Have you ever sat there on a Monday after a long Sunday of production attacks, miscues, or things just not going right? Me too. Whether people outside of the booth know or not, on any given weekend, as church production techs, we encounter a myriad of opportunities to address issues of all shapes and sizes. There is some food for thought for those Monday mornings of production reflection.
Monday can be a time for expectation and excitement, but for some church leaders and those who serve on a ministry team, Monday is not always a good day. We had a saying at the church I did my internship at in Texas that goes, "You aren't allowed to quit on Monday."
To the rest of the world, the word "weekend" is a term that speaks to rest and relaxation. For us in ministry, that's not always the case.
Have you ever told yourself, "Maybe I'm not cut out for this," "Life would be so much easier if I didn't have to deal with this," or "Maybe I'll just attend church and not serve”? Let's call it out. Those are lies meant to take you from the great blessings that God has waiting. With great rewards come a great weight to carry, and our production teams carry some of the heaviest load going into, and getting through, a weekend. I recently read an article penned by Chuck Lawless and got me thinking. Here are some thoughts from his article and some of my own things to remember when the enemy gets in your ear and in your mind.
1. It's Monday.
We can see it as the start to another long week that we have to survive. That thought can take us captive or we can take it by the horns and not let it control our mindset. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul gives us some great direction here. It reads:
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
We have the power to transform our thoughts. It's the beginning of an exciting week where we get to see God move again. Don't quit on a Monday!
2. It's fresh meat.
Whatever you're thinking about is fresh. You're still thinking about that missed slide, feedback in the mic, sermon illustration that fell flat, playing the wrong notes, or singing the wrong lyrics in front of a packed house. All these thoughts will diminish and fade as we get ready for the weekend ahead. Don't let them linger. Use it as ammo to attack the enemy as we ramp up to share Jesus with people. Don't quit on a Monday.
3. Fatigue clouds our decision-making.
To the rest of the world, the word "weekend" is a term that speaks to rest and relaxation. For us in ministry, that's not always the case. The emotional and physical stress of the weekend can bleed into Monday. That creates a recipe for decisions that might not be thought out. Instead, find your rest, energy, and inspiration in God’s Word. One of my favorite sentences in scripture comes from 1 Kings 19:12.
“And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
Seeking God for a rested heart and mind will provide for a forward focused mindset full of creativity. Don't quit on a Monday!
4. Storms are temporary.
Even the most violent storms pass. No "storm" is ever outside the control of our Creator who loves us. Remember when Jesus was in the boat with His disciples and a pretty bad storm hit? They were scared and were looking for Jesus and found him sleeping. When they woke Him up, He rebuked them for their faith before he literally commanded the wind and waves to chill out. God is still in control, no matter how big the storm your boat is in. Hold on to that truth today. Don't quit on a Monday.
Keep the faith that while we see through the lens of planning, systems, and processes, those that see what we do are looking through the lens of how Jesus is speaking to them.
5. There's good, I promise.
Reflect on the good from the weekend. Don't go to the misses first. Read the wins. Sit in that. Studies show that after negative feedback is received, positive feedback is rarely effective in lifting them up. Our focus tends to bend to the negative. Fight against that. Think about how God moved and, despite that missed slide or wrong guitar solo, people worshipped Jesus. That's the truth to carry with you. Address the misses last, but don't quit on a Monday.
6. Have faith!
There will be good days where everything seems to fall into perfect place, and there will be bad days where it seems that nothing goes right. We live by faith, though. What often feels bad is not as bad as it seems. Sometimes churches operate at a VERY high level of technology, so keep the faith that while we see through the lens of planning, systems, and processes, those that see what we do are looking through the lens of how Jesus is speaking to them. Don't quit on a Monday.
Remember, you've been there before. You have had "Mondays" before, whether it were on a Tuesday or a Friday, you've been there before. The same God that brought you through the last time is still here to bring you through.
Don't quit on a Monday!
