My wife wrote an insightful blog post about the pressure that families in ministry face leading up to big initiatives.
As we prepare for Easter weekend feel free to forward this on so that people will know how to support you and your family during this time.
Check it out below.
I am not a fighter. I really hate tension. But there is one fight that I am learning to fight.
In our three short years of ministry I have noticed a pattern. Around Christmas and Easter, Fall push and the opening of a new campus, the start of a new ministry or addition of a service we seem to come against a strong opposition.
Ephesians 6:12 says For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Does this mean that I blame the devil for every bad thing that happens to our family around Easter? No, of course not. But do I think that there are forces in this world that want to attack and/or distract us during a time of year when many many people will come to church for the first time (or maybe first time in a long time). Absolutely.
How do I fight? Well first of all I am aware. I see a negative attitude that rises up inside me as an opportunity for there to be a tension in my marriage. I am sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I try to spend more time meditating and praying as I go throughout my day.
I am also not going to bring up a conversation that may cause a disagreement. I realize that my husband needs to focus most of his attention on the goal and vision of our church and reaching people. To cause some kind of disagreement would be to cause a distraction for him. If the enemy cannot get at my marriage through a moral failure, he is going to attack through the seemingly small.
You may be reading this post and think, this is not for me. I am not in the ministry. This post is for everyone.
If you are in the ministry, open your eyes. Be aware, be sensitive, be prayerful.
If you are not in the ministry, be in extra prayer for your church, your pastor, your church leaders and for their families. Pray for smooth services, functioning equipment, plenty of volunteers, good health, the list can go on and on.
This is a fight worth fighting because people’s lives are at stake. Put up your dukes.
Eph 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.