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“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

Exercise is one of my fave things to do. Why? Because I feel so much better when I’m finished. However, getting started sometimes is a challenge especially if I miss a few workouts. And since my gym has been closed working out requires some creativity. While trying yoga has never been at the top of my list, I decided to check it out with an online class. At first, I just didn’t get all those poses and slow going was not my style. Determined to stick with it, I’m gradually realizing the importance of achieving precision in all those crazy nonessential moves. The benefits of flexibility, strength and balance are finally kicking in.

Balance in our lives is a lot like my yoga class. When I started this routine, I thought I had great balance. As I progressed through the poses, I learned my balance was not so good. Too many days, I barely missed toppling over in the floor twisted like a pretzel. Funny to say the least, but isn’t that the way we view personal balance. I tend to go towards the “I’ve got this” response until I take a close look at my calendar.

Burnout, exhaustion and missed opportunities all align themselves with imperfect balance. Easier to dismiss than to face. We push ourselves to the very edge of toppling over until we realize balance is definitely off. Great way to gain personal balance is to start by asking ourselves some deep questions:

Where does God fit into our 24/7?
What is consuming our time and focus?
How can we avoid exhaustion and burnout?
Does our calendar reflect nonnegotiable time for Bible Study and prayer?
Do the events penciled in our calendar accurately reflect our priorities?
How do we exercise good self care?
What areas of our lives are out of alignment with God’s best?

Truthful answers will ensure we know what areas of our lives are unbalanced and which ones are hitting the mark. Doesn’t take much to throw us off – a few interruptions, family crisis, work deadlines, ignoring our own needs, skipping Bible Study, etc. The key is to recognize our instability and seek God’s help to get back on track. Bringing our schedule to Him each week and asking for His guidance will ensure we exercise flexibility and strength in both our physical and spiritual lives. And the lasting benefit will be a life balanced and focused on God’s agenda.

“Father it is so easy to get sidetracked, overloaded and simply off course. Cultivate within us a desire to surrender each day to You and help us to welcome Your guidance in keeping our lives balanced.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life