Living On Purpose In Christ | Boundaries, Devotions, Positive Affirmations, Bible Study, Christian, Faith, Life Balance

55 | Spiritual Routines Pastors Wish They Had Time For: Biblical Wisdom

• Paula Behrens | Certified Aroma Freedom (AFT) Practitioner, Pastor, Christian Coach • Season 2

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The weight of ministry can feel crushing—every congregation member's need resting on your shoulders, every spiritual crisis demanding your immediate attention. But what if God already provided natural remedies to help you manage this unique burden?

Get the full episode here: Soothe Your Soul - Natural Remedies for Stress >>> https://paulabehrens.com/blog/40904/sooth-your-soul-natural-remedies-for-stress 

That's exactly what I discovered during COVID-19 while pastoring two East Texas congregations. When most churches remained closed, I felt called to reopen our doors after just seven weeks, knowing many members lacked internet access for virtual services. Guided by biblical wisdom, we diffused frankincense throughout our sanctuaries—the same essence Aaron used to halt a plague in Numbers 16—and employed immune-supporting oil blends to sanitize between services. The results were remarkable: everyone stayed healthy, and hospital visits plummeted during this challenging time.

In this episode we delve into how essential oils can transform clergy stress into renewed spiritual vigor. Lavender promotes restful sleep after those late-night emergency calls. Frankincense grounds your prayers and meditation. Bergamot lifts your spirits after difficult pastoral encounters, while Ylang-Ylang helps you release work thoughts at day's end. These aren't just pleasant scents—they're powerful tools created by God on the third day specifically to support our emotional and spiritual well-being.

Remember Jesus' words about the birds of the air? "They do not sow or reap, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" The same God who provides for these creatures has given us natural remedies for the unique challenges of ministry. By embracing these aromatic gifts, we experience the abundant life Christ promises while becoming more effective servants. Self-care isn't selfish—it's essential to sustainable ministry. Your congregation deserves a pastor who's grounded, present, and spiritually vibrant. Discover how God's natural remedies can help you become exactly that leader.

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Tune in to Episode 3 > Are we Underestimating the Power of Oils in Biblical Teachings? >>> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-challenging-traditions-are-we-underestimating-the/id1748454615?i=1000658362480

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Speaker 1:

Ever feel like you're carrying the weight of your entire congregation on your shoulders? Well, you're not alone. Join me in today's conversation about how to transform ministry stress and anxiety into well-being and peace. Today I'm reaching out to my clergy sisters, but remember, our shared mission calls all of us believers to be in ministry for Christ.

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Hey friend are finding it challenging to maintain your spiritual practices or yearning for a more peaceful, God-aligned day? I'm Paula and I've been there too. Balancing spiritual habits with a busy life can be difficult. I longed for a deeper connection with God but struggled with consistency. Then I found the perfect approach. If you seek simple ways to deepen your connection with God, this podcast is for you.

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Before we get started, I'd like to give a shout out to Emergency Management, Mama. She writes, Love, her unique method. Paula has a unique method with devotions which incorporates all the senses. Her approach is great if it's difficult to slow down or focus on your time with Jesus. Thank you so much, Emergency Management Mama. I appreciate your kind words. If you'd like to leave a review, we'd truly appreciate it. On Apple Podcasts, simply scroll down to the five-star rating section and click on Leave a Review. If you're using a PC, open the iTunes app and you'll find the link near the top. Share your thoughts with us today and your review could be showcased on one of our upcoming episodes. What a joy it is for me to hear from our listeners.

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As a laid back grandma and dedicated podcaster, I'm passionate about helping younger women balance home life with their spiritual journey. I've also created a special covenant family bundle for moms that I think you will absolutely love. It includes two devotional journals, a train-up, a child guide and a Bible study designed for women who wish to reflect Christ in their marriage. Grab this free collection now by typing in bitly slash faithfulfamily. That's B-I-T Dot L-Y. Slash faithfulfamily, no spaces. Or look for a link in the show notes. You'll be glad you did. All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off that journal and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in.

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During the challenging days of COVID-19, I had the privilege of serving as a pastor for two congregations in East Texas. As the world grappled with uncertainty, we faced the difficult decision to initially close our church doors for an extended period of time. However, recognizing the deep spiritual needs of our congregations and acknowledging that many of our members didn't have reliable internet access, which meant virtual services were almost impossible for them, I, as their pastor, chose to reopen our church doors just seven short weeks into the crisis. In the midst of a time when most other churches in our community chose to remain closed, I felt a profound concern for the spiritual well-being of our congregations and decided to take action. After deep reflection and prayer, I felt compelled to restore our in-person Sunday morning worship services.

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Taking inspiration from biblical practices, we diffused frankincense into our sanctuaries. This was reminiscent of the essence Aaron used, as instructed by Moses, to halt a plague in the Old Testament. We see that in Numbers 16, 46 through 50. Additionally, we utilized a blend of oils known for their immune-supporting properties to clean the sanctuaries between services, similar to the sacred anointing oils described in Exodus 30, verses 22 through 25. To ensure the safety of the congregations, we placed hand sanitizers infused with these oils at all entrances.

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Through God's grace and the wisdom found in his natural creations, everyone remained healthy during those months. Remarkably, I had fewer hospital visits during this period than any other time in my tenure there. We were truly blessed to witness the power of faith and the miracle of wellness coming together amidst the surrounding chaos. Now, I am convinced that it was the harmonious blend of faith and God's natural gifts that not only safeguarded our community during those difficult times, but also filled us with a sense of calm. As I now look back on the amazing grace we experienced, it is evident to me that essential oils can indeed play a pivotal role, not just in maintaining our physical health, but also in nurturing our emotional and spiritual well-being. With that thought in mind, let's transition into today's topic.

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As a pastor myself, I understand the unique challenges that come with guiding others in their faith journey, and it's natural to feel overwhelmed at times, but we can't let stress and anxiety bring us down. From my experience, stress and anxiety in the ministry field comes from trying to fulfill expectations, trying to be there for everyone, all the time. You know, it can take its toll on our emotional and mental health. We feel responsible for everyone's problems and we want to be the ones to solve them, even though we know that's not possible, right? Well, this kind of pressure can lead to burnout and exhaustion, which is why it's important to handle the urge to do all and be all in a healthier way.

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Essential oils offer a natural and effective way to manage this kind of stress and anxiety. They promote relaxation and they can help us to feel grounded and renewed. By incorporating them into our daily lives, we can enhance our well-being and find a whole lot of joy in our calling to serve others. Seriously, as a seasoned clergy sister and Certified Aroma Freedom practitioner, I've got you covered with grace and oils.

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One favorite oil for promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety is the ever-popular lavender. With its calming properties, lavender can promote restful sleep and reduce anxiety, making it a must-have for anyone dealing with stressful work environments. Now I do want to add that when choosing essential oils, it's VERY IMPORTANT that you choose a therapeutic grade oil. If you grab just any oil off the shelf, you most likely will not get any of the benefits, because so many companies these days are offering a synthetic version of these oils. They may be similar in aroma, but they will not do anything for you medicinally. In fact, they may have additives that can actually be harmful to your system. If you don't already know which company is the best company, ask me. Okay, another fantastic oil to try is frankincense. This grounding oil has been used for centuries in spiritual practices for its calming and soothing effects, making it perfect for use in the ministry field. Try adding a few drops to your diffuser during your evening meditation, or apply it to the bottoms of your feet before you turn in at night. That's one must-have oil for clergy.

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Another must-have oil, especially if you're looking to boost your mood, is bergamot. Its uplifting properties can help combat feelings of sadness and frustration, while reducing stress and anxiety. Ylang-ylang is another essential oil that can be incredibly beneficial for anyone who may be struggling with well letting go of work in the evening. I mean, how many of y'all have done that? Guilty here. So this oil Ylang Ylang is calming and relaxing and it's a perfect addition to your nighttime routine or maybe to put in your diffuser. And last but not least, vetiver is a wonderful oil for relaxation, easing anxious feelings and improving sleep quality. Its grounding properties make it a great choice for when you're looking to balance those emotions amidst the chaos of the day to day. With these essential oils in your toolbox, you'll be well on your way to managing stress and anxiety in your ministry work.

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Let the God-designed aromatic molecules of plants do their work as you sit back and enjoy the peace and calm that comes along with them. Using essential oils for anyone in the ministry field is a, well, it's just a no-brainer for me, because they are so good at helping you to feel relaxed, balanced and focused, and when you are relaxed, balanced and focused, you can naturally be a better leader, in whatever form that takes. And don't be afraid to experiment with the different oils and find what works best for you. I mean there's not really a right or wrong way to do this. Now let's talk about how to use these wonderful gifts from God.

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One of the easiest ways to use essential oils is to diffuse them in the air. I mean, these molecules come from the plants and they just float into the air. That's the way God designed them. Think about Adam and Eve in the garden. God put them, you know, amongst the plants and shrubs and the trees. He didn't put them in a house with closed windows and closed doors. So they were breathing in these wonderful aromatic molecules from the plants 24-7. So you can have this too. Whenever you put your oils in a diffuser, you just add a few drops to your diffuser. Or if you don't have a diffuser, you could actually just add a few drops of oil to a bowl of hot water. Okay, so I always had my diffuser going in the church office. Not only did I benefit from breathing in those calming oils, but everyone else in the office did too. Now that's a big plus if you ask me.

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Essential oils can be applied to the skin, either neat or diluted with a carrier oil, to provide localized or systematic effects. When I'm having a particularly stressful day, I like to put a drop of lavender, frankincense and a blend called Stress Away in the palms of my hands, rub them together, cup them over my nose and mouth and breathe in deeply. This is also the memory release mixture that I use during my Aroma Freedom sessions with my clients. It's especially helpful for releasing negative thoughts and feelings and memories. You can also add essential oils to a warm bath or drip a few drops in the shower outside of the stream of water to promote relaxation and reduce stress. The warm water and steam help to open up the pores, allowing the essential oils to be absorbed into the body more easily. It's like having your own personal spa day.

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Now, while some essential oils can be ingested, it's important to note that not all oils are safe for internal use. So you should always read the labels on the bottles, especially before ingesting. For safety reasons, Young Living labels their GRAS-certified oils, GRAS g-r-a-s, generally regarded as safe for internal use oils, with a white label. And they're the only essential oil company that has a GRAS certified line of oils, which are great for cooking or taking as a supplement. When we're in the ministry field, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and burnt out, but with the help of these wonderful gifts from our Creator, the aromatic molecules from the plants created for us on the third day of creation, with their help, we can find relief and renewal. Incorporating these oils into our daily routine allows us to experience a whole new level of wellness, empowering us to be more effective in our ministry and let's be honest, who doesn't want that?

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Think about this, as Christians, we strive to walk in the truth that Jesus Christ is our provider and that everything we need we can receive from him. It's important to trust in God's provision for our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. In Matthew 6, 26, Jesus reminds us that the Father takes care of the birds and they don't worry about their needs being met. And how much more does our Heavenly Father care for us, his children? He's created all that we need for our well-being on this earth, including the aromatic molecules of plants, the essential oils, which can have a positive impact on our health and lifestyle. We need to focus on the blessings and goodness of God rather than on our worries. The more we trust in God's provision, the more peace and joy and satisfaction we are going to experience in this life. When we put our faith in God, we can be sure that he will provide for all of our needs in his perfect timing and way. The aromatic molecules from plants can help us to live a more abundant life and experience the blessings that God has in store for us. Let's remember to trust in him and his provision for all things and he will take care of the rest.

Speaker 1:

Now I know that was a lot to take in, so let's do a little recap. We begin by delving into the often overlooked topic of managing ministry stress and anxiety through the use of essential oils. I shared my personal experiences and insights on how these natural remedies have been a game changer for me and for my congregations. We explored how the unique challenges of ministry can lead to emotional exhaustion and burnout as we feel the weight of our congregation's problems on our shoulders, but we also discussed the hope that comes from realizing God has provided natural solutions for our well-being. Throughout the episode, I highlighted specific essential oils and their therapeutic benefits for clergy members, lavender for its ability to promote restful sleep, and frankincense for its spiritual grounding properties during evening meditation. We talked about how bergamot is great for uplifting your mood after a difficult day and ylang-ylang for letting go of work thoughts at night. These oils are more than just pleasant scents. They are powerful tools created by God on the third day of creation to support our physical and emotional health. We also emphasize the importance of using therapeutic grade oils that provide genuine benefits, as opposed to synthetic alternatives that might actually be harmful.

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We considered Matthew 6, verse 26, as a biblical foundation for embracing these natural provisions from God. Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? By gratefully accepting these aromatic gifts from God, we can experience the abundant life Christ promises, while becoming more effective in our ministry. If you're a clergy member, struggling with the pressures of your calling, I encourage you to consider how essential oils might support you in your journey as you embrace the natural solutions God has provided and experience the freedom and joy he intends for you as his good and faithful servant.

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Okay, so for the full version of this episode with more ways to reduce the stress and anxiety that comes with the ministry, look for a link in the show notes and, as always, be sure to do your own research when looking for the best quality essential oils, the ones you can trust, and remember that balancing your ministry responsibilities doesn't mean sacrificing your well-being. Discover the profound impact that the natural aromas of plants can have on your journey, offering support for your mind, body and spirit. To find my favorite oils, check for a link in the show notes. Well, that's a wrap. Thank you for tuning in today and remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck.

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If you've enjoyed this episode, we would truly appreciate it if you could leave us a review, share it with a friend and follow now and don't miss out on today's freebie, available at bitly slash faithfulfamily. That's B-I-T Dot L-Y slash faithfulfamily no spaces. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then keep leaning into Him and walking in His wisdom. See you next time!