It’s Saturday night. As you try to enjoy dinner with your family, maybe a show on television, or some quiet time in preparation for tomorrow’s sermon, you can’t help but feel overwhelmed and anxious. You love preaching. You love your congregation. You love your job.

Being called to the front-lines of ministry isn’t always easy. The enemy is really good at placing anxiousness inside of us to make us question whether or not what we are doing is really what we were called to do. This is never more obvious than in the life of a pastor.

5 Ways to Decompress Before Sunday

1. Walk

You’ve heard it said that physical exercise can help with stress levels, but taking a walk is also very important to help you decompress before Sunday. Prayer walks, walk/runs, or strolls can greatly decrease your anxiety about the next day, it may even be an opportunity for God to speak straight to your heart, and eliminate any distractions that come from the enemy.

2. Pray

Okay. This is the obvious one. Of course we pray. When we are weak, He is strong. Don’t just pray that your words would touch the hearts of your congregation, but pray that His teaching would touch your heart, renew your mind and strength, and give you the wisdom needed for the journey.

3. Confide

If you are in ministry and you are married, then your spouse is probably feeling anxious, too. Don’t forget to confide in your spouse. Taking walks, talking, and praying together about the upcoming sermon or ministry can really strengthen you and give you energy. Not to mention that couples who PRAY together, STAY together.

The life of a leader is not easy. If you’ve read C.S. Lewis’ book, “Screwtape Letters”, you will find that satan preys on those who are public figures, even and especially pastors. As Sunday approaches each week, remember what is written in 2 Corinthians 12:10:

“So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

TGFG–Thank God for God, Thank God for Grace.