Teresa LeNeave

There was a time when my life was so out of balance. I spent six to eight hours a day studying the Bible. I got up around six each morning. Got my kids off to school; straightened up the house and started studying. I'd study until time to fix the evening meal, which I prepared as quickly as possible. After we ate, cleaned up the kitchen, did homework and spent a few minutes together, it was bedtime again. After putting the kids to bed, I'd go to bed ... and study or read books about learning the Bible. My bed would have two or three concordance and several other books and Bibles spread out around me as I delved into all the knowledge I could find.

The reason I am telling you this is because my life was terribly out-of-balance.

The Bible says, "Let your moderation be known to all men" (Philippians 4: 5). I was not doing that. You've often heard the cliche, "too heavenly minded to be any earthly good". Well, I was good for neither heavenly, nor earthly, good because I was tired all the time. I got where I was snappy with my children. I didn't "have time" to get them a glass of milk or watch them ride their bike. God forbid if I watched television with them. I "didn't have time".

One day I suddenly realized I was wrong. I was not honoring my children or my husband. Thank God for His mercy and kindness in showing me how to learn moderation.

I've learned, people have a tendency to sit heavily on one side or the other of the scale and many of us need more balance in our lives. Some give ALL our time to God, church, and church friends or we give ALL our time to sports, TV, golf, hobbies and work. The truth is we must find a balance between all those things.

I still have to guard myself to make sure I don't get out-of-balance. I have a tendency to pour all of myself into anything I do. It's very easy to spend too much time doing one thing at the expense of family, or God.

I believe the devil gets much of his ammo from our imbalance and decisions. It had to become my decision to find balance ... and keep balance ... in my own life. It will be yours also. Only you have the power to keep your life balanced.

Don't think you have to spend eight to ten hours a day studying the Word of God to be a Christian. Or, that you can never miss a church service. Or, that you are in danger of hell if you fail and make a mistake. None of that is true ... at the same time, there is truth in all those things.

Find a balance in your study, prayer, fellowship, work, sports, reading, tennis, golf, craft-making ... whatever it is you are drawn so heavily to. Practice balance in all you do. When we get in the ditch on either side, we lose our effectiveness. "Seek first," Jesus said, "the Kingdom of God and His righteousness ... and all these things (things you need) will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).If you have a problem with "balance" as I did, remember seeking Him first, doesn't meanneglecting other good things God has placed in your lives.