Finding Balance In God

To find balance in your life with God, we must prioritize Him through seeking His Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), trusting in His timing and plans (Ecclesiastes 3:1), and relying on His strength for all things (Philippians 4:13). Also, focus on living with integrity, as Proverbs 16:11 says, “A just weight is the Lord's delight, and cultivate inner peace and contentment through prayer and faith (Phil. 4:6-7).

Imagine your life is represented by a balance scale holding numerous plates.  The plates represent the different areas of your life: friendships, family, church, community service, your job, hobbies, and other commitments.

In your mind, a balanced life is achieved by keeping all the plates equally filled. Much to your frustration, you can’t seem to keep the plates filled in a balanced way. God showed me that His idea of balance is far different from my idea.

God never promised us lives of equally proportioned commitments.  He often fills one plate for a season and asks us to give tremendous energy to that one area of life.

You might feel like you’re failing God because you spend every waking moment caring for another person and fall asleep every time you try to pray or open your Bible. Maybe you spend your days tending to your health, raising your children, or taking care of your spouse, and you feel like your life lacks purpose and outward Kingdom focus.

There is a time to assess our priorities and ask God about making changes.  He might lead you into a career change or help you radically remake your schedule. However, if He has given you an assignment you can’t opt out of, this assignment is a God-ordained “full plate” in your life.  Aim to do your best to steward the assignment.

Balance isn’t a life of equally filled plates; it’s a life committed to seeking first God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness.

Atonement: Freed From Sin

“The rich shall not pay more, and the poor shall not pay less, than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the Lord to make atonement for yourselves.” - Exodus 30:15 NASB

Everyone needed atonement, without exception…rich and poor, old and young, men and women. As God commanded, each person needed to have their sins forgiven in order to become right with Him.

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, Aaron was to make atonement “with the blood of the sin offering” (v. 10). This was “most holy to the Lord.” God also asked everyone to bring a half-shekel offering. No one could pay more or less. The price was the same for everyone.

These same principles are true today, for “all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23–27). No one can boast, for we all must depend on God’s Grace. On the cross, Yeshua paid the price so that each person could be freed from their sins and forgiven.

The world may exalt people and give them special privileges because of their wealth, position, or fame. But none of these counts when we stand before God. We’re all guilty in His sight, and we all have the same opportunity to have our sins forgiven and become right with Him. The poor are not excluded because of what they lack, and the rich cannot buy His blessings with their many resources.

God offers you total freedom, forgiveness, healing, and the opportunity to have an intimate, personal relationship with Him.

Humble yourself before the Lord today. Ask Him to cleanse you and set you free!

Tested, Tried and Approved

Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him. Psalm 105:19 KJV

God is a God of purpose and timing. Whatever He plans to do has a purpose and a set time to be fulfilled. Though God may speak a word or make a promise to us, there is a set time for that word, that promise to be fulfilled.

When God gives us a word, a promise, it can take years before it is fulfilled. One thing is certain and that is, the word, the promise will surely come to pass. God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Numbers 23:19 NLT

It is very important to have faith and to believe that what God said, He will do. There will be days when you will be tempted to doubt God. Situations will arise that will challenge the word, the promise you received. You may find yourself questioning God, especially when things seem to be going the opposite direction. Joseph dreamt of his family bowing down to him, but after he had those dreams, things went the opposite direction. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers; sold into slavery; falsely accused of rape and forgotten in prison. I am sure Joseph was confused and questioned if what he dreamt would come to pass.

Abraham and Sarah were promised a son. However, years passed and as they got older, Sarah thought God must have forgotten and she tempted to help God fulfil the promise. That only brought about more heartache. When God gives us a word, a promise, we will be tempted to help God fulfil it, but that would only lead to frustration. While Sarah thought on helping God, Abraham did not waiver. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith – Romans 4:3 NLT.

As we grow in our knowledge of who God is, His character, our faith in Him increases. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him – Hebrews 11:6 NLT. We see in the end, everything God spoke, the promise that God made to Joseph, to Abraham was fulfilled. Don’t doubt, do not quit! God’s word, the promise He made to you will surely come to pass.