How to spend 1 hour of your day...

Youth ministry calendars are up and down like a yo yo. In the summer you are so busy, that the only other thing you do is sleep. Then, depending on what church you serve in, and what your youth ministry goals are your fall is a little more calm, winter (aka Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years) is nuts, and then in the spring you enter a deep season of planning for the summer.

Recently I have made it an absolute priority to take 1 hour of my day while I am in the office to:
1.) Get (at least) 1 cup of coffee.
2.) Do 2 days of a Bible reading guide I am following.
3.) Dive into and take notes on a book that is going to help me grow. (Recently this, has been ALL youth ministry books.)

This 1 hour may seem like an easy task, but with all that happens on a daily basis in youth ministry, sometimes finding time to go to the bathroom can be a impossible task. But, you can't put a price on how valuable this 1 hour is.

I would encourage you to find a good Bible reading guide. The key here is to find one that works for you. There are so many to choose from. 1 year guides, 90 day guides, specific focus of study guides. It's all up to you. Pick one that you know is going to push you, stretch you and grow you.

Then when it comes to a book that is going to help you grow, again it is all about what you are looking for. It may be a book on spiritual formation, leadership, preaching styles, how to deal with difficult parents, etc. No matter what book you choose, I would encourage you to pick something that is going to be worth your time. There are only so many hours in a day, once they're gone you can't get them back. So find a book that is going to challenge and change your life.

Take time to dream, set goals and plan where you are going and how to get there. This 1 hour has become one of the best hours of my day. I hope it can be for you too.

"Focus on being a person of God, before doing the work of God." - Doug Fields

We can't put the plow before the horse. Make sure you are focusing on your spiritual life, before you attempt to be a spiritual leader.

Shine On,
Chase