Reset

Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture

By: David Murray

Narrated by: David Murray

Largely due to overwork and the stresses of modern life, men in work and ministry are increasingly run down, anxious, and depressed. But is this level of physical and spiritual weariness inevitable?

Just as a car needs to be regularly refueled, retuned, and repaired in order to keep running, a balanced life can be sustained only when a man takes proper steps to stay on track. In this hopeful book, experienced pastor and counselor David Murray shares stories from his own life and the lives of friends, offering Gospel-centered advice for avoiding, assessing, and recovering from burnout. With chapters on rest, relationships, routines, and more, this book lays out a host of practical remedies men can use to reset their lives on a more sustainable course - resulting in renewed energy, joy, and purpose.

©2017 eChristian (P)2017 eChristian

So helpful!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Very well organized book that encourages and informs those seeking wisdom to prioritize and establish more healthy life patterns.

Great advice -- very practical and helpful!

Looks at our work/life balance struggles from many angles and offers thoughtful, Christ-honoring suggestions on how to better pace ourselves for a life of faithful service. 5 stars!

Very refreshing

It was very scripture based and a good reminder. It is mostly for older christian men, but still great.

a challenge for those who live in quiet desperatio

excellent consideration for us who still equate more work with more grace. I appreciated hearing the narraration bu the author but sometimes the thickness of the brogue was a challenge.

Time to Reset

This is a very compelling read. I need to, I want to live a more grace-paced life. Thanks, David!

Read it, and apply it.

Written specifically to pastors, this book on personal maintenance and care is applicable to to any worker, at any level, and in any organization. While pastoring, I would often recommend people see professional counselors, whether for personal issues or for the sake of their marriage. Those who were not in obvious emergency-room-status would look at me like I was crazy and give me some sort of response of, “there’s nothing wrong with me/us”. My response would be - if you only take your car to the shop when it’s broken, it’s not going to last as long as you want. That’s why you do regular preventative maintenance, like oil changes and tire rotations. Nods in agreement would ensue.

In this book, Dr Murray uses this exact motif. Comparing our lives, careers, ministries, etc. to vehicle maintenance and repair, each chapter discusses a different “repair bay” that we need to regularly back ourselves into, creating the margin needed to sustain and thrive in the calling on our lives to lead, manage and get things done at a high level. If you want to live a life of impact and legacy, Dr Murray argues, you have to take care of yourself.

Using practical and helpful advice, Dr. Murray covers everything from rest, sleep, eating, exercise, accountability, friendship and recreation to drive home the point that we are complex beings in need of complex care, and ultimately, we are the ones responsible for our own health and sanity. Overwork is largely the result of pride, over-inflated egos and even narcissism. It’s based on the faulty belief (often an accidental personal value) that “if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself”. Those who never rest, or “turn it off”, not only evidence in their actions a belief that they are more important than God (He rested, and commands us to also), they also end up wielding damage in the lives and psyches of those around them. I once talked to another pastor who confessed to me that he hadn’t had a Sunday off in over three years. The look of horror on my face prompted him to reply, “I know, I’m going to run myself into the ground if I keep going at this pace”. I told him, “Well, yes, that’s the obvious part. The less obvious part is that you apparently care more about yourself than you do your church, because you are not the only voice they need to hear. It’s essential for you personally to take time off, but you also are responsible for diversifying the exposure your people get to God’s word”, because God’s word is much more complex and vast, than any one person could ever hope to convey. That’s at least part of what the writer of Hebrews emphasized when exhorting us to recall the “cloud of many witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). If you’re a pastor, people need to hear from more voices than just your own - and you need rest.

If you’re approaching burnout, or if stress has become a un-welcomed resident in your life, regardless of what your job title is at work, Reset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture is a must read.

Every man needs to read this book

I recommend this book for everyman regardless of age. I wish it was available when I was in my twenties.

Much needed

Simply a terrific book, loaded with practicality. Get it and listen. Get the hard copy as well and go through it with someone else.

Helpful, practical, and life-bringing

You won't find a more practical book to help with burnout. Thank you, David Murray.

Great book! Very helpful and practical application!

Loved this book! Little hard to understand Narration if you listen to fast, but that’s my only complaint.

This is a must read if you are struggling in ministry or even in life and are having trouble creating margin and finding peace.