Relaxation: Take Time To Recharge.
(This post is revised from a previous post by Rick Warren. While written for pastors, the principle applies to all leaders.)
Leadership is draining. It’s hard work. We all need time to just relax. Jesus encouraged his very busy disciples to take some time for relaxation. Mark 6:31 says, “Crowds of people were coming and going so that they did not even have time to eat. He [Jesus] said to them [the disciples], ‘Come away by yourselves, and we’ll go to a lonely place to get some rest.’”
Jesus realized th e disciples had been busy serving, and they were tired. They needed a break. So he told them to get away and rest. Rest is so important that God put it in the Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment says this: every seventh day you take a day off. Pastor, this applies to you as well. You need a day away from the church.
Years ago I learned a key to lasting in leadership: divert daily, withdraw weekly, and abandon annually.
Divert daily means doing something fun every day. Get a hobby. Do something that relaxes you.
Leadership is draining. It’s hard work. We all need time to just relax. Jesus encouraged his very busy disciples to take some time for relaxation. Mark 6:31 says, “Crowds of people were coming and going so that they did not even have time to eat. He [Jesus] said to them [the disciples], ‘Come away by yourselves, and we’ll go to a lonely place to get some rest.’”
Jesus realized th e disciples had been busy serving, and they were tired. They needed a break. So he told them to get away and rest. Rest is so important that God put it in the Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment says this: every seventh day you take a day off. Pastor, this applies to you as well. You need a day away from the church.
Years ago I learned a key to lasting in leadership: divert daily, withdraw weekly, and abandon annually.
Divert daily means doing something fun every day. Get a hobby. Do something that relaxes you.
Withdraw weekly means you take a day off every week for relaxation and restoration.
Abandon annually means you get away and forget everything for some time each year.
Your leadership is a key ingredient to helping your organization become all that it can be. In fact, the Bible says in Proverbs 11:14, “Without wise leadership a nation is in trouble.” That’s true of every single area of life. Without wise leadership, your organization is in trouble. If you do not take time to re-energize and refresh, you’ll be making key leadership decisions when you are exhausted. This is an ingredient for disaster. Good leaders know that their best decisions are made when they are mentally, physically, and emotionally refreshed and strong.
Your leadership is a key ingredient to helping your organization become all that it can be. In fact, the Bible says in Proverbs 11:14, “Without wise leadership a nation is in trouble.” That’s true of every single area of life. Without wise leadership, your organization is in trouble. If you do not take time to re-energize and refresh, you’ll be making key leadership decisions when you are exhausted. This is an ingredient for disaster. Good leaders know that their best decisions are made when they are mentally, physically, and emotionally refreshed and strong.
