Do you have EGR’s in your ministry?  You know, those “Extra Grace Required” kids?  When we moved to Atlanta after leaving a ministry of 1,000 students a week in Sacramento, the small group of bored kids in the youth group here was a real wake-up call.

The first EGR was a guy who literally fell asleep (and snored!) in the second row while I was speaking.  The second EGR was a guy who upended my closing story by sauntering down the center aisle, then crawling over his friends to get to an open seat, all the while laughing.  The third EGR was a middle-school girl who pretended to have a seizure halfway through the meeting.  She was a horrible fake, rolling around on the floor like the Gadarene demoniac.  But the icing on the cake came during my closing prayer, when a fully outfitted rescue squad rushed into the room to “administer aid” to the girl.

It was a conspiracy of failure, and I was left battling those sneering voices inside my head that decided a long time ago that I’m a loser.  So what do I do when those voices are starting to win me over?

1. Remind yourself that our Enemy uses mind games as his #1 strategy to get us out of youth ministry.  It’s normal to feel attacked by accusations of failure, discouragement, inadequacy, and frustration – we all deal with this stuff.
2. Remember that Descartes said, “I think, therefore I am,” and Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he.”  You can take charge of your emotions by taking charge of your thoughts.  Researchers say that 75 percent of our mental self-talk is negative.  So willfully refuse to replay negative situations over in your mind.  Our self-talk is “make it or break it.”  In the midst of his political struggles, Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”  (I highly recommend,  The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry.)
3. Be nice to yourself.  When you feel assaulted by negative thoughts, proclaim it National be Nice to Myself Day (or Hour).  Whether it’s golf or a long, hot bath, take care of yourself without guilt.
4. Remember that when fatigue walks in, faith walks out.  The “HALT” principle has always served me well over the years.  I try not to take myself too seriously or make major decisions when I’m “Hungry,” “Angry,” “Lonely,” or “Tired.”
5. Journal your feelings or talk to a trusted friend.  Isolation is a hothouse for negative mind games.  So when I’m battling my own thoughts, I often journal my feelings to the Lord, or I’ll spend time with one or two people who can open the door of the hothouse.
6. Remember, “This too will pass.”  The great spiritual giant, Charles Spurgeon, wrote about battling negative thoughts all the way through his historic ministry.  He labeled these times as “the minister’s fainting fits.”  The point is, he didn’t give up.  The greatest revenge on hell is perseverance.