It seems to me that you’re recognizing in your ministry what Henri Nouwen would call a “Wounded Healer”. The reality of leadership is that we have learned to be less dependant on ourselves and more dependant on God or as Paul says it “For me to live is Christ.” Any leader who does not acknowledge their own weakness and need for inner healing is hiding from their own selves and bordering on dysfunction. Worse yet, no one can maintain the “perfect – there is nothing wrong with me” image. And here’s the kicker – what is sewn from the pulpit will be reflected back from the congregation.

I counseled a leader once who said that his congregation was dysfunctional. I asked him, based on this principle, if he was dysfunctional. His response was “Why does everyone blame me?” I suggested maybe people “blame” him because he was to blame and if he is, he needed to get some help so he could stop sowing dysfunction from the pulpit. He actually started a long process of healing, while at the same time ministering to his congregation. Years afterward, He tells me that he was completely unaware how his dysfunction was communicated in so many way. As a result of his healing, he now has an emotional healing ministry where he counsels people in dysfunction. And while his congregation had a 80% rollover, it has been growing steadily.

We all need to carefully consider what we are sowing from the pulpit to the congregation. We learn our need for inner healing by maintaining our spiritual health. We maintain health (emotional, physical and spiritual) through discipline. To maintain spiritual health, we need to commit to prayer, bible reading and study, worship (particularly spontaneous worship for worship leaders), fellowship, isolation and solitude (hours and days as a purposeful retreat from our busy lives and other people to be with God for extended periods of time), self denial (food, money, things… for the purpose that the desire for these things won’t define our character), balanced ministry (knowing what to and what not to commit to) and rest. These Jesus did to maintain his spiritual health. Should we?

Lastly, I have recently been blessed to rediscover the value of a spiritual mentor/advisor. This is not necessarily someone who is more spiritual than you are but rather someone who knows you and who you invite into your life to make spiritual assessments. Their goal is not to help to work or nm When I talked to the pastor I mentioned earlier, I was acting in this role. These are the kind of people who will ask, “What is your inner voice telling you?” “Are you doing this because you are anxious about something or has God really told you?” “How was it that you discerned God’s direction in this situation?” and “When was the last time you sent three to four hours alone with God?” I would recommend that you do not choose a close friend, pastor, mate and especially someone who you are responsible for. This person must be able to maintain a sense of objectivity and be a good listener. Once you’ve found such a person, share that same gift with someone else.

Having mentioned its value, let me ask, “What does your inner voice tell you about entering into a life of spiritual discipline? Before you answer, have you spent enough time with yourself and God to say one way or another?”

Blessings,

Debbi,

I enjoyed the article. It was very encouging. It caused the reader to reevaluate the inner man. While reading the article I notice that the Lord really delievered you from some pain of the past. What a mighty God we serve:) This Website is GREAT! Keep up the Good work. Hey, I preach during the Revival last week KEEP ON KEEPIN ON. Say, Amen.

Set yourself free.

Thanks and may God bless,