In this technologically advanced society that we live in phone chargers are increasingly popular. My wife, daughter, and I have found ourselves at times scampering around the house trying to scrounge up phone chargers for our phones. If a phone is not charged properly it will die. This is the same concept for our mind, body, and soul. All three make up who we are and if we are not careful we can neglect ourselves emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually. This neglect can lead to burn out and if we do not have anything left in our emotional tank how can we make it through the storm? How can we be effective soul care providers as Pastors, Associate Pastors, Student Pastors, Church School Staff, church administrative staff, Pastor Counselors, and any other Human service provider, if we do not have enough left in the tank for ourselves? You see we are taught to give of ourselves in such emotionally charged situations so frequently that if we are not getting recharged burn out is inevitable. It is easy to wear the hat or hats we are called to and pour out so much that we neglect to refuel ourselves.
Emotional Replenishment is essential for basic stress management to prevent chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, acute stress the feeling of being over whelmed, heart issues, lack of concentration, and whole plethora of medical and psychological issues can occur due to not being replenished emotionally. Lack of desire to pray, fast, and read the word can result from burn out. Thing we used to love doing in the past we lose interest in and stop doing them. This is what I call signs of emotional deprivation. In this article I would like to briefly discuss four practical interventions that will help us remain replenished at all times so that we can be effective for the Gods Kingdom and be as productive as God would desire us to be.
Number one: Spiritual Discipline of Prayer and Meditation on God. Psalms 1:2 says:
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night”. Keeping our mind on God and hungering and thirsting for more of him in our life will keep us replenished and recharged spiritually. David had a hunger to be in God’s presence and nothing recharges the soul like prayer and meditation in the presence of God.
Number two: When I write articles on related topics I feel I may sound redundant by stating prayer, fasting, scripture reading as keys to being healtier emotionally. It is so true to be emotionally replenished we must spend time in Gods word so we are putting in our souls the sanctifying, redemptive, powerful word of God in our heart. David said, create in me a clean heart and renew in me a right spirit. Gods word renews our mind and replensihes our soul.
Number three : Exercise is key for emotional replenishment. Psalms 139:14 -”I will praise You, for I am fearfully andwonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And thatmy soul knows very well”. Below you will find out one of the results of Gods creative power.
When we are subject to the emotional strain of soul care it is easy for toxic emotions to cause the body to produce toxins detrimental to our health. An overabundance of cortisol can be produced by our pituitary gland which can be toxic to our body by simply experiencing necessary emotions and feelings such as fear, sadness, anger, and every other powerful feeling you can categorigize under these dominant emotions. Yes I said it, emotions you may experience at funerals, weddings, counseling sessions or any other trying situation can cause bodily toxins to be produced. Believe it or not the Gods built in defense against these toxins is exercise. Think about it, we get rid of bodily poisons through urination, excretion, and last but not least sweating. Sweating is the least common way we get rid of poisons due to lack of excerise. You can literally sweat out toxins in your body produced by powerful and needed emotions. ( Deadly Emotions: Cook ) Exercise also decreases the amount of cortisol in our body through process called Brain Derived Neuro-tropic factor otherwise known as BDNF’s. In laymen’s terms this is a protein strand the brain produces to fight off and overabundance of cortisol in our system. When we exercise and sweat we are able to think much more clearly and we feel better. This is vital to emotional remplenishment as it is one of the top three stress management interventions in the world. Yes, emotional replenishment is directly related to stress management. Since we are made in God’s image we have at our disposal wonderful interventions to help us recharge!
Number 4: Having a hobby is a great way to recharge. Ecclesiastes 2:24 “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? ”
Much of the literature on stress management suggests hobbies as ways to replenish our emotions. In the world we live in we have so many roles that we are constantly switching in and out of that we can neglect the importance of “me time”. Having a hobby allows the person to have a time out, clear their mind, and do something that brings them enjoyment. Remember a major sign of emotional burn out is failing to do the things we used to enjoy. Participating in hobbies we enjoy in moderation is a great way to recharge our mind, body, and soul.
This article is not exhaustive on the ways to replensih ourselves emotionally. For further thought having some one to talk to, a prayer partner, Godly humor, creating a good self care plan, having a mentor, and of course being accountable to someone spirtually are other ways to keep your emtional tank on full.
Questions for small groups:
Do you have a hobby?
Do you make time for your hobby?
Why do you think the spiritual discipline of prayer, bible reading, and meditation are so vital to our emotional health?
Have you ever experieced burn out?
What are your warning signs of emtional depravity?
What ways can exercise benefit you emotionally, psychologically, spiritually?
How is exercise related to our mind, body, and soul? Do bible scriptures support this?
What are the beneftis of creating a self care plan for ourselves?
What would incorporate in your self care plan?
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