Vacation…a time to get away and spend with family, friends and take a break from the everyday cycle of work and school. It allows us to returned refreshed and ready to take on all of our responsibilities. But what about when we are burned out doing God’s work? How do we take a vacation from the work that God has prepared for us to do? I am not saying that we should not take a break from the work once in a while, but how do we refresh and renew during this time, so that when we return we are able to take on the work again.

Most of the time, when we vacation- we go away- a trip somewhere, visit far off family, etc. When we take a break from God, we need to get away as well, maybe not physically, but certainly spiritually. We need to step back from the work. Resign from the committee, take a leave from the leadership position, do not try to “half do” the work- take a break.

Vacations are for a set time- we usually take a week (in some cases two) for our vacations. This should be the same principle- there should be a set amount of time- predefined and purposed- that we will be away from the work. Many times we “take a break” with no defined period and we do not return to the work.

Vacations are times for rest- we sleep late- add leisurely activities to allow our bodies rest. Do we do the same when we take a break from God’s work? Do we spend time in prayer, reading the Word or meditation- renewing our the Spirit within? I suspect many times we do not. We are so burned out that we take a break not only from the work, but from the power source as well. Notice in reading the Gospels, that when Jesus was burdened with the work, He withdrew for times of prayer and He took His disciples of alone for teaching.

So when you are felly burned out from the work God has called you to do- take a short, focused break and recharge your Spirit- plug back into the power source so you can be renewed to continue the work. And the work is important. After all, God prepared them in advance for us to do.

Something to think about…..

Kevin