As we race into this new year all of us are making new resolutions, anticipating new beginnings and hoping for new possibilities. In the process it is very easy to forget the boundaries God sets up for us. Burnout are becoming more and more common, particularly amongst leaders and I am concerned that most of us take on far more than we should.
We forget that Jesus is the saviour of the world, not us. W operate from the misguided conviction that we are God’s answer for the needy world around us and take on huge unwarranted burdens as a result. Or if we are honest, we just love to see our names in lights and are willing to push ourselves beyond the limits in order to succeed.
Next week I will start a series on Leading Spiritually. I have been taking time in the last few weeks to evaluate my own leadership and want to share with you some of the insights I am gaining. But this insightful journey would not have been possible without my willingness to stop, to listen and to set boundaries, not something that I always do easily.
Yesterday I wrote the following prayer which I plan to use each morning over the next few weeks to remind me of my limits and of the need to constantly place God in the centre of all I am and do.
God may I live within limits,
of my body, my mind and my spirit.
God may I live within limits,
of my calling , my community, my capacity.
God may I live within limits,
of who I am and who you want me to be.
May I learn to live in the place of trust,
and wrap my heart around your presence.
May I learn to still my mind and listen,
attentive to the quiet whispers of your voice.
May I attune my ears to your words,
And savour the sacredness of each moment.
May your ways echo in the depths of my being,
so that all I am and all I do,
flows from an experience of your love.
3 comments
Beautiful prayer, Christine! I think I will adopt it as my morning prayer too!
Thanks Tara, and lets work on getting together in the next few weeks
I needed that prayer today. Thanks for sharing 🙂 God bless!