Nine “10-Minute Refresher Walks” for Busy and Weary Church Leaders

Many church leaders I know are simply exhausted as they serve through their local church. In terms of the focus of this current article series I’m writing—looking at the importance of taking care of ourselves both physically and spiritually—leaders sometimes struggle with both as they give themselves fully to their church. What I want to do in this article is to give a simple suggestion for taking care of ourselves better: plan “10-minute refresher walks” into our days.

You see, most of us have “10-minute” segments throughout the day when we have little planned, and I want us to use those segments wisely as we try to manage our crowded time well and find rest. If you don’t have those times, I encourage you to build at least two into your day—and use them to take a renewing walk.

Somehow, walks have a way of helping us clear our minds for a minute (and, in my judgment, they’re even better if your dog walks with you!). Here, then, are some things to do as you walk:

1. Listen to an online devotion or a portion of a sermon. Taking 10 minutes regularly to invite someone else to speak into our lives can be transforming. Some options include Braden Pedersen’s Back to the Bible Daily, the Gospel Coalition’s “Word of the Week,” John Piper’s “Solid Joys,” and David Platt’s “Pray the Word.” You may have other podcasts that have caught your attention, or perhaps you need to listen again to your pastor’s most recent sermon; in either case, just 10 minutes can make a difference.

2. Read, re-read, and meditate on a psalm. You can do this task with your phone and a  Bible app as you walk. Most psalms don’t take long to read, and they’re packed with emotion, challenge, and conviction. In fact, I’ve recently made a renewed commitment to memorize some of the longer psalms simply because I need them continually in my heart—and 10 minutes of daily memorization can make a difference.

3. Listen to (and sing) one of your favorite hymns or praise choruses. I keep my phone handy so I can quickly pull up songs like “Amazing Grace,” “Are You Washed in the Blood?,” “Is He Worthy?,” and “O Come to the Altar” when I need them. The older I get, frankly, the more I also look forward to singing some of the old hymns I learned decades ago as a young believer.

4. Compose in your head (or on your phone) a thank-you note to someone—and write it immediately after your walk. You might choose to send an email or a text, but handwritten notes still have power. They require time, intentionality, focus, and thoughtfulness—yet, they don’t take long to compose. Writing a “thank you” note to someone can evoke good memories, refresh your heart, and pick up your day in just a few minutes.

5. Pray for other church leaders in your community. Most of us serve in communities with other church leaders for whom we pray too little. Think about, for example, all the other local church pastors in your community who are serving the Lord faithfully and consistently. Praying for them and others turns our attention outward and supports the work of the Great Commission where we live—all in 10 minutes.

6. Work on scripture memorization. For your own personal growth, use 10 minutes each day to memorize texts. You’ll be surprised how much you can do in 10 minutes—and, you’ll stand before your congregation with more godly confidence when you’ve put the Word in your heart. Review the Word anytime you can throughout the day, and you might find that you study it even more than a 10-minute refresher walk in a day.

7. Call a friend. I’m amazed by how little we use our phones for their original intent: to actually talk to somebody. I fear, in fact, that we’re developing Christian relationships without somehow using our voices very much – and that’s not healthy. We can do a lot of good ministry by making a quick phone call to someone once a day. Encourage another brother or sister in Christ for a few minutes, and you’ll find yourself refreshed in the process.

8. Make a “blessing list.” I know it sounds cliché, but it never hurts to pause and count our blessings. For my older readers, you might even now be thinking of that hymn we often sang years ago, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one . . . and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.” Even if you just think about them in your head as you walk (rather than write them down), they are, I trust, enough to fill 10 minutes of thanksgiving.

9. Walk through your church’s worship center, and pray for those who will attend next Sunday. If you’ve been part of your church for any length of time at all, you might know where many of them will sit. Reach out to your church leaders, and schedule a time to do this praying. Pray for the members – and then remember to pray for unexpected guests who might attend as well. Ten minutes of intentional prayer during the week will better prepare your heart for worship.  

The exercises I write of this week are not just physical ones, though all of them are connected to a “refresher” walk. My goal is to encourage discipline and intentionality that can help you grow both physically and spiritually.

10 minutes a day for a refresher walk—that’s all you need.