Burnout

Recognizing burnout and avoiding it is important in the Christian walk. One way to know you on fire for the things of God is the ease of doing things. When we line up with the word, the fire comes and gives us the strength to do things effortlessly. The things of the Lord seem so simple when we keep the fire going. One way I learned to know when the fire has died down is when things become difficult. This tells me that I have moved from doing things in His strength and has started in my own strength. This leads to my next identifier which is tiredness. I have this chronic tiredness when I have moved out of the strength and might of Father and is operating in my own might. I can sleep all night and wake up ready to take on the world. Suddenly 2 hours later I feel ready for bed all over again.

Another way that I have learned to notice it is when I feel lonely. When we are on fire for God the only thing that matters is Fathers business. Sometimes the fire of God moves people to places and sets them aside. We may not have many friends or family for that matter to interact with. We look up after being by ourselves for a while and sometimes we look for others to drag screaming and kicking into our world. When we do this, we begin trying to make things happen in our own might.

This often for me causes a depressing feeling. Almost like oh I’m alone I have got to find someone to talk to. ugh I can’t take it anymore. I become that child in the grocery store having a tantrum over her favorite cookies that needs correction.  I start feeling so lonely and at this point I realize my fire is dying down and I need to fast to feel that closeness that seems to be slipping away and causing me to look for others to plug into Fathers place. When I’m walking in the fire, I’m healthier, with more joy and peace I’m at rest. When I’m walking in my own might I feel wore out, easily frustrated and unfriendly. What have you noticed if or when your fire starts to burnout?  What are some warning signs I may have missed?