By Edie Melson

WWW.EDIEMELSON.COM
Reflect . Refocus . Renew.
The path of ministry is a journey of a lifetime—one fraught with discovery and discouragement.
We can avoid some of its pitfalls if we define that path early on. I’ve found for me—even in the hectic days leading up to Christmas—my thoughts turn backward as I evaluate my year.
Instead of relying on New Year’s resolutions, I look back at my spiritual markers for the past year in ministry. This is particularly helpful, because staying on the path of service is difficult. Each of us has a journey that’s unique. In the past I’ve had trouble evaluating my progress because I was comparing my journey to someone else’s. To combat that, I’ve come up with some questions to help me process where I’ve been and where I’m headed.
Questions to Get Me Started
What were some of my ministry successes this past year? I’m not necessarily looking at the biggest thing or the most lucrative, but what was the most rewarding.
What were some of my ministry setbacks this past year? What ministry advice stands out in my mind because it seemed to have been aimed directly at me? What brought me the most joy in my ministry? As I map out these spiritual markers, the path God has had me on becomes quite clear. And, by knowing where I’ve been, it’s easier to see what God has for me next year.
Then, I find ways to implement the following 7 things:
1. Spend time in prayer.
I take everything I’ve discovered and spend some extended time in prayer and study. I want to make sure I’m hearing from God and not just following my own wants.
2. Work hard to finish well.
Yes, I start with this. I begin by tying up the loose ends from the year. I make plans to fulfill commitments and get things cleared out so I can begin working toward this year’s goals.
3. Keep an open mind.
I want to keep moving forward, but I don’t want to develop tunnel vision. As I set my goals, I want to evaluate all the opportunities that arise, but only take the ones that God has for me.
4. Let go of expectations.
This goes along with keeping an open mind. For me, when I take a hard look at my expectations—for myself and for others—they’re unreasonable. I keep the reasonable ones, making them into goals and priorities. Then I discard the rest.
5. Surround yourself with the encouragement of others who are serving.
You don’t just need encouraging friends, but also the encouragement of those who are in ministry. We need others around us who understand our thought process, our struggles and our quirky joys.

6. Engage a prayer team.
This may seem odd, especially if you’re fairly new to ministry. But the truth is, this life is hard. When we answer God’s call to step out and share His message, we’re going to encounter spiritual warfare. For that, you need people to pray for you. If you’re also building a ministry, trying to grow an income and/or beginning to speak, that’s even more of a reason to surround yourself with prayer.
7. Choose joy.
I have the power to choose my attitude. Sometimes it’s a struggle, but I can choose joy over complaints.
These are the things that help me begin each year strong. My big-picture tips that I’ve found help me set myself up for success as I minister to those God places in my life.
