Tag: Revive us again

Pressure and Trouble calls for self-care

Any person who works in a helping profession is in danger. Paul put it this way in 2 Corinthians 4:8: “We are pressured in every way…” (HCSB). The King James words it, “We are troubled on every side.” Pressured and troubled. If your life or ministry can be summed up as pressure and trouble on all sides, then hear Jesus say to you the same words he said to the disciples in Mark 6:31, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” Jesus knew it was time for His disciples to practice some self-care.

Being target practice calls for self-care

Unfortunately, pressure and trouble isn’t all we have to worry about in life. There is an even darker danger – one we can’t see, but we can feel. When we say “yes” to God’s call and purpose for our lives, you can bet that there instantly appears an invisible target that we wear 24/7 and we become target practice for Satan. Satan is constantly throwing flaming arrows (Ephesians 6:16) at us with the sole purpose of either destroying the ministry we have surrendered to, or to tarnish it, or to get us so discouraged that we wave the white flag of surrender and walk away, defeated. Therefore, those of us in helping professions need to know what self-care is and how to practice self-care every day.

What is a helping profession?

A helping profession is any profession that nurtures the physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional or spiritual well-being of the people they are helping. These professions include medical personnel, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, teachers, life coaches, mentors, and those of us in ministry. It is any profession that helps other people throughout the various stages and circumstances of life. When we surrender to the ministry that God has called us to, we have said “yes” to helping others.

Just because we tie it up with a pretty bow of “a calling from God,” does not mean we are excluded from the dangers that come with helping others. People in ministry empathize with the hurting. Sometimes they experience secondary trauma as they listen and counsel the people to whom they are ministering. There are overwhelming demands on their time, emotions, and energy. They endure malicious intentions and hurtful accusations. It takes a toll on their well-being, relationships, and ministry. Self-care in ministry helps us navigate life with others while keeping ourselves anchored in Christ as we draw our strength from Him.

Doing Ministry on Empty Tanks

Often, people in ministry serve and give until they have nothing left to give. At that point, they either give up or keep on in the ministry but operating on empty tanks and therefore have become less effective. They lose sight of the passion, the purpose, and the call that God gave them. They go through the motions of ministry without the real joy of serving Christ. Doing ministry on empty tanks is much like this cartoon my daughter drew for me.

Satan wants us down for the count, sitting on the sidelines, defeated, discouraged, exhausted, and dreading stepping up to the plate of ministry. And he will do anything he can to keep us down.

Satan wants people that serve in ministry down for the count, sitting on the sidelines, defeated, discouraged, exhausted, and dreading stepping up to the plate of ministry. And he will do anything he can to keep us down. — Julia Bruce

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Where Satan’s attacks come from

The dangers people in ministry face are daily and they come at us from all directions and from all kinds of sources, just as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8. The biggest danger comes from the attacks that Satan hurls our way and often those are manifested through the very people to whom we are ministering.

These attacks comes through the people who are never happy no matter what we do. It comes through those who make accusations (truth or lies). It comes through attacks on your emotional well-being. Satan can attack in our physical well-being, emotional well-being, and mental well-being. It comes through attacks on our faith when Satan tries to get us to doubt the call we receive from God.

Sometimes what we face is God testing us, growing us, and preparing us for the next step of our journey as we go through trials. However, during the trial, we feel the effects just as much. Sometimes ministry just feels like one battle after another.

What do we do? We follow Jesus’ instructions for self-care

Perhaps you’re new to ministry and wonder how anyone in ministry can feel like this – just wait – it will come. However, Jesus told us what to do so that we can take care of ourselves and continue ministering – not out of responsibility and dread, but out of anticipation and joy.

After sending the disciples out to do ministry in Jesus’ name, they were excited over the miracles they had done. Yet, they had been so busy they hadn’t even had to time to eat. Listen to what Jesus said to them in Mark 6: 31.

Jesus understands. He knows we need to rest, renew, and recharge. If we are going to effectively care for and minister to the people God places in our paths, we need to be sure we are taking care of ourselves spiritually, physically, emotionally, intellectually, sensory, and socially. To be fully charged and ready to face whatever Satan throws our way, each of these areas of our lives needs to operating on full tanks. So be sure that you are taking the time to self-care before you “other-care.”

If we are going to effectively care for and minister to the people God places in our paths, we need to be sure we are taking care of ourselves spiritually, physically, emotionally, intellectually, sensory, and socially. — Julia Bruce

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If you need ideas of ways you can practice self care, download our free self-care wheel in the free downloads section below.

© by Julia M. Bruce
Please credit the author with a link to the full article
when posting, sharing, or using any part of this post in any manner.

Do you have an event on the calendar and need a speaker?

We’re offering 15% off our speaker fees if you book by July 31, 2021. Call today and use the discount code: SUMMER2021.

We’re excited to be a part of your ministry and can’t wait to see you – no matter what size your event.

904.239.8937

Help support our ministry:

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Our Newest Download! The Path to Sin Worksheet

Satan is constantly trying to trip us up and he doesn’t even play fair because he uses our own desires as bait to get us to sin. James tells us the five steps that lead us down the path to sin in James 1:14-15, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This download helps you identify your desires so that you can better recognize when Satan is baiting you and you can avoid falling into sin. When used along with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to identify the desires that Satan baits you with, you can then ask the Holy Spirit to help you not become a victim to the bait of your desires. Download the worksheet today.

[Download not found]

Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

[Download not found]

<<<NEW>>> In the Spreadshop Store:

The Joy of the Lord

No matter what we face in life, Jesus gives up peace and laughter because the joy of the Lord is our strength.

The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.

---

See our Canvase prints in the Teespring Store: All Things New

We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store. These prints make great gifts or for decor in your home.

When we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sin, He takes our old, sinful self and makes us new in Him. This beautiful canvas is a great reminder of what Jesus has done for us.

To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints

---

Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel

---

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
• Conversation Starters.
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
• Romance Builders.
• Relationship Builders.
• Personal reflections.
• Date ideas.
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

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Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search: Title Author/Artist ISBN CBD Stock # Keywords Publisher

Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.

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Here’s some of our recent posts.

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 

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Revive us again!

One only needs to see the moral decay in our society to know that we are in desperate need of a revival. Even statistics that points to how Americans report their religious identity and church attendance points to the need for revival in America. In an article published by Pew Research on October 17,2019, statistics show that 65% of Christians describe themselves as Christian. That’s 12% lower than the previous decade. Twenty-six percent describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” That’s an increase of 17% from 2009. Church attendance (pre-COVID) was also declining. Fifty-four percent of American attend church only a few times a year. Forty-five percent reported attending monthly.

What do the statistics look like by generation? Of those born between 1928-1945, 85% report they are Christian. Of those born between 1946-1964, 76% report they are Christian. But for those born between 1981-1996, only 49% report they are Christian. As the rate of Christianity declines, the rate of moral decay is on the rise. It is time for God’s people to cry out with desperate and sincere hearts, “Revive us again!”

Symptoms that indicate revival is needed

We are all inflected with the disease of sin. And when revival is needed, the root problem is sin. Like any other disease, symptoms occur when the disease is present. When revival is needed, there are symptoms that begin to manifest in our life and our nation.

How many of the following symptoms are in your life? How many are evident in our nation?

• Complacency – satisfaction with the status quo. You’ve come little more than a “seat-warmer” at church.
• A narrow spiritual vision – Lack of concern for the lost and the suffering in the world. If you have your “get out of hell” card then all is good but don’t ask you to share the gospel with someone on their way to hell.
• Hypocrisy – Hiding, excusing or covering up secret sins. You’ll point your finger at others’ sins while not admitting your own. In fact, at church, you look like a deeply spiritual Christian and no one knows the sins you harbor, except for God.
• Unforgiveness – You hold on to grudges and have an unforgiving spirit. Rather than seeing others as sinners just like you, you puff yourself up in pride and haughtiness and refuse to forgive others choosing to hang on to your anger bitterness, resentment, and hurt.
• Pride – a prideful heart says, “look at me!” It wants all the recognition and glory that belongs to God. A prideful heart wants others to see how “spiritual” you are, like the Pharisees in the Bible.
• Animosity toward other Christians – it doesn’t matter the reason. You just don’t like them and you refuse to love your neighbor.
• Backslidden – You’ve grown lukewarm in your relationship with God. It is no longer a priority. You’ve stopped reading your Bible, pray only in a crisis, not attending church regularly and you’ve made other things or people in life a higher priority than God.

Will You not revive us again?

Our heat’s cry should echo that of the psalmist in Psalm 85:5-6: “Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us Your faithful love, Lord, and give us Your salvation.”

What does revival mean?

Revival means drawing near to God with the expectation of Him drawing near to us. Isaiah 55:6-7 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive.” Revival happens when we seek the Lord and call to Him confessing our sins. With a heart of repentance, we abandon our way of sin and return to God who freely forgives. We are then restored to a right relationship with Him.

When we experience revival in our lives, our desires will change from self-centered to God centered. As a result, we hunger for righteousness, worship, and opportunities to serve God. We will leave behind our old way of life and begin living in a way that honors and glorifies God.

When revival happens, the people of God will return to the house of God. Serving God will not be a burden, but a joyful expectation and opportunity to express our love for God. When we sing our praise, the name of Christ will be exalted and they entire community will hear us. There would be no more silent bodies during the music part of our church services. When revival happens, there will many a pair of pants that will need patches on the knees from the hours spent in prayer.

We need revival because the people of God have grown lukewarm

Revival is needed whenever the people of God have grown lukewarm. In Revelation 3:15-16 Jesus says to the church at Laodicea, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.” Would Jesus find you and your church in the same lukewarm state as Laodicea?

It can happen with ease and occurs in a short period of time. But it does give some warning signs before it arrives. Too often, though, because the signs are subtle, they are easily ignored. And if they are ignored, the arrival into our hearts of the greatest spiritual danger facing us will certainly come. The result will be a damaged testimony for the Lord Jesus and a shipwrecked spiritual life that has run aground on the joyless shoals of worldliness, discontent, and dissatisfaction.

Three Warning Signs of a Lukewarm heart

Warning sign #1: Neglecting the Bible

The first warning sign that our hearts are growing spiritually lukewarm is when time in our Bibles to seek the Lord Jesus is not a daily discipline of delight, but a hit and miss, rushed, or easily ignored. Job said, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). And Jesus told us, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Matthew 4:4). The first indication a lukewarm heart is starting to take hold in us is neglect of the Bible.

Warning sign #2: No desire for prayer

A second warning sign that our hearts are growing spiritually lukewarm is our prayer lives. Prayer is God’s gift of communication from Him in order for us to know and experience Him. Prayer should be a priority and pleasure in the Christian. When it is not, a lukewarm heart is starting to settle in. Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian life. If we find ourselves neglecting time alone with God in prayer, lacking desire and practice of prayer with other Christians, and don’t have a growing desire for prayer, a lukewarm heart is growing within us. Soon, prayer will simply be a mechanical, mindless exercise offered over meals and at bedtime, never bringing us to encounters with the Lord.

Warning sign #3: Lack of faithfulness to our churches

The final warning sign a lukewarm heart is happening in us will be our attitude and faithfulness to our churches. For the healthy Christian, the Lord’s Day is the height of the week. It should be looked upon with anticipation, expectation, and preparation. Think about it. Our Lord’s Days are family gatherings to worship, hear from the Lord through His preached Word and be a foretaste of heaven. If we can easily prioritize and substitute worldly events over faithful attendance to the Lord in His house on His day, a chilling of the heart is occurring.

Revival is Intentional

If we want to see a revival in our own hearts and in our nation, we must be intentionally pursuing God. Until we have deep desire to know God – not just know about Him, but a knowing that comes from experiencing Him at work in our lives – we will not see a revival.

Think for a moment about a child who wants a new toy. The child will ask his parents over and over again. It doesn’t matter of they say no 100 times. The child will ask again with the hopes that on the 101st time they will say yes. If we pray for revival, we cannot grow weary in praying. In Matthew 7:7, Jesus said, “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

Can a child truly want a new toy more than we want to see revival? Why do we ask God to send a revival once and then walk away? Keep asking. Keep searching. And keep knocking, and the door to revival in our nation will be opened.

Revival is Personal

We can pray for revival in America and we should. However, what we really need to pray is for God to send a revival into each one of us – individually. Why? Because revival is experienced individually. It is an awakening within ourselves to who God is. It is a longing to be close to Him and follow His Word. When you desire to see His name glorified, you are desiring revival. When you seek to know God more intimately, deeply, and personally, you are seeking revival. And when your heart is burdened by sin and the moral decay of our nation, you are burdened for revival. When you ask the Lord to fan the flames within your own heart, you are asking for revival.

We need to examine ourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless you fail the test.” We need to see ourselves as we are — as God sees us. We need to be honest and repentant as we acknowledge God for who He is. And we need to see sin for what it is. It’s time we cultivate an earnest desire to be revived! It’s time we stop playing church and get on our knees as we humbly pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways.

Revival Cannot Occur Without:

We must understand that revival comes from God. We will not experience revival without a spontaneous outpouring of the presence and power of God in our lives that changes our heart and brings us to repentance and obedience. Revival cannot occur without a hunger for God and the things of God. Before there is revival, we must develop humility and a readiness to forgive others. We must also develop a desire to see souls saved and to see lives changed for God’s gory – including our own. If we want to see a revival, we need to have a desire to see dead things brought back to life, such as relationships, finances, dreams, and emotions.

More than anything else, revival cannot occur without us spending time in the presence of God. Once you have experienced His presence, you will never be the same. The true sign that revival has come is that the people of God long for and linger in the presence of God. When we spend time in His presence, there comes a desperate cry for revival that comes from deep within us and can’t help to come out and be heard by the ears of God.

Prayers that move God into action begin with confession of sin and humble repentance. They are consistent until God answers. And they are confident and expectant that God will act. If you are burdened to see God send a revival in our nation, join us and cry out to God as the psalmist did in Psalm 85:5-7:

Will You be angry with us forever? And will You prolong Your anger for all generations?
Will You not revive us again so that Your people may rejoice in You?
Show us Your faithful love, Lord, and give us Your salvation.

Do you have an event on the calendar and need a speaker?

We’re offering 15% off our speaker fees if you book by July 31, 2021. Call today and use the discount code: SUMMER2021.

We’re excited to be a part of your ministry and can’t wait to see you – no matter what size your event.

904.239.8937

Help support our ministry:

---

Our Newest Download! The Path to Sin Worksheet

Satan is constantly trying to trip us up and he doesn’t even play fair because he uses our own desires as bait to get us to sin. James tells us the five steps that lead us down the path to sin in James 1:14-15, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This download helps you identify your desires so that you can better recognize when Satan is baiting you and you can avoid falling into sin. When used along with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to identify the desires that Satan baits you with, you can then ask the Holy Spirit to help you not become a victim to the bait of your desires. Download the worksheet today.

[Download not found]

Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

[Download not found]

<<<NEW>>> In the Spreadshop Store:

The Joy of the Lord

No matter what we face in life, Jesus gives up peace and laughter because the joy of the Lord is our strength.

The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.

---

See our Canvase prints in the Teespring Store: All Things New

We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store. These prints make great gifts or for decor in your home.

When we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sin, He takes our old, sinful self and makes us new in Him. This beautiful canvas is a great reminder of what Jesus has done for us.

To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints

---

Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel

---

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
• Conversation Starters.
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
• Romance Builders.
• Relationship Builders.
• Personal reflections.
• Date ideas.
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

---

Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search: Title Author/Artist ISBN CBD Stock # Keywords Publisher

Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.

---

Here’s some of our recent posts.

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 

Follow us on: