Day 39 - Balancing Your Life
Blessed are the balanced, for they shall outlast everyone…
Keeping a balanced life is a challenge for all of us. We tend to be really busy. We focus on some things and let other things go. Sometimes the things we focus on, or the things we let go can be good, sometimes bad, but it takes work and discernment to keep things in balance.
It’s the same way with the five purposes we have been learning about. Some of the readings may have resonated with us and we said “Yes… this means something to me.” Others may have been difficult to even finish the reading. Whatever the case we have five purposes, all of which are important to keep balanced in our lives.
How to we maintain balance? One of the best ways to maintain balance is to have some accountability in your life through small groups. Remember, we were never meant to do this alone and small groups provide a safe atmosphere where we can share and have others reflect the Word of God back to us and we can see where we need to grow. We learn best in community. Even though the temptation is to be a “self contained” unit, we have some very valuable lessons that we cannot learn apart from being with other believers.
Our minds are sharpened and our convictions deepened through conversation. We can learn from each other, give feedback to one another and encourage each other. Sometimes we just cannot find what we are looking for on our own. We don’t see things from the perspective that we need to see it. We can get lost in our own little world. This is where we can open up to each other share the hard times, the good times and have times of worship and healing.
Another way we can maintain balance is looking at where we are spiritually and doing an assessment of our spiritual health. Give yourself a spiritual checkup. The “vital signs” that can be checked are: worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry and mission. When we look at each of these areas we can take an inventory and ask ourselves if we are balanced or where we need improvement.
We can stay balanced by recording, or “journaling” what we are learning and the progress we are making to fulfill God’s purposes in our lives. Writing tends to help us remember things. What we write about, we can go back and review. It helps us to clarify what God is doing in our lives. Write down the pleasant things and even the not-so-pleasant things. Remember every problem we have is purpose-driven.
A fourth way of staying balanced is to give what we have learned to others… pass it on.. The best way to keep growing and learning is to pass on what we have learned to others. When we pass on the insights that God has given us, He gives us more. It’s an amazing truth. We were not meant to learn the lessons we learn just to keep them “hoarded” for ourselves. The Bible says that “the one who blesses others is abundantly bless; those who help others are helped.” Proverbs 11:25 The fact is this. What you have learned up to this point can and will bless and touch others if you just make yourself available and are willing to pass it on!
The reason that we pass on what we learn, is that God has a purpose to bring others into His Kingdom to know Him and experience His glory. We are privileged to be a part of this great purpose. Bringing Glory To God!! He wants us to introduce others to Christ, bring them into fellowship, help them grow into maturity and discover their place of service, then send them out to reach others too.
No matter where we are in life currently, the rest of our lives can be the best of our lives. Praise be to God