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Key Bible Verse: Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Dig Deeper: Philippians 4:4-13

Because our work as leaders is never done and because work can be addictive, it is easy to lose boundaries. We then believe that we have to be in the office those extra hours just to be competitive or that we have to get on the plane again to be at that conference. We morph from being effective in leading others to being exhausted in being led by the demands of others.

Jesus knew these pressures as well. He was no slacker. Jesus got up early to pray, and visited his disciples at night while they were fishing. But he also said [today's Key Bible Verse].

Jesus took time away to rest and to pray. As Jesus' close disciple, Peter tells us not to exhaust ourselves with worry but to "cast all your anxiety on [Jesus], because he cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7, NRSV). It is interesting and instructive that in the verse immediately preceding this exhortation, Peter tells us to humble ourselves, or as Eugene Peterson translates it "be content with who you are."

Overwork is frequently a sign of discontent. We are trying to do something or be somebody that is beyond who we were created to be. We are looking for satisfaction in the wrong place.

—Robert Fryling in The Leadership Ellipse

My Response: I will reflect on today's Key Bible Verse, imagining that I am giving my burdens (and my discontent) to Jesus.

Thought to Apply: Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and a happy purchase.—John Balguy (British philosopher, writer)

Adapted from The Leadership Ellipse (IVP, 2010) by permission. All rights reserved by the copyright holder and/or the publisher. May not be reproduced.

Copyright © 2010 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Prayer for the Week

Dear Creator, help me to make my life centered on you so that I might lead and serve from the right place.

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