If you’ve ever found yourself so busy trying to serve God that you’ve forgotten to actually spend time hearing from Him, you’re in good company!
On this episode of Better Together Facebook Live, host Barb Roose talks with Julie Lyles Carr, about how to keep ministry from messing up our relationship with God.
Big Ideas from Today’s Show
1. God is not the job.
Julie reminds us of how easy it is to allow the good things we are doing in our lives to get in the way of tending and cultivating our personal relationship with God. Ask yourself: Am I stuck on a ministry hamster wheel? Are there things in my life that are getting in the way of my relationship with God?
2. Be honest with yourself
Julie encourages us to take a real look at ourselves and be completely honest. Ask yourself: Why am I doing all of these things? What is my motive? Am I just trying to please people or get recognition?
3. Seek God
If you aren’t exactly sure what God wants you to do in this season, ask Him! Take some time in prayer to ask, “God, what can I do with my life that pleases you?”
4. Know how to read the seasons well
Julie reminds us that life is full of seasons. In some seasons God may call you to be actively involved in ministry, but in others He may call you to rest. There is a time for everything!
Practical Temperature Check
Write down a list of the places in your life that you have obligations in and assign a season to each one.
Summer: A fully flourishing area where you are working hard and seeing God do great things.
Spring: A relatively new and exciting thing that you’re just getting started.
Fall: You have been doing it for awhile. It’s comfortable, but it doesn’t fire you up like it used to.
Winter: You’re just doing it because you don’t want to let anybody down.
Look at your list and prayerfully consider which areas you need to remain in and where it may be time to let things go.
About Our Guest Julie Lyles Carr…Julie is a disciple, reader, writer, runner, photographer, wife to Michael, mom to a bunch. She is the founder of the media and communications company, Carr Consult. In addition to being a national speaker and best-selling author, she serves as the Pastor of LifeWomen Women’s Ministry at her home church of LifeAustin in Austin, Texas, where Randy Phillips of Phillips, Craig and Dean serves as Lead Pastor. She also founded and served as the Executive Director of Legacy of Hope Austin, a non-profit dedicated to serving families with children with special needs.
Julie is the host of the popular All Mom Podcast and has welcomed guests Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Bob Goff, Max Lucado, Scott Hamilton, Emerson Eggerichs, Jennie Allen, Jamie Ivey, and more.
Links from today’s episode:
Check out Julie’s Website
The All Mom Does Podcast
https://www.allmomdoes.com/podcast
Footnotes Bible Study
https://www.amazon.com/Footnotes-Participant-Workbook-Lessons-Characters
Better Together host Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author with a passion to help women live beautifully strong and courageous in Jesus’ name. She’s the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
