Do only what God wants you to do

Over half of those who enter the ministry quit within ten years because of stress and discouragement. How can you avoid that? By following Christ’s example. How did Jesus do it? He tells us, “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does…By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me” (John 5:19-20, 30 NIV). That sounds simple, right? Simple—but not easy. People will try to talk you into doing good things that are not necessarily God’s highest priority for you. You can spend your life doing the good and never get around to doing the best. Jesus said, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” If God doesn’t give it to you, don’t take it on. And if He does, don’t try it without His help. Grandfather clocks come with two simple instructions: first, don’t let it run down. Second, don’t wind it too tight. Why did Jesus rise before dawn to pray and sometimes pray all night? To avoid getting run down or wound up too tight! The Bible says, “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (Psalm 55:22 NLT). But He can only carry them when you give them to Him.