The Truth About Balance
Balance. I’ve been thinking a lot about balance lately. Mainly because I’ve got a lot going on and my routine has been totally rearranged these last few months. And it’s throwing me off. What started off as normal schedule changes that come with the end of school and the beginning of summer, has progressed rapidly over the summer and most days feel like a whirlwind. And although these changes are good, it has been difficult to balance it all. Some days it's just pure craziness.
And there for a minute, I was feeling all sorry for myself. For the most part, I've found myself at the end of the day wishing there was more time. I kept saying "I need more time!" More time to get it all done. More time to sit and be still. More time to listen. More time to spend with family and friends. More time to say yes to things I want to do and spontaneous events. But there just seems to be just enough time to get what has to be done.
I started to think about Paul's warning to Ephesus where he says,
“Be careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Eph 5:15-16). And I'm all like, "Ahh! I want to live wise!" And I would examine myself and ask if it's not wise to have so much going on. There's this Rick Warren quote that goes, "If Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy." And it's a good quote, but I also think about the opposite of busy. The thesaurus gave me two antonyms for busy: idle and empty. And that kind of changes things for me. The reality is that the enemy will twist it anyway he can.
So I've been seeking the truth about balance. And after examination, I found it's more about being present in every opportunity. The Greek word in Paul uses for making the most of the opportunity means “buy up at the market place.” Opportunity is regarded as a commodity to be used by believers. In other words for me, it means live in the moment. Be present where I'm at. Don't be so wrapped up in what I'm doing that I miss an opportunity to minister (to encourage, to speak truth, to listen, to love on someone, to pray, hug, give a ride etc.). I have a choice. Choice: this just keeps coming up...I am listening Holy Spirit! So, I have a choice with my schedule. I can choose to focus on the schedule itself and all the craziness that comes with it, or I can choose to make the most of it.
So balance? I still don't know how to do that. But as I've been asking God to help me, He reminded me what's most important when you balance in the physical is FOCUS. If I attempt to balance on one foot, it takes focus. If I then lift my other foot back behind me while lifting my hand out in front of me, the way to do that without losing my balance is looking straight ahead at one spot; a focal point.
"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Heb 12:1b-2a) And it's funny. What so easily ensnares me? I thought it was busyness; in the running here and there that is ensnaring me and I need to be intentional to throw it off. But what God is showing me is the ensnaring is actually coming from focusing on the stuff and not on Jesus. With Him as my focus, I am balanced.!
So I shift my stinking thinking from myself, my schedule, my wants, and how can I balance it all to, "This is your day Lord!" I stay focused, desiring every step be in step with the Spirit, intentional to talk with Him and invited Him into my schedule. So the truth about balance? It's all about where you're focused.
Balance. I’ve been thinking a lot about balance lately. Mainly because I’ve got a lot going on and my routine has been totally rearranged these last few months. And it’s throwing me off. What started off as normal schedule changes that come with the end of school and the beginning of summer, has progressed rapidly over the summer and most days feel like a whirlwind. And although these changes are good, it has been difficult to balance it all. Some days it's just pure craziness.
And there for a minute, I was feeling all sorry for myself. For the most part, I've found myself at the end of the day wishing there was more time. I kept saying "I need more time!" More time to get it all done. More time to sit and be still. More time to listen. More time to spend with family and friends. More time to say yes to things I want to do and spontaneous events. But there just seems to be just enough time to get what has to be done.
I started to think about Paul's warning to Ephesus where he says,
“Be careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Eph 5:15-16). And I'm all like, "Ahh! I want to live wise!" And I would examine myself and ask if it's not wise to have so much going on. There's this Rick Warren quote that goes, "If Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy." And it's a good quote, but I also think about the opposite of busy. The thesaurus gave me two antonyms for busy: idle and empty. And that kind of changes things for me. The reality is that the enemy will twist it anyway he can.
So I've been seeking the truth about balance. And after examination, I found it's more about being present in every opportunity. The Greek word in Paul uses for making the most of the opportunity means “buy up at the market place.” Opportunity is regarded as a commodity to be used by believers. In other words for me, it means live in the moment. Be present where I'm at. Don't be so wrapped up in what I'm doing that I miss an opportunity to minister (to encourage, to speak truth, to listen, to love on someone, to pray, hug, give a ride etc.). I have a choice. Choice: this just keeps coming up...I am listening Holy Spirit! So, I have a choice with my schedule. I can choose to focus on the schedule itself and all the craziness that comes with it, or I can choose to make the most of it.
So balance? I still don't know how to do that. But as I've been asking God to help me, He reminded me what's most important when you balance in the physical is FOCUS. If I attempt to balance on one foot, it takes focus. If I then lift my other foot back behind me while lifting my hand out in front of me, the way to do that without losing my balance is looking straight ahead at one spot; a focal point.
"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Heb 12:1b-2a) And it's funny. What so easily ensnares me? I thought it was busyness; in the running here and there that is ensnaring me and I need to be intentional to throw it off. But what God is showing me is the ensnaring is actually coming from focusing on the stuff and not on Jesus. With Him as my focus, I am balanced.!
So I shift my stinking thinking from myself, my schedule, my wants, and how can I balance it all to, "This is your day Lord!" I stay focused, desiring every step be in step with the Spirit, intentional to talk with Him and invited Him into my schedule. So the truth about balance? It's all about where you're focused.