To avoid burnout...

...write it down

...reach out for resources

The Bible is such a rich source that keeps giving...you can find a word for any and every situation in life.

I take Habakkuk 2:2-3 literally - "And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by. For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day." (Amplified)

Whenever God wants to do a thing, He tells a man or woman. He always needs a person to do the work even if it starts with writing it down. He knows that we cannot do all that He needs us to all by ourselves so the question I'd like to ask is: Do we also know that we cannot do all God needs us to do all by ourselves?

In Exodus 25: 9 God commanded Moses - "You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you." (NLT)

After the explicit instructions, on what to make and how to make it (Exodus 25 - 30), which I suspect Moses had to write down, God went on to tell him that He had  prepared resources* to help him do the work as specified.

1 Chronicles 28 also makes for interesting reading or listening - which was what I was doing when it caught my interest. It is a detailed account of David's instructions to Solomon on how to build the temple. This was the second time a "dwelling place" was being built for the Lord - and it followed a very similar pattern - the written vision and provison were both from God. In verse 19, David said, "I have written everything down. The Lord's powerful hand helped me. He helped me understand every part of the plan." (NIRV)

Both passages taught me 2 things:

1. God is very detailed and expects us to pay attention to details and pass them on to others as and when required to; and

2. The fact that you have a desire to do something for God doesn't mean that He wants you to do it for Him - He may only need you to write it own.

Solomon knowing the enormity of the work committed to his hands, wisely reached out for resources => in 2 Chronicles 2:7, he requested, "Send me someone who is skilled at working with gold, silver, bronze and iron. He must also be able to work with purple, blue and bright red yarn. He must be skilled in the art of carving. Send him to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers. My father David provided them to help me." (NIRV)

Hiram's response** was also interesting; the Danites were definitely skilled people - Aholiab and now Huram-Abi. Obviously there are always people around to help us do the work God has assigned to us - we just need to look, ask and even allow others into our "space" - that can be the tough part - especially when we don't think they will or can do it the way we would prefer it to be done or as timely. I've learned to give others space to do things their own way within boundaries and give myself space to pace myself - to do other things or even nothing...resting is not a sin.

In purposefully fulfilling God's call on our lives, we must be careful not burn the candle from 2 ends - that was the phrase that dropped in my heart as I wrote this.

Burning the candle from 2 ends essentially means such an individual will be "done" (I pray not dead) before he/she is done all that they set out to do. Visualize a candle lit at both ends - that doubles the burn rate and halves its life...

I usually say that if you believe God has laid something in your heart and that vision, project, assignment or whatever, is not bigger than you, then it's most likely not from God. The reason is simple: if you do not need God's help to do the work then the work is not His...and His glory cannot overshadow it when you're done because the glory of the completed product will not be His either.

When Moses had done all that he was instructed to, the way he was instructed to, God's glory came as a stamp of approval*** and the same thing happened in Solomon's case****. You know, after all is said and done, the best part about doing God's work is being around to see His stamp of approval...so do your utmost to:
avoid burn out,

write down the vision and

reach out for resources...

References:
*See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, To devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, And in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship. And behold, I have appointed with him Aholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and to all who are wisehearted I have given wisdom and ability to make all that I have commanded you: (Ex 31: 2-6; Amp)

**I'm sending Huram-Abi to you. He is very skillful. His mother was from Dan. His father was from Tyre. He is trained to work with gold, silver, bronze and iron. He knows how to work with stone and wood. He can also work with purple, blue and bright red yarn and fine linen. He's skilled in all kinds of carving. He can follow any pattern you give him. He'll work with your skilled workers. He'll also work with those of your father David. David was my master. (2 Chr 2:13-14; NIRV)

***And he erected the court round about the tabernacle and the altar and set up the hanging or screen at the court gate. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud [the Shekinah, God's visible presence] covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle! And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (Ex 40:33 - 35; Amp)

****So Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the Lord. Then he brought all the gifts his father, David, had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the various articles—and he stored them in the treasuries of the Temple of God. The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words:

   “He is good!

      His faithful love endures forever!”

At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God. (2 Chr 5: 1, 13-14; NLT)