I thought that the post below by Bob Roberts was right on the nose. He has some awesome encouragement at the end for practically how we live this out . . . And I so agree with his main point that living in the Kingdom is NOT about balance!
We always talked about living a 'balanced life' but living for God is really about being off balance! It's about depending on God to such a degree that we are out of control! It's about being filled with the Holy Spirit in such a way that we live not normally but ABNORMALLY! I would go so far as to say that if you are living a normal, balanced life then you are probably NOT living for the Kingdom!
So read on and be challenged . . .
The Myth of Balance
Moses did what he did because he was balanced and he balanced everything before taking a single step. True or False
Paul was the most balanced man in the New Testament since he was such an incredible theologian. True or False
Hosea was the most balanced prophet in the Old Testament that’s why he married a prostitute. True or False
The reason God made the covenant with Abraham at 75 and then gave him a son at 100 is everything had to be balanced first. True or false
Effectiveness in the Kingdom of God does not come from balance but from obedience. And in each of the above narratives there was a sense of extreme behavior that did not match the moment in human terms.
The greatest stories of the Bible were about people living on the edge of something that humanly was so impossible people often wouldn’t take them seriously.
Some of the men used by God were impulsive, had tempers, even failed morally, but there was a sense of their ability to read moments and hear God’s voice and they would act and incredible things would happen for them and those to follow them.
I’m not saying we should ignore things. You should be a great Dad and Mom and spouse and worker and all of that . . . . You live your life in such a way that you are always growing . . . . But you don’t limit your life by your “strategic plan”. I do one every year, but I’m ready for whatever God wants to do. I start each day in prayer and Bible reflection. When I finish, I generally pray something like, “Father, help me recognize people, circumstances and events that you put in my way to accomplish your will today. Your life is more than a plan; it’s an adventure, a journey, a response to God at work all around you.
Soooooo, how do you recognize God in your daily life when he comes crashing in from a distraction?
1. Start your day in prayer and worship with God. I open my heart, mind, hands, feet - whatever to glorify God in all that I do. I pray over the things I have to do in the day and commit them to God. I look at what’s going on and ask what will give the greatest impact for the kingdom.
2. I ask God to give me eyes and ears to see and hear him and even ask him for God invading distractions.
3. When a distraction comes in my mind, I pray something like this, “Holy Spirit confirm or deny in my heart if this is from you.” I then will get a sense of that pretty quickly.
4. Will this take a few moments, a few hours, a year or years?
5. Who will this impact and how?
6. I look for confirmation outside of me - be it a verse, a word someone gives me, or some event that speaks clarity. Don’t laugh, but during one such distraction I was praying hard about what I should do as I was working out at the gym, and as the TV was going - God made it clear in a commercial I was watching!
7. Is this God’s agenda, or is this someone else’s agenda for me? This was hard to learn and still is sometimes because people want you for their stuff. It has to be God’s stuff.
8. I usually get a sense of peace while I’m walking through the process - if I don’t have peace - I know it isn’t right. When I start walking through something, if I sense its God but don’t have peace I will pray and exorcise spiritual warfare - if I still don’t have peace - I don’t do it.
9. I don’t expect everyone to be excited about it. As a matter of fact, the most powerful things God will say to you - especially about leadership - you may have very little support on - at first. Leadership is hearing God, moving in his direction, regardless of the consequences - yet being wise as you move your feet.
10. Finally, I ask how God would be glorified in this. I don’t have to answer that question completely - because it may take time to see that - but can I see it somewhat?
Don’t be afraid to live on the edge. However, without the ropes of prayer, the Word of God, the Holy Spirit in your life, spiritual warfare, and even a wise counselor you will never be able to recognize those divine interruptions and imbalances that could forever define your life, your story, and your ministry.
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