Friday, September 18, 2009

Lord, save me from myself

There is a sign hanging in my office that I made early in my ministry. It reads as follows...

My Priorities:
1) My God
2) My Wife
3) My Family
4) My Ministry


I have to admit that for the better part of the last ten years, this sign has been more of a decoration than a description of my life. If I were to remake the sign according to the reality of how I have lived, it would read like this...

My Priorities
1) My Ministry
2) My Ministry
3) My Wife
4) My Family
5) My God


Yes, I intended to list ministry twice, because that's more like the way it has been. I have allowed ministry to define me, shape me, and give me much of my identity.
I have gotten it all wrong.
Over the last several weeks I have listened to God in my life like I never have before. I have a long way to go, but I believe that God has been trying to speak boldly into my noisy life. Here is what I think he is trying to say:
Repent of your "savior complex" and let me (God) be God. For too long, you have been trying to be the savior. You have tried to do what only I can do.
Repent of your primary identity as a youth minister. Youth ministry is a calling, not an identity. Your identity is as a human being, one created in my image.
Repent of your need for affirmation from people. Affirmation from others is good and necessary, but your first source of love and affirmation should be from me. I created you. I know you. I saved you. I was there when you were created and I will be there when you die. I will never fail you. I will never just tell you what you want to hear.
Repent of your misguided priorities. After your relationship with me is your relationship with your wife. I have made you one flesh. You dedicated your life to this woman. Return to the vows that you made and make her the top human relationship in your life. Stop being distracted at home. Give her your attention. Your second most important relationship is with your son. Molding and shaping his image of me and of the world starts with you. Show him he is more important than everyone else except your wife. Make time for him.
Repent of your busyness. There is nothing wrong with working hard, but make time to be quiet. Make time for rest. I included the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments for reason. You must make time to recharge.

Father, forgive me for neglecting our relationship. I have tried to sit on your throne for too long and it is wearing me out. Save me from my selfishness and desire to seek my ultimate fulfillment from anywhere other than you. I have let important relationships suffer because of my own selfish desires. I have permitted my calling to become my identity, and in the process, I have sometimes forgotten who and what that calling is about.
Father, forgive me for allowing my ministry to distract me from being a better husband and a better father. Save me from my desire to receive the praise of men before your praise. Help me to see that when my relationship with you is stronger and my relationships at home are stronger that I can be a better servant of yours.
Father, forgive me for all of the times in the past I have gotten lost along the way. Thank you for your years of patience as you watched me struggle along. Thank you for speaking to me, even when I wasn't listening. Thank for you giving me a wife with supreme patience and a heart of gold. Thank you for giving me a son who loves me, even when I am not as attentive as I should be. Lord, thank you for loving me, even when I frustrate you and let you down. Save me from myself so that I can be more whole.

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