The spiritual and physical aspects of life were important, but I had failed to consider another area essential to healthy ministry—emotional strength. I needed a third gauge on the dashboard of my life.
—Bill Hybels

For many of the years I've served in ministry, I monitored myself closely in two areas, continually checking two gauges on the dashboard of my life.

I thought that was enough.

First, I kept an eye on the spiritual gauge, asking myself, How am I doing spiritually? Apart from Christ I can do nothing. I know that. I don't want my life's efforts to be burned up because they were done merely through human effort, clever tactics, or gimmickry. I am gripped by the fact that I must operate in the power of the Holy Spirit.

To keep my spiritual gauge where it needs to be, I have committed myself to the spiritual disciplines: journaling, fasting, solitude, sacrifice, study, and others. Like many Christians before me, I have discovered that these disciplines clarify spiritual issues and pump ...