Ready? Set? Recharge.

If you’re like me, you race through each day. It’s just one sprint after another. Slowing down or stopping to recharge may be necessary but it can also be frustrating.

Have you ever left your cellphone charger at home? How did you feel during the day as the battery meter slowly faded to empty? What raced through your mind when the “Low Battery. 20% Remaining.” notification flashed on-screen? Were you able to get home in time to recharge? Or, did your phone battery end up dying because you were scheduled to serve in children’s ministry that night?

I travel quite a bit these days. I’ve experienced all kinds of charging issues with my phone, laptop, and tablet. It stresses me out when I’m not sure if I’ll have enough battery power, so I make sure to bring my charger everywhere I go. Recently I’ve been thinking about how this practice translates to my life as a ministry leader, a husband and father, a volunteer at church, and a follower of Christ.

We don’t have to wait until we’re totally drained to fill up physically, emotionally, or spiritually. It’s why we do things like go for a walk, take a nap, eat a snack, call a friend, recite a Bible verse, or pray for strength.

We’re designed to recharge as we go along with God and others through life.

Fact: Children’s ministry never ends. If you believe God’s called you to this, it’s a weekly, year round disciple-making commitment. Sure, a lot of kid-influencers take a break during the summer or sporadically throughout the year. But that doesn’t change the reality that kids and families keep showing up whenever the church doors are open.

Fact: Serving, by definition, is sacrificial. Living out the Gospel with kids, families, and leaders takes a toll. The calendar expectations on pastors and children’s ministry leaders are high. The relational demands can be intense. And sadly, the need to physically, emotionally, and spiritually recharge along the way often goes unchecked.

Fact: It’s incredibly hard to serve when you’ve got nothing left to give. Trust me, I tell you this from personal experience (you can read about it in Relational Children’s Ministry). If you and I want to offer God and the kids, families, and leaders around us our best, we need an ongoing recharge plan in place.

 Do I Have Time for a Recharge Plan?

Simply put: yes (and no). You’ll need to decide for yourself if you want to prioritize a spiritual recharge time. To help you out, here is a simple 60-minute plan that could change your life and ministry. It’s not complicated, but it’s harder than it seems. You might want to encourage a friend or colleague to try it out too and then check in with each other to see how it went.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16

Essentially your goal is to get alone with God for 60 minutes and see what happens. Step away from all of your roles and responsibilities so you can meet with the Lord for an hour. Schedule it on your calendar. That way you can say, “Sorry, I can’t meet. I’ve already got an appointment at that time.” You might think you don’t have a discretionary hour in your week or month for this experiment. Try it out 3-4 times and then decide if it’s worth it. In fact, consider doing it in the next few days while the idea is fresh.

Take 60 Recharge Plan

The time adds up to 60 minutes, but each component stands alone. You can insert the individual recharge practices (Take 5, Take 15, Take 40) into your day or week the more familiar you become with Take 60.

Take 5: Catch your breath.

Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10a

People love to be busy, especially church and children’s ministry leaders. It helps us feel important, productive, and needed. The truth is, God can run the entire world and universe without us. Take 5 minutes to slow down to a full stop. Don’t roll through this. Find a quiet place you enjoy that’s free from distractions where you can be alone with the Lord. Patiently breathe in and out. Close your eyes and imagine being face to face with Jesus. Repeat Psalm 46:10 in your mind or as a whisper: Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

Take 15: Empty your hands.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Worry starts from various sources and takes on many forms, but it all has the same affect: it’s emotionally burdensome. You were not created to carry a load well beyond your capacity. For you to grow, you do need to be stretched and strengthened. However, God does not want to break you. He is at the ready to receive your concerns – all of them. He may not relieve each one, but He loves you and wants to take on your worry and walk with you.

Take 15 minutes to write down EVERY care, concern, and source of anxiety (i.e. family and friend matters, work pressures, financial issues, health concerns, scheduling problems, lack of help or resources, leadership challenges, etc.). When you think you’re done writing, keep going until everything is out in the open.

Then, present your anxiety list to God as an act of obedience and opportunity to grow in trusting Him. Hold your piece of paper in your hands as you talk with God. When you’re ready, drop the paper and place your hands palms up before the Lord. Invite Jesus to remind you of His sacrifice on the cross so that you could be saved and set free so you can now serve worry-free.

Take 40: Let the Lord revive you.

The Lord is my shepherd… Psalm 23

It’s hard to be with someone who is unwilling to receive help. If this is you, it is time to set aside your pride and open yourself up to the Lord’s leading. Psalm 23 is a magnificent passage. David, once a shepherd boy, understood the relationship between a flock and its caretaker. As King, he carried this imagery with him in his heart. It impacted his relationship with God and everyone he encountered. David wasn’t perfect, but he was faithful. He penned a beautiful Psalm that continues to shape godly hearts generation upon generation.

Take 40 minutes and a copy of Psalm 23 in hand. Go to a distraction-free location like a park, lake, or nature path. A church sanctuary or prayer room is another option. Plan on reading the Psalm at least three times. You could bring your Bible, but it’s possible that you need just one sheet of paper to keep from getting distracted. This isn’t an exercise in exegetical study. It’s a slow, careful, heart-softening reading of David’s journal entry about God as our Shepherd.

As you read, consider your responses to the following questions:

• Which word, phrase, or verse stands out most today?
• Why is this particular word, phrase, or verse especially meaningful?
• What does God want to tell me by pointing out this word, phrase, or verse?
• How will I adjust my priorities or posture toward God and others in response?
• In what way is the Lord using Psalm 23 to revive my soul?

Resist the temptation to think too hard about what you’re reading or your answers to the questions above. Let the Holy Spirit guide your time of reading and rereading Psalm 23 so you can meet with God centered on His Word. See what He says. Be open to what He shows you. Let Him revive you.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

You might enjoy trying out the Take 60 Recharge Plan or you might not. In the end, it’s important for you to step into some form of regular replenishment so that you remain intimately connected to Christ. The church and children’s ministry community you’re part of deserves to have you fully charged for greater impact. Only you can take the time to recharge as you go. Give it a try and see how God uses your time with Him to remind you of His love and equip you to pass it along to others.

This blog was written by Dan Lovaglia in May 2016.