As ministry leaders, we live in a constant rhythm of going, giving, serving and showing up for the women God has placed in our care. We love what we do. We love who we serve. But in the pace and pressure of ministry, it’s easy to look up one day and realize we haven’t paused long enough to ask one critical question: How am I doing?
If we want to create a true culture of evangelism in our ministries—a place where the gospel is shared, celebrated, and lived out—then we must start with ourselves. Before we lead others, we have to look inward. Before we pour out, we must consider what is happening within our own souls.
I talk with many women who lead. Many of them say they are worn out or feel empty. And I understand that. Ministry can be exhausting, not because the work is bad, but because we are trying to do the work of God without being filled by the power of God.
There are three areas we must examine consistently if we want to stay spiritually healthy and if we want our ministries to be shaped by the gospel instead of the grind.
1. Examine Your Spiritual Life
Everything we do in ministry begins with our relationship with Jesus. Everything. If we are not encountering His presence daily, if we’re not being filled by Him, then we truly have nothing to pour out for Him.
It’s dangerous to teach others the words and ways of Jesus without following Him ourselves. Jesus never called us to serve out of overload. He called us to serve out of overflow.
So, how is your soul?
Many of us love our to-do lists. We wake up with a plan for the day, and some of those tasks feel negotiable. If we get to them, great. If not, we push them to tomorrow. But too often, reading God’s Word falls into that optional category. We treat time with Jesus as something we’ll fit in if nothing else gets in the way.
But Jesus was clear in Matthew 4:4, “Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Scripture is not an optional extra for leaders. It is an essential fuel. God’s Word is to our souls what a charger is to a phone battery. My phone must be charged every day, often more than once. Without Scripture, our souls slowly deplete until there’s nothing left to offer the women we lead.
So how do we stay spiritually filled? Here are the three practices I always come back to:
- Read God’s Word: When we open Scripture, we experience its life-giving, soul-filling, faith-fueling power. We’re reminded of who He is, who we are, and why He’s called us to this work. Scripture strengthens us when we feel empty. It encourages us when we feel alone. It grounds us when our schedules are chaotic. Commit to it, not as a box to check, but as the daily nourishment your soul desperately needs.
- Pray: Talking with God is one of the greatest privileges we have as His daughters. In prayer, we step into the presence of the Creator of the universe and speak openly with Him. Prayer brings peace. It brings clarity. It recenters our anxious thoughts and reminds us that He is God and we are not. Leaders cannot lead well if they’re not leaning on Him first.
- Worship: Worship feeds our souls in a way few things can. While worship is more than music, worship music has a unique way of stirring our affections toward Jesus. So, turn it on while you’re getting ready for the day, driving, working, or cooking dinner. And even when you don’t feel like singing, sing anyway. When we worship, our hearts shift. Our minds reset. Our affections realign with the One who called us, equipped us, and sustains us.
Spiritually healthy leaders create spiritually healthy ministries. But it starts one decision at a time, one moment with Jesus at a time.
2. Examine Your Relationships
The second area of our soul we must examine is our relationships. I hear it from women constantly: “I’m surrounded by people, but I still feel alone.” Leadership can feel isolating, especially in ministry. You’re pouring into others, but who is pouring into you?
We were created for community. Real community strengthens us, energizes us, and encourages us. And as leaders, we need community not just to survive but to thrive.
So, how are you doing relationally? Do you have women walking alongside you? Because you need them. You need:
- Older Women to Mentor You: We all need women who have walked with Jesus longer than we have. Women who have led in different seasons. Women who can speak wisdom into our life with spiritual maturity and a whole lot of grace.
- Friends Who Share Your Story: These are the women who laugh with you, cry with you, pray with you, hear your heart, and know your hurts. They don’t need anything from you; they simply love you as you are.
- Women You Can Encourage and Mentor: There’s something soul-stirring about pouring into someone who isn’t quite as far along in her walk with Jesus. It keeps us humble. It keeps us grounded. It keeps us dependent on the Holy Spirit.
If your relational circle feels thin, pay attention to the gaps. Identify women—inside and outside your ministry—with whom you can build true community. It may take time. It may feel uncomfortable at first. But it will absolutely be worth it.
Healthy leaders are rarely isolated leaders. Community is part of God’s design for our soul’s well-being.
3. Examine Your Physical Health
The third area we must examine is our physical well-being. Many women don’t realize how deeply our physical state impacts our souls.
So, how well are you resting?
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your ministry—and for your soul—is to rest. To slow down. To breathe deeply. To get outside. To do something that reenergizes instead of depleting you.
I love going for a run in the evenings as the sun is setting. The blues, pinks, and oranges stretching across the sky remind me of God’s creativity and presence. With worship music in my ears and my feet hitting the pavement, something in me feels renewed. My mind resets. My soul is fed.
God designed our bodies to need rest. When we ignore that design, everything else in our life suffers, including our ministry.
So, ask yourself:
- Am I resting?
- Am I slowing down enough to be refreshed?
- Am I making time for activities that bring me joy?
- Am I giving my body what it needs so my soul can thrive?
Physical rest is not selfish; It is spiritual stewardship.
Leading From Overflow, Not Overload
When our spiritual life is vibrant, our relationships are healthy, and our physical life is cared for, something powerful happens: we begin to serve out of the overflow of what Jesus is doing in our lives.
We don’t lead from emptiness. We don’t minister from exhaustion. We don’t try to manufacture strength on our own.
Instead, we lead from abundance, the abundance that only Jesus supplies.
As we examine our souls regularly and honestly, we create space for God to revive, refresh, and refill us. And when our soul is healthy, our ministry becomes a place where the gospel is not only taught. It’s lived, experienced, and shared.