Monday is here! For me as a pastor, the end of Sunday church results in a sigh of relief. I can only tell you about me because everyone is different, but after spending many hours during the week researching, studying, thinking, praying, typing, reading, editing, reading, and editing some more. Preaching the sermon is the absolute climax of my week.
When someone thanks me for the sermon on the way out I usually respond by thanking the Lord that He spoke to that person’s heart and also say, “I’m just glad it’s over.”
Maybe my stress comes from knowing God’s stringent requirements for those who teach His Word. The apostle James wrote that teachers will be judged more strictly than others (James 3:1 CEV). It also happens soon after I’m done speaking that I go through a range of emotions from discouragement to inadequacy (welcome to the pastor’s life). I even apologize to Lord for anything I said or did that didn’t please Him.
Maybe other preachers don’t go through what I go through, maybe it’s just weird me.
So, can pastors have an awesome Monday after Sunday church? For that matter, can Christians do the same? I think so. The following ideas can prove to be helpful to you as they’ve been to me.
On Monday…
1. Take a break from studying.
On Monday morning our church cleaning team shows up. They are a group of volunteers that vacuum, mop, clean mirrors and windows, do bathrooms and make them smell pretty, arrange pew Bibles, pens, and offering envelopes, etc. This small group of servants are amazing. They love the Lord and His church.
On Monday mornings we chat a while and when everyone gets to work I strap on a backpack vacuum cleaner and help out. I actually look like a Ghostbuster. You may be thinking, “Don’t you have something ministry related to do with your time?” Answer: Yes. But I rather not…if I can help it.
I get to pray while I vacuum (by the way, my buddy Johnny does most of the vacuuming, I just chip in) and sweat and joke around with my peeps. It’s a great break from what I do every day.
If you find yourself stressed out during your week, take a part of one day to do something out of the ordinary.
People who don’t tend to relax tend to break down. Remember that you can only stretch a rubber band so far before it snaps. (Tweet that)
2. Leave the results of your preaching (or what you do) to God.
Whatever you do (job, caring for others, leisure), when you do your best for the Lord, know that it is Him who will make you both productive and successful.
3. Remember that God handsomely rewards faithfulness.
You don’t have to be a preacher to think about this one. He is faithful and will compensate His own for their faith efforts.
4. Keep next Sunday sermon in the back of your mind.
My friend Dwight, an evangelist turned pastor, says, “The worst thing about being a pastor is that Sundays keep coming.”
On Mondays pastors need to keep their thoughts for next Sunday in the back of their mind, waaay back there somewhere.
5. Read some.
Take time out to read on Mondays. It’s relaxing plus reading/learning keeps you fresh. Dr. Howard Hendricks once said, “Read and learn so you can feed your people from a living stream, not from a stagnant pond.”
Mondays can be tough, but we must find creative ways to make them awesome.
What has worked for you? How do you make Mondays after Sunday church great? Please leave me a comment.