Restoring Balance
Balancing requires weight control, a steady mind, steady feet and skill.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3
Written By: Dawn Waldeis
It all starts with Jesus
You may hear people say, "I am still figuring out how to balance it all," "I wish I knew how to balance it," "I just need balance." Or it may be stated, everything is a mess, chaotic, or out of control, or I have no time for myself, time to exercise, no time to read the Bible, go shopping, clean the house, no time to rest, eat well or even to catch my breath. You may find that you have said many of these phrases yourself. Whatever it may be, it all comes down to restoring balance.
Balancing requires weight control, a steady mind, steady feet and skill. As you can see, the act of balancing requires several things. Some of these things may seem small, but at the same time all of these are necessary to balance. Let's look at these point by point.
Four things balance requires
1. Weight control. I don't mean your body weight here. Read Matthew 11:28. Are you carrying the weight of the world, your family issues, your home, your children, your job on your shoulders, or is He carrying you, bearing all things for you? He carried the weight on the cross so you wouldn't have to.
2. A steady mind. Isaiah 26:3: "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." When you trust Him you have the confidence built from within, a peace and focus that keeps you moving, and a clarity to see and know that He is moving within you, extending your hand, opening your heart, leading you exactly where He has called you. There He will reveal to you what you have been called to do.
3. Steady feet. "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights." Habakkuk 3:19. We must choose to walk forward with Him. We must not be frozen in fear, run ahead or lag behind. Don't look down or to the left or to the right; keep your eyes locked on His. Then you will not be shaken.
4. Skill. 1 Corinthians 9:25: "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." James 1:12: "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." To be skilled at something takes practice, time, energy, determination, perseverance, and faithfulness.
Now let us dive deeper into the message, and it all starts with Jesus. He is the center, the core from which all things "fall into" balance. Yes, I said "fall into" balance. It is that simple, supernatural, with Him. Pray for spiritual eyes to see, wisdom, revelation, understanding and ears to hear.
What balance means
So let's define balance. See if something sticks out to you and jot it down.
1. An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.
2. A condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions: stability of one's mind and feelings; harmony of design.
3. An apparatus for weighing, especially one with a central pivot, beam and pair of scales, counteracting weight or force.
4. (Take special note here). The difference between the amount due and the amount paid.
Proverbs 4:1-2 reads this way. "Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching."
Get wisdom at all costs. Jesus paid it all!
Wisdom is His to give
Let's take a look at James 1:5-8. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."
If that strikes a chord that doesn't sit well, remember we have Jesus, who paid it all for our sin. When we come to Him with repentant hearts, confess and turn from our evil ways, He forgives and will give wisdom to you. Just repent and ask!
When we come to Jesus, repent and pray for wisdom to restore balance to our lives, and then get out of the way and lay down our lives in surrender at His feet, He will provide what each of us needs to balance what you have on your plate, what He has put in front of you, in your hands, and what He has written on your heart. Please note this may require letting go of some of the things that he has not planned for you in this season.
Read Proverbs 4:20-23. There is so much I could share with you on this, as soul care and counsel has been my life's work. But let me leave you with these points:
Read Proverbs 4:10-15. Once He provides the wisdom you need, walk in His direction, His leading and guiding, His way and His truth for you. Not for your friend or you neighbor, but the way for you! He made you uniquely by His design and knows just what you need. I find that such a relief, I don’t have to figure it out on my own.
John 17:17 states "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." Sanctification is a process of being freed from sin and set apart, made holy. This is a process that you can move forward in with Jesus. The Holy Spirit heals, leads, guides and protects. The Bible, the Word of God, is the measure we use for weighing what is true, for then we walk in spirit and in truth. The practice of spiritual disciplines, or what I like to refer to as the spiritual delights, allows the Holy Spirit open space to move in you. WEIGHT CONTROL AND SKILL
Read Proverbs 4:25-27. We must remain upright and steadfast in your Faith. STEADY MIND
Isaiah 61:10: "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Walk upright in self-worth, resting in your identity as a child of God, a daughter of the King. Step out of old habits and patterns and into His righteousness. STEADY FEET
It begins and ends with Jesus
Lastly, notice it all begins and ends with Jesus and He is everywhere in between. He encompasses it all. The last definition of balance I read was this: "the difference between the amount due and the amount paid."
1 Peter 2:24: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." Galatians 5:1 states, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Colossians 2:13-14.
What standards are you using to measure your days, your moments, your self-worth, your marriage, your diet, your parenting, and the list goes on? Are you measuring against the world's standards, your self-made standards, that which your parents passed on to you, or by Jesus: what He says you need, who He says you are, how He teaches you to walk out each day? Do you even know His standards?
Who is He to you? If the answer isn't "He is everything to me," your internal world (mind and heart) and your external world, that which is seen, will be out of balance. Kingdom living looks severely different from that of the world.
In closing, let's look at Matthew 5:3-12 from The Message:
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. You're blessed when you're content with just who you are, no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for. You're blessed when you get your inside world, your mind and heart, put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. Not only that, count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens, give a cheer, even! For though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."
Found in these verses is balance, blessing, and the full abundant life promised by our Good Shepherd.
Prayer
Lord, We drop all baggage or weight we have been carrying that we were not intended to, and begin to allow balance to be restored in our hearts, please make your home there. We give thanks that your yoke is easy and your burden is light, that you carry the heavy load in our lives so that we may remain in you with steady feet and a surrendered and grateful heart. Fill us today with wisdom and power through your Holy Spirit and a clear vision of your love and plans for us in this season of our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
What are some areas in your life that need a holy rebalancing?
What in your life could use a touch from the Lord? A revival in your heart?
What areas in your life feel out of control? Whose standards are you using to decide that? Are you willing to surrender those to the Lord today?
I invite you to make the choice to repent of any double-mindedness and ask for Godly wisdom in these areas. If it isn't beautiful, He isn't finished yet! His desire is for you to reflect His glory in all areas of your life.
Be blessed, my friend, as He transforms you from the inside out!
One Next Step
Sometimes a devotional is not enough and you need a person. If "holy rebalancing" is where you are, that is exactly what soul care is for: one on one, We can meet in person or online sessions are available. Read more on the Counseling page, or simply reply to this email.
About the writer
Dawn is a follower of Christ who loves moments of deep worship that bring her and others into the presence of God. Dawn and her husband Scott have been blessed with six sons and live in a small village in the Finger Lakes region. They enjoy exploring the beauty of Gods creation that surrounds this area. She works as a Biblical Counselor and Soul Care Art Coach. She is passionate to walk with others into a reconciled relationship with Jesus Christ.