Minister to Thy Own Needs and Life First

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
~ Colossians 3:16, KJV ~

In modeling our ministering after Him, it is important to remember that His efforts to love, lift, serve, and bless had a higher goal than meeting the immediate need. Certainly He knew of their day-to-day needs and had compassion on their current suffering. So He healed, fed, forgave, and taught. But He wanted to do more than take care of today’s thirst (see John 4:13–14). He wanted those around Him to follow Him (see Luke 18:22; John 21:22), know Him (see John 10:14; Doctrine and Covenants 132:22–24), and reach their divine potential (see Matthew 5:48). The same is true today (see Doctrine and Covenants 67:13).

The Purpose That Will Change Our Ministering

Why do you waste your precious time and energy attempting to figure out what makes others do the things they do where there is lack of consideration, grace, compassion, love, respect, integrity, and kindness toward others? All you, and I, need to know is this: We all suffer in this life and face our challenges respectively. To engage in ministering to others – we are required to first understand how to minister to our own spiritual needs and temporal needs first.

Certainly, our Heavenly Father will bless us with the temporal things we stand in need of. He certainly has the power to guide us through our suffering. We are able to receive healing, forgiveness, and divine counsel. Yet, there is a far greater purpose and mission of our Heavenly Father. This requires us to place our faith and trust in Him and in His Son, Jesus Christ. Not just a one time profession of faith. A daily confession of our need for the Savior so that we are empowered to follow him.

We are empowered to have a greater impact and influence in ministering to others that stand in need

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When we come to realize how we are able to minster to our own needs and life first – we are empowered to have a greater impact and influence in ministering to others that stand in need. What we are blessed with through our Heavenly Father, we in turn use that to bless others. Every hour we need our Saviors love, compassion, forgiveness, wisdom, and divine counsel.

Today’s Prayer and Meditation

Heavenly Father, the fact that I stand in constant need of ministering to my mind, body, and soul greatly impacts my ability to minister to others. Give unto me thy wisdom, grace, and strength to meet my own needs for the day. Enlighten me with the spirit of truth that is through Jesus Christ. Guide me in ways where I lack and need growth. On this day, I strive to let go of my expectations of others and myself that destroys my peace and joy. I ask that you assist me in detaching from the need to minister to others whereby I tend to ignore in meeting my own needs for the day. Help me find a way to first minister to my own life, heart, mind, and soul so that I am able to better serve and minister as Christ had ministered and served those around him. All this to bring to you glory and praise. For through ministering, may others find their way to the love and healing power of Jesus Christ. Amen!