After preaching on Sunday, anyone have the Monday "blues?"
In all the 30 plus years I have preached, Sunday highs are met by Monday lows--often times severe. Just wondering if other preachers go through this experience. And if you have found something that makes Monday's easier to bear with.
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I have not ran into that, of course you have been preaching longer then I have been here [:D]. You could always try watching Joel Olesteen on mondays [:|] just don't try to count the blinks [:^)]. Just kidding... Mondays are usually rush, rush for me... Come Sunday, and Friday is when I get battles..
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Steven L. Spencer said:
In all the 30 plus years I have preached, Sunday highs are met by Monday lows--often times severe. Just wondering if other preachers go through this experience. And if you have found something that makes Monday's easier to bear with.
I like to get a head start on things so my Monday blues usually start sometime between the morning and evening services on Sunday.
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Steven L. Spencer said:
In all the 30 plus years I have preached, Sunday highs are met by Monday lows--often times severe. Just wondering if other preachers go through this experience. And if you have found something that makes Monday's easier to bear with.
I've only got 24 years under my belt, but I can still say "Yes." Sometimes it doesn't take until Monday. There have been Sunday afternoons and evenings where I really wondered who I thought I was fooling. I've usually realized that this was the voice of the enemy trying to undermine what God was doing through this earthen vessel. But there's some 'flesh' involved in this too: I poured out my heart on Sunday, but the world (or at least this church) didn't change. Kind of arrogant, I know, but my flesh can be like that.
I make Monday my day off. I found early on that I couldn't get much done anyway on Monday.
After pouring out on Sunday, it's good to get refilled on Mondays. This includes recreation (re-creation), quiet, hobbies (for me playing guitar), family, sleeping in, cooking something special, and generally just making the day-off a good, refreshing day. I need to stop, disengage, take a break, and trust that God can do without me for a day. I try to avoid all ministry (if possible) and let everyone know that. I also do my best to keep from criticizing my Sunday until at least Tuesday. Other folks can take notes and get back to me later.
Another key is to focus on what went well before considering what might have gone better. I tend to focus on fixing what's broken, more than capitalizing on what isn't. So I push the pendulum in the other direction, and start with the positive. In fact, building on the positive tends to be more productive than fixing the negative anyway. Of course, I'm making the assumption that what went well was what God did, more than what I, in my flesh, could accomplish.
Help links: WIKI; Logos 6 FAQ. (Phil. 2:14, NIV)
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Steven L. Spencer said:
In all the 30 plus years I have preached, Sunday highs are met by Monday lows--often times severe. Just wondering if other preachers go through this experience. And if you have found something that makes Monday's easier to bear with.
In 30 plus years like yourself, Steven, I've frequently found Mondays, sometimes even Tuesdays, to be very black. Part of it is just me and the way I'm wired. But we do get pretty emotionally, and sometimes spiritually, empty. A bricklayer can see what he's accomplished. We can't. But we have the Lord's promises to bless His Word, in His timing and in His way.
As for something helpful on Monday, I find non-ministry reading and good music to be refreshing, with a walk or a run later. An older colleague also suggested an excellent idea, that I have frequently used: a wastebasket... for tossing your letter of resignation.
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nice reflection, Richard. thank you for your transparency.
I like Apples. Especially Honeycrisp.
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After about 10 years into ministry I stopped taking Monday off and switched to Friday. I realized that was always the day I felt the worse all week. Why ruin my day off by taking it on a day when I knew I would feel terrible? (There were some Mondays that I had a killer headache so bad all I could do was sit in a room.) So now on Monday I do low level energy things: answer email, paperwork, buy Logos books, stare at the wall. For the past 15 years I have enjoyed my day off. My advice is to never take Monday off!
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Hey everyone! What a fascinating question/topic! I must ask my pastor that if I think of it....
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Can I just say something though I'm not a Pastor?
I thank God for men like you who do the hard work of bringing God's word to us pewsitters week in and week out...and if we seem like we aren't changed...be sure that some are....
I appreciate all of the Pastor's I've had and those here on the forum who provide this labor of love...
Thank you very much everyone.
Robert Pavich
For help go to the Wiki: http://wiki.logos.com/Table_of_Contents__
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Richard DeRuiter said:
There have been Sunday afternoons and evenings where I really wondered who I thought I was fooling. I've usually realized that this was the voice of the enemy trying to undermine what God was doing through this earthen vessel.
This is the living truth, Richard! Whenever I do a really, really good lesson and hear the most amazing things pass my lips, then when everyone is gone I drop into something resembling depression. In lessons like that I know that everyone can see right through me and that everything I do is a sham. My wife says that when the anointing hits, God takes over for that time, but our human self can't maintain that plateau. It takes awhile to "return to planet earth." You are correct when you say it is the voice of the enemy because during the downtime we are at our weakest. But, did you ever notice that the enemy never really gets through?!
My lessons are usually 90-120 minutes long, 5-6 times per week, so on a good week "when God takes over," by the end I'm physically and mentally exhausted. But when it is time to do it again I am up and running looking forward to "see what God is going to do next." Whenever I do an all-day session Margaret has to drive me home because I'm in such a funk.
The bottom line: my experience shows the deeper the depression the better we allowed God to work through us. And I look forward to that.
God bless
{charley}
running Logos Bible Software 6.0a: Collector's Edition on HP e9220y (AMD Phenom II X4 2.60GHz 8.00GB 64-bit Win 7 Pro SP1) & iPad (mini) apps.
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Richard DeRuiter said:
I make Monday my day off. I found early on that I couldn't get much done anyway on Monday.
Ditto.
I was also given a good piece of advice from an experienced pastor some years ago. "Don't try to do God's work for Him; you won't be any good at it! Do waht God has called you to do."
Faithfulness is my business in preaching; fruitfulness is His business!
Isaiah 55:10-12, NIV)
My battles are usually on Saturday.
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This is interesting to me. I never realized this was the case, being a lay person. I agree with Robert and thank you for the burden you bear on our behalf. What you say when you preach from the Word in the Spirit does bear fruit in God's time. I know you are doing right. Otherwise, why would the enemy try to discourage you?
Peace and a blessed Christmas week!
Kaye
"But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:5 (NASB)
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What a great topic, Steven. Mondays can be rough. I take them off, and if emergencies pile up on that day, I'll occasionally even take a different day off that week to "make up." My favorite pastime on Mondays is being a bum. My wife is super encouraging: she tries to do chores like laundry and shopping on the weekend so I will be free to go to the lake, or just sit on the couch.
Then there is the other "dark day:" Saturday evenings. Often times sermons aren't ready yet, and I am working at my desk from after supper until after midnight, then up at 6:30 Sunday to run through them one more time. I have a Billy Graham quote taped to my desk:
"The work of preaching is and must be a spiritual exercise. God forbid that it should be anything else. And there are times when the Spirit gives utterance I neither prepared nor intended. But much of the work of preaching is a struggle: wrestling with ideas and concepts; praying, seeking, studying. It is all the Spirit’s work. The travailing as well as the delivery."
Pastor, rural Baptist church
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I really appreciate all the open transparency of your responses! I am not a Pastor and only preach when called to...In the the years that I have been allowed to share God's Word, there have been times when I told myself that I would never step into the pulpit again...then a phone call comes for me to preach somewhere...yep...you got it...I am there preaching! God's grace is so magnificant! Thanks for all you diligent Pastors who are there faithfully studying preaching God's Word every Sunday!
Blessings,
danp
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Steven,
I appreciate your asking this - it is not always easy to talk about things so close to home. You have already gotten some helpful responses (and I suspect there are more on the way) but I will add my 2cents.
I lead a Messianic Jewish Congregation, so for me, for the past 22 years, Monday comes a day early - on Sunday. Like Richard, I am a musician, so I need to keep up with my instruments and that helps. Sometimes we have scheduled light activities and that keeps my mind on more mundane (less challenging) things. During football season ... but all year learning (and spiritually re-fueling) with Logos is a big help.
I can't really put my finger on what makes some of these blue and others "just another day" or even a great day. The ministry is a place of great blessing and fulfillment and at the same time there are many uncertainties that can challenge us to the core. I do know that for preachers it is important to have extra guard up at times when we are tired / drained. I too (like Garrett and I'm sure many others) have been very often prone to headaches when I am gearing up or winding down.
I can tell you one change I made that does seem to help. After what I thought were great services, my incredibly insightful and perceptive wife would "fill me in" on all that I missed (and that was alot). Some weeks I would get into my car feeling like we were on the road to growth and blessing but by the time we got home I wondered if we would still have a Congregation next week (embarassing but true). In the past few years I have asked her to wait a while before "sharing" and this usually works. We have also been making an effort to talk about what went well before tackling the "issues". Believe it or not it has helped to be able to spend some time enjoying what the Lord did and enjoying the testimonies of lives changing. I know I am not the answer to everybody's problems but a small part and as I have learned to live with that I have less stress to deal with. And I really do take some comfort in the fact that by His grace all I am doing is making a difference in the lives of the sheep.Some time after service, I try to take time to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for all He is doing that day - being as specific and as comprehensive as I can.
One last thing. Avoiding tackling issues only adds stress. I find that when I take the time, trust the Lord and deal with things in as timely a fashion as I am capable of (and I am a classic ruminator) I have less hanging over my head. This fact alone reduces some of the pressure that I have time to feel on the day after. It doesn't totally change the symptoms after the mental, spiritual and emotional high of gearing up and giving out during our service; but there can be less clutter, less crowding in on me at these low times. It helps. Also, taking something away from service is as important for me as it is for my (I mean, His) sheep.Even something small like, "The Lord is my light and my salvation" can help to sustain my spirit and ease the effect of the slow-down side of ministry.
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I'm not a pastor, but I do preach a couple of times a year. After the service, I'm usually pretty wiped and go home to take a nap. But I do not analyze my sermon or what went well, what went wrong. I don't ever listen to it (we record all our services, so I could if I wanted to). I've done my work, and I leave the working it out in people's lives in God's hands. That way I don't take any credit or blame for it. I don't feel any Monday blues. I get back to my normal life pretty quickly. I imagine that might be hard to do if I were doing this week in week out, though. And it's quite possible that since I never do a follow-up analysis of my sermons, I'm not getting any better. So I'm not necessarily recommending my strategy. But I do think it's helpful for me not to get too caught up in how "good" I am at preaching. That isn't the point, and I'm the type that could easily become full of myself if I thought I were good at it. I'm glad I don't feel that I am particularly good or bad at it and don't really think much about that. I do think about whether I was well enough prepared, because that is in my control and there's no excuse for me not to be well prepared, and sometimes I'm not, which I do regret.
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25 or so years ago I read this advice in Readers Digest:
A woman asked Sherezade advice because her husband was a pastor/preacher and on mondays he really needed to fullfill his "marriage - conjugal duties".
But mondays was her laundery day. Her question was: "what to do now?".
Sherezade's answer? "Do your laundery on tuesdays...."
It may make the mondays easier to bear with... [^o)]
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Steven,
Thank you for bringing this up. I was a church planter for ten years and yes, I suffered from post-sermon depression. For me, it would start on Sunday right after all of my responsibilities were complete. That meant as early as 1:00 p.m. and as late as 8:00 p.m. depending upon if my church had a Sunday evening service.
After I left the ministry I discovered I was not alone; I found out that there were other pastors who suffered similarly. Many of us beat ourselves up for feeling this way.
I came to see it as a part of my temperament along with the fact that I was bringing God's word to my people. I would remember how Jeremiah and other prophets literally got sick from being a prophet. Now, in my opinion, today's pastors are not organs of revelation, like the prophets were. But still, we do bring the word of God to our flocks.
Now, I think about my pastor on Sunday. I am grateful for all he does to bring us the word. It takes a lot to stand in the pulpit.
We have the message of the gospel in jars of clay.
Grace,
Bill
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Alan Macgregor said:Richard DeRuiter said:
I make Monday my day off. I found early on that I couldn't get much done anyway on Monday.
Ditto.
I was also given a good piece of advice from an experienced pastor some years ago. "Don't try to do God's work for Him; you won't be any good at it! Do waht God has called you to do."
Faithfulness is my business in preaching; fruitfulness is His business!
My battles are usually on Saturday.
Richard, Alan, you said it really well.
My most vulnerable day is not Monday, it is Saturday. Monday is day-off for me, if possible (my wife loves it, I work in the garden... [:)]). The change of gear really helps. After 20 years of preaching to the same church I stopped judging myself, just trust the Lord. The fruit sometimes comes in a very surprising way and surprising time.
"The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the LORD." (ESV, Pr 21:31)Bohuslav
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I think there is a name for this: "post adrenaline depression." It is the somewhat natural reaction when the adrenaline subsides.
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The thing I struggle with is after the service where I get told "Thank you for that message, Brother", I kind of want the ground to open up and swallow me as I never know how to respond..
I am happy being a conduit/mouthpiece, yes I prepare the message the best I can as God enables, but I never view the message as mine, but I am just the messenger God chose to use to deliver it...
If anyone else struggles with this aspect, and has coping mechanisms please let me know.
Never Deprive Anyone of Hope.. It Might Be ALL They Have
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I haven't heard about this problem before, but it sounds to me like much of it is simple human biology. First your bodies get 'high' on adrenaline and all sorts of stress hormones (possibly boosted with some other hormones to deal with sleep deprivation, and some chocolate or other food that affects the mood), and then when you're done it all rushes off and you suffer a kind of 'abstinence' reaction, suddenly having to deal with reality without all those extra chemicals. Perfectly natural, but probably not all that healthy in the long run.
Mac Pro (late 2013) OS 12.6.2
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DominicM said:
The thing I struggle with is after the service where I get told "Thank you for that message, Brother", I kind of want the ground to open up and swallow me as I never know how to respond..
I used to be really bothered by that too. It was like, "Hey, God's supposed to get the glory. Not me."
But now I hear it differently. Most often someone just wants to express their appreciation for what they heard, so they thank the one who brought the message. So now I say "You're welcome," and accept thanks for whatever small part I played in bringing the message. Then I add (for folks I know well) "Thank the Lord." I don't add that as a corrective, just as an additional comment, a reminder to pray for the preacher, and thank the Lord for answered prayers. This lets me be gracious to the intent of the listener's heart, and turns their attention back to the One who's message it was (at least we hope it's His message!).
When I hear a good message, I often want to thank the one who delivered it too. Even when I know the messenger is merely human, I still appreciate what it takes to put together and deliver a message that's meaningful and fruit-bearing week after week. When I express my gratitude, I don't want my gratitude corrected. So when someone thanks me, I want to be as gracious to them as I want the preacher to be to me when I thank him/her.
The Lord and I have had long talks about this, and the above is where I'm at today.
Help links: WIKI; Logos 6 FAQ. (Phil. 2:14, NIV)
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Steven L. Spencer said:
In all the 30 plus years I have preached, Sunday highs are met by Monday lows--often times severe. Just wondering if other preachers go through this experience. And if you have found something that makes Monday's easier to bear with.
I haven't experienced this myself Steven, but I do as Richard does and I take Monday off from pastoral work, unless an emergency comes up. I spend time cleaning house (my wife works full time too), working on hobbies, balancing the checkbook and even on occasion substitute teaching at the high school. Like Rosie, I don't reflect on my sermon or Sunday school lesson and I too do not listen to my own sermons until many months afterward. I still spend time in the Word and prayer each morning even on Mondays. My low day seems to be Saturday, usually because I am trying to wrap up things and the interruptions are numerous.
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fgh said:
I haven't heard about this problem before, but it sounds to me like much of it is simple human biology. First your bodies get 'high' on adrenaline and all sorts of stress hormones (possibly boosted with some other hormones to deal with sleep deprivation, and some chocolate or other food that affects the mood), and then when you're done it all rushes off and you suffer a kind of 'abstinence' reaction, suddenly having to deal with reality without all those extra chemicals. Perfectly natural, but probably not all that healthy in the long run.
Biology may be part of it, but pastors pour so much of themselves into their preaching. They think about their people all week long when they are preparing their message and they think of them as they are delivering it. They wrestle with the text, with God about the text and with what he wants to say through them. They work hard to find illustrations and craft the message. They remain open to what God wants to say as they climb in the pulpit and even during the delivery. There are lots of dynamics in play. I have done a lot of public speaking after having been a pastor and it is nothing like preaching. Preaching truly is a labor of love
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Tom Blanchard said:
I've frequently found Mondays, sometimes even Tuesdays, to be very black. Part of it is just me and the way I'm wired. But we do get pretty emotionally, and sometimes spiritually, empty. A bricklayer can see what he's accomplished. We can't. But we have the Lord's promises to bless His Word, in His timing and in His way.
I do think part of it is the way you're wired. I'm an insulin dependent diabetic and think that my sugars play apart in my mood swings. When I was in my mid 30s my pancreas stopped producing insulin (at that time I was in good physical condition and the doctor was at a loss to explain my sudden condition); it's brought some complications with my energy level as well (though I am now in my early 50s). I work a part time job and have to go to work Monday morning. My let down usually occurs Sunday night.
EDIT: Others have mentioned having trouble with headaches. I usually have severe headaches as well--usually wake up with them on Monday. They last all day long. I think I's addicted to Excedrin [:(]
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My solution, ask my wife how I did. She never tells the truth and always says, "It was great!" [:)]
Blessings,
FloydPastor-Patrick.blogspot.com
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Floyd Johnson said:
My solution, ask my wife how I did. She never tells the truth and always says, "It was great!"
Laughing out loud. Literally. Along with MY wife!
Pastor, rural Baptist church
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I tend to ride on Sunday's sermon at least until Tuesday, if it goes well.
The only way I can find to measure if it goes well is by the quality of conversations which my sermon generates. If someone says, "great sermon," I don't feel particularly encouraged, but if they start a discussion where they were challenged in their theology and praxis by what I said, I tend to not get the blues too quickly.
But I know great preachers with great messages who leave church and feel like they just blew it.
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Steven L. Spencer said:
In all the 30 plus years I have preached, Sunday highs are met by Monday lows--often times severe. Just wondering if other preachers go through this experience. And if you have found something that makes Monday's easier to bear with.
Yes. Every Monday at least and as others have stated, Sunday afternoon as well; then I have to gear up for a Sunday Evening service too.
Garrett nailed it earlier: Medically speaking it's called PAD Post Adrenaline Depression. There's nothing wrong with you. :-) At least nothing wrong with you that isn't wrong with me. :-)
Monday's are made easier for me by a significant bit of exercise. I'm a runner and my "strides" workout (30-45 minute run with the middle punctuated by 10 "all out" sprints with 1 minute recoveries) reserved for Mondays. I hate strides but the workout does wonders for my attitude.
DominicM said:The thing I struggle with is after the service where I get told "Thank you for that message, Brother", I kind of want the ground to open up and swallow me as I never know how to respond..
I am happy being a conduit/mouthpiece, yes I prepare the message the best I can as God enables, but I never view the message as mine, but I am just the messenger God chose to use to deliver it...
If anyone else struggles with this aspect, and has coping mechanisms please let me know.
Years ago Dominic I heard Howard Hendricks call that the "Glorify the worm Ceremony" I was so stricken I went back to our church and explained that I would be available after the service but would not be rushing to the back to shake everyone's hand. Now a number of years later I still end the service by picking up my Bible and notes and chatting with anyone who comes towards the platform to talk about the message.1) Nobody has to lie and say "great sermon pastor"2) the incidence of hearing "Great God we serve pastor" has increased.Every week, one saint in particular says to me, "Thank you pastor for explaining God's word to me."I thank God for her.
Sarcasm is my love language. Obviously I love you. 0 -
Floyd Johnson said:
My solution, ask my wife how I did. She never tells the truth and always says, "It was great!"
Can't resist ... " An old retired Preacher happened to wander up to the attic of the house he had shared with his beloved wife for so many years of their ministry together. He couldn't remember the last time he had been up there ... so many memories were rekindled as he looked around at all the things she had neatly stored away. But then he saw an old egg carton. He picked it up and inside there were two eggs and a few large rolls of 10 dollar bills. He brought it downstairs and set it on the table in front of his wife. He asked her about these two eggs. She told him that every time he preached a bad sermon she put an egg in the carton. He said nothing, but inwardly he beamed thinking "after all these years - only two eggs". So then he asked her about the rolls of 10's. "Oh that" she said. " Well, whenever I filled a carton full of eggs, I sold it and kept the cash in there."
[Not mine, maybe someone knows where this came from]
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DominicM said:
I am happy being a conduit/mouthpiece, yes I prepare the message the best I can as God enables, but I never view the message as mine, but I am just the messenger God chose to use to deliver it...
I was taught that the greatest compliment one can get is someone referencing your sermon as life-changing and not remembering who gave the sermon.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell said:
What a fascinating question/topic! I must ask my pastor that if I think of it...
I know my pastor's response ... he's only responsible every third Sunday (6 services) but he's responsible for 4-5 weekday sermons. And one day a week he is obligated to spend in study.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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I agree with the post adrenaline depression and the spiritual battle that Satan and his minions are seeking to bring against our souls. My favorite thing to do is go riding my motorcycle up in the hills or ride to a lake and sit and read some Scripture and meditate.
I tried Mondays off and had to quit as I didn't do well at taking the day off as well as trying to spend time with my wife since the rest of the week is so busy. With finishing up my doctorate these last several years, I have had to skip having a day off many weeks which was not very good for me or for my family. Having started it 20 years ago, however, I needed to finish it up. What I have done is get the week started Mondays by doing the necessary stuff with mail, getting a start on my next week's sermon text overview, and try to meet with disciples. Usually, I am energized by people in rather than by tasks. If I am not going to do much well, I didn't need to take a terrible day off just to get it over (and my wife didn't want me around the house either!).
I take Fridays off as I have the week's work well done (outline done just about every week, class assignments done for the week for the most part) and can relax for the push for Sunday. I finish up my sermon ppt on Sat. night if it is not done yet and go over my sermon and pray early Sunday morning.
My wife and I have been able to enjoy a day/part of a day without pressure and usually without a call as the church has known that is my day off.
The good news is our Sabbath rest is coming and in the presence of the Lord is the fullness of joy, fellow undershepherds.
You will show me the path of life: in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Ps. 16:110 -
Steven,
After 18 years of a preaching ministry, I certainly can relate to you and the others on here. Personally, after preaching on Sunday I do not take Monday as a day off for two basic reaons: 1) I don't want to feel that bad on my day off! 2) I have found that Mondays are a difficult day to protect for a pastor as you always find out things on Sunday that you need to respond to on Monday. For me personally on Monday, I try to get out of the office to make visits, get out and see people, schedule lunch with someone who had needed to see me or I need to see, etc. etc. It's also a great time to have lunch with a friend or a neighboring pastor. It's also not a sin to go home a little early on a Monday [:)]
As to making Monday's easier to bear, I have found that Monday is a great day to go to a park or the woods with my Bible and be quiet and alone before the Lord for a while. Also, if you do not have Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students, the chapter on "The Minister's Fainting Fits" is worth the price of the book. Some of the greatest men of God (like Spurgeon) struggled mightily with discouragement and even depression.
Preaching is a "heart" event in that you pour your heart into it. The best preachers are passionate. However, when you pour yourself into preaching, then you empty yourself as well. Have to make sure you are refilling week to week! That is one of the greatest struggles in ministry for me personally.
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Daniel Bender said:
I do think part of it is the way you're wired
Totally agree, the Monday Blues is a not a frequent phenomenon for me I tend to find that the blues occur randomly and are often associated with physical tiredness when I have less energy to bounce back. I know that the "blues", and other "attacks", are a form of discouragement initiated by the principalities and powers that we wrestle with. My understanding is that our spiritual enemies attacks us in areas or at times of weakness so we therefore need to learn how to effectively defend ourselves from these attacks.
God Bless
Graham
Pastor - NTCOG Basingstoke
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I love you guys! I am trying to find a church to attend now, after YEARS of not having one, and I hope wherever I end up the pastor gives as much of himself as all of you do.
K
"But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:5 (NASB)
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MJ. Smith said:
I was taught that the greatest compliment one can get is someone referencing your sermon as life-changing and not remembering who gave the sermon.
That my hope as well..
Thanks Thomas, this will be helpful, although some of the places I preach are very traditional with that "ceremony".. will try to avoid it (If I can) ..Thomas Black said:Now a number of years later I still end the service by picking up my Bible and notes and chatting with anyone who comes towards the platform to talk about the message.
Richard DeRuiter said:
I want to be as gracious to them as I want the preacher to be to me when I thank him/her.
Thanks Richard, hadn't really considered that aspect..Am glad there are those, more mature in the faith, further down the road encouraging us on, thank you
Never Deprive Anyone of Hope.. It Might Be ALL They Have
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Kaye Anderson said:
I love you guys! I am trying to find a church to attend now, after YEARS of not having one, and I hope wherever I end up the pastor gives as much of himself as all of you do.
K
Will be praying you find a place to meet with your fellow believers, where you can be encouraged, and encourage others, may our gracious Saviour lead you to the right place in His body, when you can produce much frut.
Never Deprive Anyone of Hope.. It Might Be ALL They Have
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I don't preach, but I teach: women, children and, occasionally men (enquirers). I'm shattered after each session, whether it's gone well or badly. And sometimes I haVE bad sleepless nights, sometimes til 3 or 4 a.m. or even later, particularly before the children's group, where we often have problems with those who come and often worse problems with those we have temporarily banned, who make a noise outside. I haven't found a solution. Incidentally I have always felt drained after church, tho it's years since I've preached. I think part of it is adrenaline and feeling drained after giving out, and partly that the adversary wants to give us a rough ride if we are doing things he doesn't like. I take Tuesday off and tend to do nothing, which leaves me more exhausted than ever next daY... So tonight, Monday Evening, I can go to bed as late as I like because it doesn't matter when I wake up tomorrow.
I find Bible study exciting, and Logos helps me understand it better. I also find the Logos Prayer Lists help me pray more systematically.
Even Jesus got drained, e.g. when healing. We have a far less close relationship with the Giver of Strength than he did, so are bound to get drained far more quickly.
Pastors, if you feel guilty about having the blues, the adversary will be rubbing his claws together in glee - don't give him that satisfaction!
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Nicky,what a thoughtful post. Since I started this post I'd like to thank all of you who have been willing to be vulnerable and share your own struggles--as well as provide valuable suggestions for overcoming the Monday "blues." And I look forward to hearing from others on this post. Blessings to all, Steven
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DominicM said:
Am glad there are those . . . encouraging us on, thank you
You're welcome.
Thank the Lord, too.
[;)]
Help links: WIKI; Logos 6 FAQ. (Phil. 2:14, NIV)
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I'm back in the study on Monday and it's actually one of my favorite days of the week. It's me, the Lord, the Word and a cup of coffee. Life is good.
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Thanks for writing that Nicky.nicky crane said:Pastors, if you feel guilty about having the blues, the adversary will be rubbing his claws together in glee - don't give him that satisfaction!
I've weathered another Monday, tackled five miles on today's run and conquered both.
Sarcasm is my love language. Obviously I love you. 0 -
I experience the Monday Preacher's Blues as well. Honestly, downright depressed sometimes on Monday mornings.
Some have called it the "Jeremiah Syndrome" Basically experiencing being mentally, spiritually, & physically drained.Personally, I never take Mondays off, as I don't want to give my family my "worst day". Just my opinion.
I have found something lately that has helped me a bit. I now have it scheduled every Monday morning from 8 AM - 10 AM. Its on the church calendar as "Restoration Time". I just go to a local coffee shop and read a book that is not related to anything I'm studying about for preaching or teaching. I don't check emails, I don't Facebook, nor do I study or do any work at all. Simply put, I have 2 hours dedicated to just refilling my soul with some wisdom and inspiration.
I do some praying in that time... I use APTAT (Admit, Pray, Trust, Act, Thanks... for those unfamiliar with Piper's book on preaching) for not only the morning before I'm about to preach... but also for the morning after I preach too. I have found this great reminder to help in my refreshing time as it guides me to focus on God for my restoration.
I also have this verse pop up on my calendar every Monday morning around 8 AM to remind me of where my focus should be:
"He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake."
- Psalm 23.3I hope this helps. I'm interested in how others cope with this as well.
God bless!River of Life Church: http://LifeOverflowing.org
Visit my blog: http://LifeOverflowing.org/pastor0 -
Dan DeVilder said:
When Monday goes like that, mine too.
I don't mean to imply that I don't get the pulpit blues. I do. When I have them they are usually heaviest on Sunday night. But Monday morning is a refreshing turn even then. I think it's kind of like what they say about all Major League baseball teams in April--hope springs eternal. I guess I feel like I've got another opportunity to redeem myself. Whether I feel like I did my best and connected with the church or something was off, Lord willing Monday morning shows up and I have hope that this week and this Sunday will be better.
I also need to remember that the power is in the Word. We've probably all had the experience of being very displeased with a sermon only to have someone tell us how much they were blessed by what was said. This is no excuse for poor preparation. But God can and does bless even when I'm not at my best.
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Here's something else to throw into the mix. Monday is often "fall out" day; the day when you get the complaints from Sunday---when you are yourself at low tide. I thought we had a great Sunday but yesterday, Monday, I received an email from an elder telling me the music was a train wreck and I needed to do something about it. Sigh. (It isn't that we have paid staff person doing this ministry.) It is these little things that make me yearn for sitting in a rocking chair and staring at the mountains for the next 5 years. I am sad to admit that receiving that email derailed my day.
I know this is a forum about Logos---so---let me add that being depressed makes me want to buy more books! (Maybe it would be interesting study for Logos: what day of the week do you sell the most books?)
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Thought I'd throw a little different slant on things. I am in full time MUSIC ministry on the road. I struggle regularly with discouragement , mainly because people tend to look at music for it's entertainment value only. IOW, "it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" for most people! Sad.
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Garrett Mercury said:
I know this is a forum about Logos---so---let me add that being depressed makes me want to buy more books! (Maybe it would be interesting study for Logos: what day of the week do you sell the most books?)
Garrett, this gave me a chuckle this morning--as I have been adding books to my shopping cart today. I don't always buy, I do think you've made a good observation. . . maybe Logos should start running Monday specials
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This problem has been around for a while. Elijah would understand. Note how 1 Kings 19 follows on from 1 Kings 18.
However, it may be in that weakness that we truly meet God in the still, small voice.
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