As Holy Week reaches its crescendo in Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, may those who shepherd others also be shepherded by the Lord Himself. This sacred season is not only a time of proclamation but of personal renewal—a time to remember that the first calling of the minister is to know and love Christ before leading others to Him.
Before entering into the holy work of preaching the resurrection, guiding worship, or welcoming new believers, there is an invitation to return to the One who first called. Easter is not only a message to declare—it is a reality to dwell in.
Recovering the Why of Ministry
“Delight in the Lord Through Worship Worship is not limited to music or public gatherings—it is the continual offering of our whole selves in response to the majesty of God.”
For most in pastoral or ministry leadership, the original call was not rooted in ambition or recognition, but in a personal encounter with the grace of God. At some point, Christ’s love became so real, so overwhelming, that surrender was the only fitting response. This call to ministry was born out of worship—a holy longing to help others experience the same mercy, forgiveness, and transforming presence of Jesus.
Yet over time, the burdens of ministry can eclipse the beauty of that calling. Schedules fill, responsibilities pile up, and the work of the Lord can unintentionally replace communion with the Lord. What once flowed from delight can begin to feel like duty.
In seasons like this, it is not more effort that is needed—it is reorientation.
Returning to Delight in the Lord
Psalm 37:4 gives us a vital directive:
“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Delight is not a distraction from ministry—it is its very fuel. To delight in the Lord is to return to the source of all joy, clarity, and power in the Christian life. And when delight in God is restored, ministry becomes an overflow, not an obligation.
Here are three sacred practices through which delight is rekindled
1. Delight in the Lord Through Prayer
Prayer is the quiet place where the soul is realigned and the heart is reawakened to the presence of God. In the midst of leading others in prayer, pastors and leaders must also be those who weep, worship, wrestle, and rest in the presence of the Lord personally. This week, take time for unhurried prayer—prayer that is not attached to a meeting or message, but simply opens the heart before the Father who sees in secret.
2. Delight in the Lord Through Worship
Worship is not limited to music or public gatherings—it is the continual offering of our whole selves in response to the majesty of God.
In the busyness of this week, there is wisdom in pausing to worship—not as a performer or planner, but as a child before a Father. Through song, silence, creation, or gratitude, worship reorders the affections and realigns the soul with eternity. Let this be a week of reverent return to the wonder of who God is.
3. Delight in the Lord Through Scripture
The Word of God is not just a tool for ministry—it is living and active, meant to shape the soul of the shepherd as much as the sheep.
When Scripture is read not for preparation but for transformation, it becomes a place of encounter. Open the Word slowly this week. Read not for what can be taught, but for what God desires to reveal. Let it speak first to the heart before it flows into the pulpit.
From Delight to Desire
The promise of Psalm 37 is not transactional—it is transformational. As delight in the Lord deepens, the desires of the heart are reshaped to reflect His own.
This Easter, as the Church gathers to celebrate the resurrection, may pastors and leaders do so from a place of renewed intimacy with the risen Christ. Let the sermons come from the secret place. Let the leadership flow from the life of abiding.
The Savior who walked out of the tomb walks with His servants still. And He delights in those who find their joy in Him!
