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Is it possible to live biblically balanced lives? I can tell you that it is possible, but it is not easy.
Pleasing God or Pleasing People?
If you’re ever going to get the right balance in your life—God’s balance—you’re going to have to care more about pleasing God than you do about pleasing people. You’ve got to want God’s approval more than you want the approval of people. You may find that hard to do, because our natural bent is to want the approval and acceptance of people. And we can become absolutely enslaved by a desire to receive the approval of people.
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
This is a good verse to pray into your life. Ask God to develop you into the woman or man who cares more about pleasing God than pleasing people.
Making Deposits
Living balanced lives has to become intentional. So, to help you do this, I want you to think of yourself as a bank account, where deposits and withdrawals are made. Here are two very important deposits that you must intentionally put into your “bank accounts” if you ever hope to live biblically balanced lives:
Deposit the Word of God
Psalm 119:28: “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.”
I hope you are involved in some kind of Bible study program all the time. You need in-depth study of God’s Word, and you need structured reading of the Bible. His Word strengthens us. I think of a couple who lost six children in one horrible automobile accident in 1993. Janet, their mother, shared with us that the Word of God was her constant source of strength to get her through those horrible days, and even yet, through the sorrow of losing her children. When you consistently deposit God’s Word into your mind, you are adding great strength and stamina to your life. It will get you through tough days.
Deposit the Joy of the Lord
Nehemiah 8:10b: “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
How do you keep joy in your life? First, you control your thinking. Negative thoughts, critical thoughts, judgmental thoughts, complaining thoughts—these will all rob you of joy. Secondly, you confess your sins immediately and keep a clean slate with the Lord.