The trap set by Satan is to divert God’s servant’s attention away from personal communion with the Lord by directing it towards even noble external service. The pressure of ministerial responsibilities and people’s expectations can create an imbalance if the servant does not maintain a personal discipline of seeking God’s presence. Jesus himself, despite the pressing demands of his ministry, took time to withdraw to deserted places to pray. The example of Jesus is found in Mark 1:35:

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Similarly, Luke 6:12 reports:

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

The teaching here is that the servant must prioritize moments of solitude with God, away from ministerial activities, to strengthen personal communion with the Lord. If this discipline is not maintained, the danger lies in the fact that the service itself can become a form of idolatry. The enemy can succeed in diverting the servant’s attention from seeking God to achieving success in the ministry.

Moreover, John Wesley was known for his constant pursuit of God’s presence throughout his life. His fervent quest for holiness and the experience of God left an indelible mark on the Methodist church and inspired many Christians. Wesley regularly observed periods of spiritual retreat to withdraw from the bustling world and devote himself to prayer and meditation.

He practiced days of fasting and prayer, often retreating to isolated places to seek God’s presence more intensely. There can be a subtle shift in the goal of prayer, with the ministry becoming the focus instead of God himself.

Communion with God can become merely a means to achieve success in service. God can then be used as an instrument to achieve ministerial goals and personal success. The risk of jealousy, rivalry, and the desire for fame can also arise, as illustrated by the quarrel between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen in the biblical narrative. That is why vigilance to preserve the priority of personal communion with God is essential so that the servant is not diverted from their first love and constant pursuit of God’s presence.

Watch Over Yourself to Stay on Track

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16)

The danger that the servant may face at this stage of their relationship with God is the development of the superhero syndrome. This manifests as an inner conviction that God’s work cannot progress without their contribution. They may begin to feel indispensable to God in advancing the Kingdom.

This mentality reveals the roots of pride, as the servant risks thinking they are irreplaceable in accomplishing God’s work. It is imperative for the servant, at this stage, to take times of communion and regularly return to the feet of Jesus to maintain the necessary humility.

Practicing the remembrance that God is the true architect of His work and that the servant is an instrument in His hands can help counter the tendencies of pride. For the servant, overwhelmed by the concerns and pressures of service, it can be difficult to maintain an attitude of dependence and listening, like Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet to listen to Him and love Him with all her heart, without expecting anything in return.

However, even in this dimension of servanthood, it is crucial to remember that communion with God must remain a priority over the service itself. The true strength of service stems from the depth of communion with the Lord…

This text is an excerpt from the book “GIVE YOURSELF COMPLETELY TO GOD!” written by OMER KABUYA.

We invite you to read the following article, “Leaving Your Country.“