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The cognitive signs of burnout are simple to state, but hard to recognize in the moment: Decreased Concentration, Memory Issues, Indecisiveness, and Negative Thinking. We may not experience all of them at one time, it might be gradual, but we must be aware. Full on burnout is debilitating.

Burnout is real. And the effects on us as human beings are huge. And it’s not a “suck it up, Buttercup” sort of thing. It may take months. Therapy. Talking through things. And a total rework of how we do life.

What Martha didn’t realize was she was experiencing the classic physical signs of burnout. Fatigue, sleep Issues, headaches/muscle tension, frequent illness, and appetite changes are all physical signs of burnout. (1) She experienced it because of all the outside forces pressing in on her life, and if we are to really look at our lives, we’ll see the same thing.

This week, we are looking at burnout. There were subtle signs throughout the year I could have noticed if I’d known, but I had no clue. Burnout is bigger than exhaustion, it’s debilitating and means our body isn’t functioning the way it was designed. God’s master design is so much better if we understand it. And when we don’t, burnout runs its full course and we are toast.

Our kids all have hidden rules that we may not know about. Some of our students are the daddy in their homes and are used to the little ones respecting their authority. Some are encouraged to fight like the boys in Rita’s story. Others have secrets or hidden shame that they are forbidden to expose. It’s important to differentiate between school rules, Mamma’s rules, and rules for other places.

We have Tanya’s all over our communities. Kids who are raised in homes that aren’t fit for animals, much less people. Kids who have been parentized from a young age or have had unjust expectations placed on them. Kids who have learned to respect people out of fear not because they are truly kindhearted and worthy of respect. They will never know there is another way to live if we don’t show them.

Think about the families who came to the math workshop in my classroom. They were invested in the success of their children. So many of these kids don’t have parents who are willing to do anything extra for their academic success, therefore limiting the access of the children.

As teachers, we must never assume our students have been given access to self-care resources. We don’t know the home situations or practices in the homes. We must pay attention and pray for our students regularly, that God would give us the proper insight and access to the resources these kids need. We might be their only advocate.

We live in a sad generation of people. Not only is it sad educationally speaking, but also from a spiritual perspective. Homes like this little girl’s don’t have Jesus. They aren’t being taught the truths of God or about the hope he offers. And they aren’t being taught the right ways of scripture regarding marriage, families, and children.

I had no frame of mind for that type of logic, but I quickly realized she was right. Hand to mouth. No pride in their personhood. No work ethic. A generation of people living off the government and teaching their kids to do the same. A completely new type of generational poverty.

I’m of the opinion that psychics and mediums are not actually contacting the dead, but interacting with evil spirits who are pretending to be those people. Demons are fallen angels and have been roaming the earth since the Fall. Of course, they know people who have died. And again, this type of thing opens the door for Satan to march right through and bring us over to his side of the spiritual battle.

Leah and her teacher talked some more and then she headed back to class. Her teacher turned the light off in her office, buried her face in her hands, and let the tears fall. She thanked God for her own teacher many years ago who saw the abuse happening to her and made the call that saved her life. Then thanked God for the insight about the abuse happening to Leah and prayed for continued protection for her and her siblings.

We are in a battle and Satan will use any and everything to gain access to a person. When we are tired and want to numb the pain, remember that we have a healer who longs for us to turn to him in all situations. He is the balm for our broken souls. Alcohol, drugs, vapes, or cigarettes won’t help like Jesus will. They may help for a short moment, but what have we forfeited by opening the door to evil in our lives?

Day 2, Spiritual Warfare Day 2, People The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 1 John 3:8 (NIV) I let my husband read the letter I planned to give. Now, I’m usually the voice of reason in our home and he tends to go the opposite way at times. He sat down beside me. “You can’t give him that letter. It’s really mean.”

Let’s start with ourselves and examine the priority of media in our lives. Then move to our children, and then to our classrooms. I’m not saying to not use the internet anymore or to cut tv and social media out; there are too many wonderful uses for it in our lives and classrooms. But what I am saying is to take a bird’s eye glance at it and realize how much of it has been taken over by evil and negative things. If it’s not building us up, it’s tearing us down, there is no ne

The other girls told me she was weird and kept to herself. That she cut herself really bad and did and said really awful things, encouraging others to join her. They talked about another girl who believed her and tried to hang herself with a bedsheet. The more I listened, the better I understood. That girl was demon possessed.

God’s Word is powerful. Hebrews 4:13-14 (NIV) says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

We need to trust God to fight our battles, but we also have to ask him to join the fight. When we are in it alone or fighting with the weapons of this world, the fiery darts will hit our weakest, most vulnerable parts. And they will sting extra bad. And with our shield of faith…we lose our faith. Lose our hope. And lose our trust in God.

This week, put on the shoes of peace. And remember the only reason you have peace is because Jesus gave it to you because of the freedom of the Gospel message. His life. Death. Burial. And resurrection. The chasm has been bridged. Don’t you want others to join you on the other side where freedom reigns and peace is supreme?

The first two pieces of armor are the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. These pieces of armor protect our heart and hold everything in place. Are we suiting up each morning with the armor of God? Or the weapons of the world?