Dear pastor,
You cannot go wrong spending your time and energy noticing people, listening to people and encouraging people.
Very often we spend our time as pastors doing “behind the scenes” things. And these are good things – preparing sermons, working on building projects, preparing bulletins and advertisements.
But the truth is that ministry is about connecting with people and connecting people with God. And to do that, we must be with people.
Sometimes the temptation is to think that we are “wasting time” when we are not in the office or at the church building preparing something. But with all of the preparation time God has given us over the years, let us also remember that we need to practice and serve and “do” what we have been preparing for.
Of course we need to prepare our hearts and minds in prayer and the Word so that we have something to say and something to offer. Only in receiving from God will we have anything of truth and substance to give to other people.
But we have to intentionally be with and around people so that we can hear their story, see their struggle and help them to face and overcome (or be delivered from) their pain. We need to go to the people who are difficult, frustrating, hurting and hurtful. We need to be patient, kind, gentle and compassionate with and towards people.
And all of this is possible with the Spirit of Christ within us.
Please, today, this week, go looking for the people. Pray that God will direct your path toward them. And then be a conduit that Christ can flow through.
May God be glorified and lives be changed as we spend our time with people, loving, listening and ministering in the name and power of Jesus.
Pastor Encouragement 