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As I sit in the middle of this crowded bed loaded with decorative pillows, two bibles, two Bible Study with Finicky Notebooks, beef jerky, two cell phones, two "lip chaps" (as my granny says), two chargers- one for the two phones and one for my laptop...I laugh with The Lord concerning this topic on, "Living a well balanced life."
We laugh because...well, if you know anything about me, the main thang that you know is that you DON'T KNOW what I am going to do next (within the vision, gifts, and talents from the Lord of course. ) Truthfully speaking, I am always doing something. I mean, throughout the course of a single day the father places so many awesome visions in mind and I am ready to execute them ALL as soon as I catch wind of it. So you know what that means? Striking a balance is quite necessary for the type of 'faith exercising' lifestyle that I live. However, I am not sure if I've truly come into a committed relationship with balance just yet. We have been conversing for a while now but to be honest I sometimes tend to put everything before "balance" until I have reached the point of exhaustion. Great thing about that is, no matter how or when I show up, balance lovingly greets me with a rewarding opportunity to be refreshed and made ready for the next assignment.
But let's say that your life is more structured than mine. Perhaps you don't live "off" the edge like I do. My husband says that I have an issue with jumping the gun and I need to learn to tame my horse. Lol! He is the wise, patient, and strategic one. Whereas I am more of an "already in the deep" before the Father can finish his instructions- kind of believer. I love it here in the deep though. It's so exciting! But when I am not careful, I can sometimes get caught up in the hype of the deep and miss the whisper of the Father. That's why its important to strike a clean balance in waiting, hearing, praying, asking, agreeing, doing, applying, sowing, reaping, resting, worshiping, so on and so forth. Let's take a look at a few steps & scriptures below.
1. Paul cautioned the saints, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16).
Paul is reminding us that God is the author and creator of our days. Therefore, the first thing we need to do is acknowledge and give thanks to the father for the day. (Psalm 118:24) Second thing we need to do is seek his wisdom and instructions on how to execute the day. (James 1:5) If we fail to seek God first concerning the day he has gifted us, it is likely that unwise decisions, distractions, & procrastination will steal our opportunity to be fruitful.
2. Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves. Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Y'all! Sometimes we find it hard to strike a balance because our to do list is full of 'hustling to survive' moves or 'hustling to obtain earthly possessions' versus 'FAITH in what God said' moves. The Lord specifically told us in (Matthew 6) to stop running around acting and thinking like unbelievers. When we worry about who, what, when, why, & how- the enemy begins to plant crafty ways in our mind to manipulate our way into a blessing. First of all, the blessing is already ours. But when we fail to cast down human reasoning in our minds, the enemy and the way of the world tricks us into believing that we need to move ahead of the promise. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
If you find yourself working unto exhaustion just to achieve something that God already promised you, then you need to examine yourself. Have you fallen into unbelief? Test your motives. Evaluate the plans you have set for yourself, commit them unto the father (Proverbs 16:3), and ask the father to order your steps by his word. (Psalm 119:33)
3. I am aware that there are some things that most of us must do. Such as work, take care of children, etc. Nevertheless, our source the father has resources such as people, place, or things that are readily available to aid us. Not only does he give us resources, he is also a present help! Do not be afraid to ask the Father for help and to send help. You can not and should not try to do everything on your own. If you're going to take on more tasks versus giving some things up, then you need to seek God for a helper. (Exodus 18:13-22) And until that help arrives, continue to lean and depend on the Lord to renew your strength. (Isaiah 40:31)
4. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Get somewhere and SAT down chillee! (that's what the elders in the South say, lol) Or as our sweet Father would say, REST! I know you may not believe this, but rest is so vital to our spiritual walk. Rest allows our mind, body, and soul to be renewed by the father so that we can start again with new strength and focus on moving forward.
In closing, a well balanced life is a life lived trusting The Lord. Trusting in him fully. Seeking his kingdom daily. Dying to our flesh daily. Asking for & receiving God's help. Ask him to send help daily. All while remaining steadfast in our faith and resting in the peace and the promises of the father.
Love You All
The Finicky Wife