Saturday, January 28, 2012

Living a Balanced Life

“May the God of peace. . .equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him” (Hebrews 13: 20,21).

Birds have an amazing sense of balance. Whether perching on thin wires or hanging on bird feeders, they maintain their stability. As I watch birds I am aware of my own need for balance in life.

I need balance in my physical activities so that I don’t overextend myself with housework, shopping, or exercise and suffer later. I need balance in my relationships so that I don’t become overly burdened with the problems of others, but rather trust that God is using these trials to work out His plan in their lives. I need balance in handling my emotions so that when the downward cycles come, I remember what God has done in the past and believe He will lift me up again. Since I struggle with perfectionism, I need balance to keep the perfect from being the enemy of the good in each of these areas. Above all, I need balance in my perspective of this earthly life. Knowing this is not all there is and what great things lie ahead in eternity helps me to handle the grief of unfulfilled expectations and dreams here on earth.

Jesus is the perfect example of a balanced life. Even though His days were filled with ministry, He made time with God His first priority. Although He could have healed every person’s disease and fixed every problem on the planet, He did not. He grieved over Jerusalem’s impending destruction but did not stop it. He wept over death and became angry at injustice. He certainly understands the struggles of balance in this fallen world.

Between the world’s messages and my own perceptions, balance can be very difficult to maintain. Only God can give me the discernment to know what to do or not to do and the self-discipline to follow through on those decisions. His Word and His example are the stability I need to keep me hanging on.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to seek Your will for balance in each aspect of my life and give me a willing heart to accept Your plan. Amen.


2 comments:

  1. Hi. I just read your devotional through Rest Ministries and I could relate to it so much. I struggle for balance constantly. And feeling "lazy" and then let that push me into doing too much and paying for it. Thanks for letting me know I am not alone.

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  2. Libby, balance can certainly be an ongoing struggle. I pray we can keep seeking God's direction daily, and then following it - that's the hardest part sometimes :)

    Blessings to you,
    Bronlynn

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