This is part of a blog series that has 30 practical tips for the pastor looking to start or restart well. You can get the entire series as a Kindle
Like anything some good things can become a burden when they are taken too far. For the bulk of that first year we had ministry activity 4-5 nights out of the week and at least two of those activities occurred in our home. There was no balance and no margin in our lives.
And we ignored the most important and maybe the most cliché piece of marital advice newlyweds get: date your spouse.
If you are married, in those first 30 days you need to go on a date and at the end of that date set the date for the next one. I personally would recommend having one night a week that is set apart and always void of ministry. Don’t schedule any regular activity on that night and once a month be sure to get out of the house, go out for dinner or a movie or something along those lines.
If you are single my advice is similar. You need a dead night on your schedule.
For my wife and I it was to watch Lost or Monday Night Football. On those nights sometimes we went out and sometimes we did laundry, it wasn’t always glamorous but it was always time for us.
Chances are that if you don’t establish this early on you won’t for a while. Several months down the road you will find yourself being annoyed with ministry or your spouse and wishing you had some time off.
Take some time before you have to take some time.
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As the Rookie Pastor’s Wife, I would like to confirm that Josh and I do indeed watch LOST and Monday Night Football as date nights. We are nerds who like sports. Find what works for you!