Six keys to being more productive in life and ministry.
Pastors have a lot going on. We have to be present mentally, emotionally, and physically in many circumstances throughout each week. We often have families that are, or should be, a priority. We have responsibilities that pull us in many directions daily.
As the lead pastor for a church as well as a speaker, author, and doctoral student, I’m often asked, “Pastor, what is the key to your productivity?” Here are some principles I like to remember in order to be productive and try to maximize my God-given potential.
1. Know your calling
We are all first called to receive, embrace, and live from the life of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In response to the love of God, through the Holy Spirit’s power, we grow in our love for God.
For me, after that, I am called to love my wife and then my children.
I am called to serve and shepherd Transformation Church.
I am called to influence and encourage other pastors.
I am called to be an author.
I am called to complete a doctorate in the New Testament in context.
The specifics of your calling will differ, but by knowing and stewarding our callings, we can be free of the “tyranny of the urgent.” Once we clearly define our priorities, then if it’s not on that list, we really need to consider if it’s the best use of our time and other resources.
2. Simplify and declutter your life
A lack of productivity in people’s lives is often the result of not knowing our calling and having a cluttered life, filled with activities but not production.
In our 21st-century world, choices are everywhere, and we often clutter our lives with too many options because we are afraid we are going to miss out on something. ...
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