Embracing a Balanced Life-style | Renner Ministries

Greetings in Jesus’ treasured identify! In my letter at this time, I wish to share some issues I’ve realized in life to underscore the significance of embracing a balanced way of life. Then I’ll provide you with a New Testament instance of 1 whose well being was probably jeopardized due to an imbalanced way of life. I pray this letter blesses and encourages you.

Before I get into the educating, I wish to say THANK YOU for being some of the superb pals and companions on the earth. Denise and I and our total ministry crew are so grateful to God for you. I all the time say it’s due to God’s grace and the giving of our companions that we’re in a position to do what we’re doing. Just at this time I obtained up to date details about the place we’re reaching folks, and it’s merely thrilling to see responses coming from everywhere in the globe. People all over the place are crying out for educating that can reply their questions. I’m so grateful God is utilizing us to convey them educating they’ll belief. You are such an enormous a part of all of it — so I wished to say thanks!

Denise and I just lately shared in a particular video that throughout the summer time months, usually folks give much less to the ministry, and this makes it difficult as we endeavor to remain on track reaching folks with sound Bible educating. We hardly ever make a monetary request, however we’d be so grateful for any additional present this month so we keep on observe with our task. Most of our companions know I hardly ever make this sort of request, so please know that I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t really feel the necessity was vital. Our companions already accomplish that a lot, and we’re so grateful to God for each! If you haven’t seen this quick video of Denise and me however wish to view it, you are able to do so at renner.org/summer time.

I additionally wish to remind you that my new e book The Rapture, the Antichrist, and the Tribulation — An End-Times Countdown and What Happens Next is now obtainable at our on-line retailer at renner.org, or you may name 1-800-742-5593 to order your copy or copies. We are grateful that we will supply it as a pre-release at a reduced worth. This e book actually supplies solutions to lots of people’s questions — and from now till its launch on September 2, we’re providing it at a 25-percent low cost.

But let me get into what’s on my coronary heart for you at this time… It was, and nonetheless is, ingrained within the Renner household that we don’t give up to illness. We typically possess a steadfast refusal to succumb to sickness and a fierce dedication to “power through” any bodily frailty. This ethos was cast into my grandfather, a German immigrant who toiled relentlessly to carve out an training and significant existence within the New World. He handed this mindset to my father, who then infused it in my sisters and me. From a younger age, my siblings and I have been taught to stride ahead, no matter fatigue or discomfort. As a end result, we’re tireless staff! Over the years, this mentality has resulted in my having quick persistence with individuals who go “too easy” on themselves once they might be carrying out extra with their lives.

I’m deeply grateful for the work ethic my father imparted to me — a guideline that blends properly with the teachings of Jesus in John 15:16, the place He advised His disciples to “go and bring forth fruit.” This verse impacted my life a lot that considered one of my foremost prayers day-after-day is that I will probably be fruitful and productive and yield lasting outcomes. In reality, as I lay in mattress every night when the day attracts to a detailed, I replicate on my day to evaluate whether or not I’ve been fruitful and productive. The industrious spirit my father instilled in me, intertwined with my conviction drawn from Jesus’ phrases in John 15:16, has created in me a dedication to dwell a life brimming with goal, and that mindset leaves no room for idleness.

All of that is good in a measure, however as years handed, I didn’t see the necessity to take a pause or relaxation alongside the best way. I likened myself to a perpetual engine, tirelessly whirring with out heed for downtime. Even the mightiest of commercial machines calls for upkeep and periodic relaxation, but I stubbornly denied such wants till center age. Alas, in my 50s, I confronted a bodily collapse so profound that relaxation was now not a alternative, however a necessity. That jarring wake-up name proved to be an important course correction that invigorated my productiveness and, I imagine, finally extended my life. Yet as time marches on, I have to actually admit that the draw to fill my days to the brim and push previous wise boundaries continues to be a temptation I’ve to beat.

The name of God upon my life could be very severe to me. I’m deeply satisfied that God has given us a big mandate to take the educating of the Word to folks throughout the planet. This impacts my need to be fruitful and productive and considerably influences the best way I navigate life. The fleeting nature of time can also be very actual to me, and this consciousness urges me to make use of each second to its fullest. Yet in my need for peak productiveness, I typically discover myself ensnared by the lure of overextending myself — attempting to squeeze an limitless array of duties into an unrealistic time-frame. Although I can keep this relentless tempo briefly, the inevitable consequence is the toll of exhaustion and sickness. This end result shouldn’t be a matter of a scarcity of religion, however fairly a lapse in practising stability and customary sense.

Since I’m being sincere, let me provide you with an instance from a latest journey to the United States, throughout which I used to be slated to talk at a staggering 56 occasions, together with in-person and on-line TV and podcast interviews, in 32 days. First of all, the journey from Moscow to our preliminary stopping level within the U.S. was a marathon in and of itself, taking us a grueling 56 hours door to door. Instead of taking a day to catch my breath upon arrival, I dove headfirst into my commitments at a relentless tempo that persevered and not using a pause all through your entire journey.

It was a Herculean activity to satisfy each engagement on the itinerary, and because the days wore on, the pressure turned tougher to hold. Nevertheless, every morning I summoned each ounce of my resolve, pulling myself up “by my own bootstraps” and decided that I’d joyfully fulfill each obligation. Despite the exhaustion that was mounting daily, in typical kind, I powered by means of all of it till I had accomplished each single dedication I had got down to obtain.

As we launched into the grueling 58 hours of flights again to Moscow, I seen an all-too-familiar sore feeling in my throat — an indication that I had pushed myself past my limits. The purpose I name it a “familiar” signal is that I’ve often skilled a bout of illness after sustaining a protracted and unrealistic schedule. For me, such bouts of illness don’t have anything to do with a failure to stroll by religion in God’s guarantees for therapeutic and well being — they’re often an indication that I’ve as soon as once more pushed my bodily physique past its limits. In my relentless pursuit of productiveness and eagerness to function many individuals as potential within the shortest span of time, I’ve pushed myself past my limits through the years. Time and time once more, it has left me besieged with a sore throat and a cussed chilly. Once once more, this isn’t a problem of religion; it is a matter of widespread sense.

To today, I nonetheless grapple with committing to a very formidable schedule, however, fortunately, I’m surrounded by a loving household and a caring ministry crew who love me sufficient to remind me, “You’re taking on too much in too short a time. It’s time to reel it in and focus on what’s feasible.” I often don’t prefer it once they inform me this, however later I’m grateful that they stepped in to assist me. Now I’m lastly transferring at a tempo that’s extra reasonable.

But what does a practical tempo seem like for me? Each yr, I make it my purpose to jot down 4 substantial books, sometimes starting from 350 to 850 pages every, and annually’s purpose is to succeed in this four-book goal. Alongside these intensive initiatives, I churn out a gradual stream of content material weekly, contributing to varied ministry publications. I sit in entrance of a TV digicam and movie roughly 700 totally different tv and media applications yearly, and every new TV collection we launch is accompanied by intensive examine guides that I diligently assist create.

Monthly, I seem as a visitor for quite a few on-line interviews, some sporadically, others usually, whereas additionally taking part in key conferences with our prime ministry leaders scattered throughout the globe. I communicate at about half of the church providers at our bodily Moscow Good News Church, and I play a number one function in our on-line Moscow Good News Church, a vibrant neighborhood with greater than 250,000 common individuals.

Beyond these commitments, my ministry takes me the world over to minister and communicate at church buildings, conferences, and gatherings all through Russia, Europe, America, and past. Between these engagements, I meet with key authorities and spiritual figures in Moscow, and I additionally make it a precedence to hit the fitness center 3 times per week for train, plus guarantee that I fulfill my annual checkups on the physician’s and dentist’s workplaces. In addition to fulfilling these obligations, I treasure my roles as husband to Denise, father to Paul, Philip, and Joel, father-in-law to their fantastic spouses, and proud grandfather to our eight treasured grandchildren.

Every yr, over the past week of December, I sit right down to evaluate what I completed that yr. (I encourage you to do that as properly. When you write down what you probably did or didn’t do, it lets you be sincere about your stage of productiveness so you can also make the required changes for the brand new yr.) As part of my evaluate, I listing all my main accomplishments to gauge whether or not I’ve been genuinely efficient and fruitful. Simply being busy isn’t my goal. My purpose is to provide fruit that continues to be, to provide educating that folks can belief, to strengthen the Church, and to dwell in a approach that provides glory to God. But because the yr attracts to a detailed and I carry out my very own annual evaluate, regardless of how a lot my household, my crew, and I’ve achieved, I routinely discover myself lamenting that I wasn’t in a position to do extra. I discover myself attempting to determine a technique to extra successfully use my time to be extra productive within the upcoming yr.

What you simply learn is far more balanced and reasonable than what I attempted to do in my earlier years. I don’t know what you accomplish in a single yr, however please don’t examine your annual output to mine, as we’re all at totally different levels of capability and totally different ranges of fruitfulness. Second Corinthians 10:12 says it isn’t smart to measure ourselves by others or to match ourselves to others. It is vital that each particular person finds his personal stability — his personal tempo of labor and durations of relaxation — in order that he might be fruitful and productive in a approach that doesn’t throw off his bodily, psychological, and religious equilibrium. As I stated earlier, my temptation is to attempt to do extra in a time-frame than is reasonable, and at instances after I’ve overdone it, it has repeatedly affected me in all of the methods I simply described.

A life lived out of stability not solely impacts productiveness and schedule, it additionally strains your funds and relationships, and it will probably take a toll in your bodily, psychological, and religious well being. This is why, on the daybreak of creation, God exemplified the significance of relaxation. Genesis 2:2-3 says, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

To reaffirm the necessity to commit a single day to God to relaxation, God gave the precept of the Sabbath within the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:8-11, He stated, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

Many argue concerning the function of the Sabbath for a New Testament believer, however that’s not the subject of this letter. What is abundantly clear is that God has ordained a day of relaxation — a sacred interlude for halting one’s routine with the intention to worship Him and rejuvenate one’s physique, thoughts, and spirit. The notion of “rest” is a deeply private affair, various in utility from one particular person to a different. Recognizing what defines relaxation for you is crucial, and it’s simply as crucial to chorus from projecting your interpretation onto others.

Take, for instance, the concept of lounging on a sun-drenched seaside — it’s an idyllic retreat for some, however for me, it’s a torturous ordeal. Not solely will it smash my so-called time of relaxation, however it can smash everybody else’s time, too, as a result of I will probably be so depressing that it’ll have an effect on everybody round me. For Denise, a go to to the mall is restful, however for me, a enterprise to the shopping center is equally torturous and leaves me exhausted fairly than refreshed. Conversely, immersing myself within the quiet halls of a museum stuffed with historical artifacts breathes life again into me, although Denise would possibly discover it an exhausting effort to accompany me there, regardless of her greatest intentions. Denise and I’ve divergent definitions of “rest,” however we’ve realized find out how to negotiate our numerous types of relaxation into our mixed schedules.

Balance and relaxation are inherently private pursuits, and it’s important that you just uncover what restores equilibrium for you. Perpetually working with out discovering some type of reprieve is a kind of self-abuse. You are treating your self like a mechanical machine that neither calls for relaxation nor requires care, however this way of life finally results in an inevitable breakdown. I do know this all too properly, having pushed myself past my limits repeatedly over previous years.

Today I’ve a much more balanced existence, and life is each productive and rewarding. Sometimes when others look at my day by day and weekly schedule, they surprise the place “rest” suits into the image. Yet I’ve found a rhythm of labor and relaxation that works for me, and Denise has recognized her personal rhythm of labor and relaxation — and collectively, we’ve crafted a harmonious mix that helps one another’s productiveness. This resolution has resulted within the sustenance of our vitality and power, and it permits us to satisfy the endeavors to which we really feel known as.

Allow me to share a narrative from the New Testament that highlights the potential perils of an unbalanced way of life. This narrative options Epaphroditus, considered one of Paul’s dearest pals — a trustworthy minister with steadfast dedication to his calling. Despite Christ’s redemptive work on the Cross that offered therapeutic and well being, Epaphroditus discovered himself within the throes of a severe sickness. The account within the e book of Philippians means that his ceaseless and relentless work within the ministry led him to overextend himself, and it finally compromised his well-being. Could it’s that his tireless devotion and need to do an excessive amount of too quick inadvertently opened an “entry point” for the enemy to attempt to convey him down and take him out?

In Philippians 2:25, Paul writes about Epaphroditus, saying, “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.” I emphasize this verse, because it unveils the profound significance of this particular person in Paul’s journey — a real brother, cherished colleague, steadfast comrade, and devoted minister who commanded Paul’s deep respect.

In Philippians 2:26, Paul continues, “For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.”

When Paul found that the information of Epaphroditus’ sickness had reached the ears of the Philippians, he understood that it could pierce their hearts and weigh closely upon their spirits. The seriousness of Epaphroditus’ situation evoked a worry that they could by no means once more witness the heat of his smile or be graced by the melody of his laughter. The time period “sick” finds its roots within the Greek phrase astheneia, which encompasses a broad spectrum of bodily frailties and weaknesses. But as we delve into the next verse, it turns into clear that this illness troubled Epaphroditus so severely that it introduced him to the very brink of loss of life.

Philippians 2:27 provides, “For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”

In Greek, the phrase “indeed” serves as an emphatic exclamation and highlights the profound gravity of the scenario. The time period “sick” is, once more, from the Greek phrase astheneia, which embraces a spectrum of bodily frailties and weaknesses. The phrases “nigh unto” are an interpretation of the Greek time period paraplesion, which is a compound of the phrases para, which means beside, and plesion, which is the Greek equal of a neighbor. When compounded, the phrase paraplesion, which is utilized by Paul on this verse, photos somebody who resides in shut proximity to a neighbor. In this case, Epaphroditus was residing close by to “death.”

The phrase “death” is derived from a type of the Greek phrase thanatos, which signifies both loss of life or a loss of life sentence. As an entire phrase, it signifies that Epaphroditus “was so sick that he was living right alongside death.” It was as if a death-sentence have been hanging over his life. Epaphroditus was so perilously near loss of life that he was virtually its next-door neighbor.

But Paul then wrote that “…God had mercy on him….” The phrase “mercy” is from the Greek phrase eleeo, which depicts a heart-wrenching emotion that compels one to motion. This tells us that, pushed by deep compassion, God intervened to result in Epaphroditus’ restoration from a dangerous scenario. The specifics of his therapeutic — whether or not it was by means of miraculous means, religion and prayer, or a mixture of religious and medical efforts — are usually not disclosed within the textual content. But what is definite is that Epaphroditus lingered below the grim shadow of loss of life for fairly a while earlier than lastly regaining his well being.

The narrative refrains from revealing the exact purpose for Epaphroditus’ sickness, but Philippians 2:25 paints an image of him as a steadfast laborer, passionately dedicated to his ministerial duties. Experts are inclined to interpret the scripture as suggesting that his unwavering dedication, probably compounded by stress and inadequate relaxation, may need ushered within the sickness that threatened his life. This was not a trivial ailment however a extreme situation that introduced him to the brink of loss of life. However, by means of divine intervention, he was granted restoration and was in a position to return to his important ministry work.

In this story, we see the instance of a faithful servant of God who grappled with bodily illnesses, regardless that Christ had secured his therapeutic and lasting well being on the Cross. But by doing an excessive amount of of an excellent factor with no pause, it seems that he opened the door to an assault. But he discovered the trail again to well being by means of a mix of religion, fervent prayer, seemingly medical assist, and much-needed relaxation.

If you’ve got overdone it for too lengthy and now your well being is jeopardized ultimately, God’s mercy can also be current to revive you. If God will do it for me, and if God will do it for Epaphroditus, God may even do it for you. But as soon as you might be restored, it’s critical that you just study — as exhausting as it might be — to discover a rhythm of labor and relaxation that’s balanced. It is important that you just uncover what way of life works greatest to convey equilibrium to your life.

If you ignore this reality, eventually, the satan will uncover a technique to slip into your life, concentrating on your physique, feelings, or thoughts, with the goal of dragging you down and snuffing you out. Instead, why not undertake a proactive and preventative strategy? Cultivate a life-style of stability wherein you’re empowered to attain a lot whereas additionally guaranteeing you get the required relaxation alongside the best way. Your physique will specific its gratitude, your partner will probably be appreciative, your friendships and different relationships will flourish extra, and also you’ll take pleasure in happiness and well being all through your life.

I notice this letter is somewhat totally different from what I’d usually share, however I merely felt the necessity to encourage you this month to search out the rhythm of labor and relaxation that the Lord needs you to have. I pray that what I shared has inspired you to rethink this difficulty for your self and that the Holy Spirit will enable you to plan a plan that works greatest for you!

As I shut, please keep in mind that we’re right here to wish for you. Just e mail us at [email protected] or name us at 1-800-742-5593 — we can be found Monday by means of Friday, 8:00 a.m. to five:00 p.m. CT. We will actually pray for you, and we imagine Jesus will do what must be accomplished in your life. And please, pray for us as we’re pushing ahead by religion to do what Jesus has commissioned us to do. It’s an enormous activity that requires many fingers and hearts, and I’m grateful that your personal hand and coronary heart are part of what we do. Oh, we’re so grateful for you!

We are your brother and sister, pals, and companions in Jesus,

Rick and Denise Renner
together with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our total ministry crew