my family. What is the main calling of God in my life? I needed to re-examine, pray, and hear from the Lord. The day my husband said, “I feel you love everything more than me,” (excluding my relationship with God) I had to stop and check my priorities. To be funny, and my late husband could be humorous, he said, “You even love the dog more than me!”
What am I saying here? I am saying that you can be on fire for God, and He should be a consuming fire in our life. After our personal relationship with Him, our family (spouse then children) should be the next priority. After that should be activities, which includes church activities. I know of a pastor who advised a married couple who are friends of mine to pray, pick the area they feel called to, give their time and energy to it, and not take on too much at one time, becoming weary in well-doing. Good advice!
In Galatians 6, Paul was speaking of sharing one another’s burdens, examining one’s own work, warning of sowing and reaping and of having the opportunity to do good. He also advises in verse 9, “… And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 3, warning against idleness, also says in verse 13 not to grow weary in doing good. But finally, to the saints in Phillippi, Paul says this in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
I end with a verse and chorus from a very old song by Audrey Mieir, and this is my prayer! She wrote this based on “for our God is a consuming fire” in Hebrews 12:29.
