Proverbs 19:21 reads ~ "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
I've been at this homeschooling/mothering thing for a while now. I've also been in the role of a wife for a while. And I consider the way I fulfill those roles in my day-to-day to be a direct reflection of my relationship with the Lord. And because I am a human being living in a fallen world, my personal strengths and weaknesses at times collide with my desire to honor God as a wife, mom, homeschooler.
So what's a type-A, strong-willed, Irish girl to do???
Learn how to balance, that's what I must do. And the older I get, the better I become at this delicate balancing act. The verse I opened this post with mentions man's plans versus the Lord's purposes. That verse holds the key to my ability to maintain my balance in life.
I certainly want to fulfill the Lord's purposes for my life; I want to do His will, and do it His way. But my type-A tendencies push me to plan-plan-plan...and sometimes over plan. Have a contingency plan - and a contingency for the contingency. Maybe even anther back-up plan in case something goes awry. On the outside, this looks pretty good. To the world at large, and even within the church, someone who is "squared away" is very appealing. And in the world of homeschooling, I must admit, it feels nice to have my ducks in a row.
But there is a dark side. Since when did having it all together become the end goal? Who said my way of doing things is best, anyway? And where is my deep need for God in all areas of my life if so many of those areas are planned out to the nth degree?? Why should I be appealing to the world for affirmation? When did the church decide that the way I "get things done" is an indicator of my spiritual temperature?
Herein lies the dilemma - finding a continual balance between allowing the Lord's will to be done in every aspect of my life, every single day, in every single arena & not allowing myself to become lazy or slothful about my God given responsibilities. But praise the Lord, finding and maintaining that balance have become a lot less difficult for me since I have come to one very important conclusion.
The balancing itself is the blessing, because it keeps me close to the Lord in a continual state of dependence.
Next time you find yourself fighting against the constant need to strike a balance between allowing the Lord to work out His will in your life and writing the script for yourself, remember that the act of balancing is the real gift. He gives the gift, the struggle of making plans but yielding them to Him, as a means to be in constant close contact with Him.
Be blessed as you learn to enjoy the process of keeping your balance!
Day 210 done :)
Jan L. Burt
www.ALLTHINGSHOMESCHOOL.weebly.com
www.SavanasClayCreations.com
I've been at this homeschooling/mothering thing for a while now. I've also been in the role of a wife for a while. And I consider the way I fulfill those roles in my day-to-day to be a direct reflection of my relationship with the Lord. And because I am a human being living in a fallen world, my personal strengths and weaknesses at times collide with my desire to honor God as a wife, mom, homeschooler.
So what's a type-A, strong-willed, Irish girl to do???
Learn how to balance, that's what I must do. And the older I get, the better I become at this delicate balancing act. The verse I opened this post with mentions man's plans versus the Lord's purposes. That verse holds the key to my ability to maintain my balance in life.
I certainly want to fulfill the Lord's purposes for my life; I want to do His will, and do it His way. But my type-A tendencies push me to plan-plan-plan...and sometimes over plan. Have a contingency plan - and a contingency for the contingency. Maybe even anther back-up plan in case something goes awry. On the outside, this looks pretty good. To the world at large, and even within the church, someone who is "squared away" is very appealing. And in the world of homeschooling, I must admit, it feels nice to have my ducks in a row.
But there is a dark side. Since when did having it all together become the end goal? Who said my way of doing things is best, anyway? And where is my deep need for God in all areas of my life if so many of those areas are planned out to the nth degree?? Why should I be appealing to the world for affirmation? When did the church decide that the way I "get things done" is an indicator of my spiritual temperature?
Herein lies the dilemma - finding a continual balance between allowing the Lord's will to be done in every aspect of my life, every single day, in every single arena & not allowing myself to become lazy or slothful about my God given responsibilities. But praise the Lord, finding and maintaining that balance have become a lot less difficult for me since I have come to one very important conclusion.
The balancing itself is the blessing, because it keeps me close to the Lord in a continual state of dependence.
Next time you find yourself fighting against the constant need to strike a balance between allowing the Lord to work out His will in your life and writing the script for yourself, remember that the act of balancing is the real gift. He gives the gift, the struggle of making plans but yielding them to Him, as a means to be in constant close contact with Him.
Be blessed as you learn to enjoy the process of keeping your balance!
Day 210 done :)
Jan L. Burt
www.ALLTHINGSHOMESCHOOL.weebly.com
www.SavanasClayCreations.com
Thank yoj - that was very encouraging!
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