It’s something that all of us women battle throughout our lives – finding balance. We juggle work, children, a husband, exercise, beauty, church, etc. It seems that we can never slow down and just be still.
I find myself just as guilty. Some days, it seems like all I can do is just try to keep the kids from clobbering each other while dinner is burning on the stove – and did I mention that it’s Wednesday night, and I have to teach the preschoolers? Oh, and I forgot that I have an article due for work the next day. And I haven’t been to the gym yet today. And I promised Hannah her room would get painted.
Sigh! Wouldn’t it be so nice to have more hours in the day? Although, I’m not sure that I would get any more accomplished; in fact, I would probably just be more exhausted!
We all have our own juggling act going on. My concern is that I am beginning to see more juggling of getting ourselves in shape, engaging our children in every activity provided by the community, and relaxing in front of the television at night, instead of encouraging one another to spend time in God’s Word, meeting together to pray for each other, and spending time in family devotions.
Where are our priorities?
“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God;'” – Ps. 46:10a
How can we possibly know that He is God when we aren’t willing to be still? Some people say that they spend time with God when they are running. But the Bible says, “Be still.”
Some people say that they talk to God while they are washing the dishes. But the Bible says, “Be still.”
Some people insist that they have quiet time while driving in their car to pick up their kids from whatever practice they had that evening. But the Bible says, “Be still.”
I am not saying that we can’t talk to God at those times. But our focus seems to be pulling away from spending time together in God’s Word, focusing solely on Him! We aren’t taking the time to actually “be still.“
Why do we feel like we have to multitask our time with God just like we multitask everything else? Why are we willing to encourage each other to lose weight, get in shape, run a 5K, but we don’t ask each other about our spiritual exercise?
“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” – I Tim. 4:8.
Our physical well-being is important, of course. I hope to be thinner and in better shape. I don’t think you could find many women who are not concerned about their outward appearance. But I’m more concerned about my spiritual well-being and the spiritual well-being of my family and friends.
And what about our children? What message are we sending to them when we are willing to forgo time with God or assembling with other believers in order to get to our gym class or head to the beauty salon or go to the mall? What are we telling them is important when we sign them up for a soccer team that meets during church?
I’m not saying that we should stop participating in these activities. But I do think that we need to take a step back and re-evaluate our priorities. As I begin to plan our school year, I am in the midst of doing that myself. I have had to say “no” to some activities in order to keep our focus on God and school and to make time for our family.
As I have been de-cluttering our schedule, I have just been trying to rearrange our priorities, so we are focused on God first and foremost. And that made me think that there were probably other women out there who were struggling with balance the same way that I am. It’s hard to give up those things that the world says I “deserve.” But my spiritual body is more important than my physical one.
So are you up for the challenge? Are you ready to get into a spiritual workout? Are you ready to encourage those you know to lose their pounds of sin and get a new body in Christ? I hope I am!
As we gear up for a new school year, now is the time to reexamine our goals and to renew our focus on the things of God.
katiecruicesmith.com 