Today we are going to focus on spiritual balance … daily spiritual balance.

In Mark 12, Jesus was asked which of the ten commandments was most important. His reply surprised them:

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.””

What is the first key phrase in this passage? The action verb Jesus began with? … LOVE - Love the Lord … your God.

To find spiritual balance, we have to start with the very personal question of: How much do I love God?

How do we love God with our all our Heart, all our soul and all our mind with all of our strength? Jesus showed us a road map in this passage: it is the premise of what we do here every day.

We start with getting present with God - just me and Him - getting still.

Notice the passage starts with internal, intimate things - not intellectual things like the mind. It starts with our heart and soul. The order to this is very important

That’s why we start by paying attention to our heart - what we are feeling and bring it to Him.

Then we focus on our Soul by approaching God as a child with all our feelings, failures and desires.

Only then do we engage our mind, by taking in what God is saying.

Lastly our strength, what we do with encountering God.

These are the steps Jesus slayed out to find spiritual balance

Start, as Jesus said, with our heart -our feelings, then move to our soul - experiencing God caring for the deepest part of us, then move to feeding our minds by taking in what he is saying and then, and only then should we move forward in strength… Knowing the source.

What part of the 4 quadrants do you struggle to let be known by God? Heart, soul, mind, strength?

These are all connected. Your heart matters. Your soul matters. Your mind matters. Balance may be found in understanding and accepting that God loves all of you. He cares for all of you. He wants all of you.

Can you allow God to love you today? Can you let him know more of you this next year?

As you ruminate on those feelings, let’s take some slow deep breaths once again.

Breathe deep … just like His truth has come into your being today … then slowly exhale and let go of yesterday, the past. Move into the balance God offers you in this new day.

Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for taking all of the laws and simply telling us to love You with all we have, through a relationship with Jesus. Today, I seek Your balance. I give you my heart. My mind. My thoughts. My attitude. My spirit. My being. All that I have for all that You are. As above, so below.”

Psalm 23 is one of the most well known chapters in the Bible. We hear these words read in so many settings. But in this beautiful poetry by the shepherd-turned-king David, he speaks of God the father as his Shepherd and relates life to that of what he offers his own flock.

Listen with your heart, and hear about the life that God offers you, just as he did David …

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. (NLT)

A major part of finding balance in our spiritual lives is found in the first verse: “The Lord is my shepherd. I have all that I need.” When we can arrive at the place where He is truly all that we need to sustain our lives, when we find our dependence completely on Him, then we can find rest, our strength can be renewed, we can learn what it means to not be afraid, we can believe that His goodness and mercy is alive in our lives.

Focus on your breathing in and out, close your eyes, and listen intently to this version of Psalm 23 …

God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. (MSG)

The first version we read, the New Living, placed the text in the future, what God will do for us. The Message placed the text in the present, what He does for us. The reality is that both are true.

What else do you need besides God? Could you use some time in a lush meadow? Beside a quiet pool? Time to catch your breath so you can head in the right direction? God is ready to meet your every need.

Breathe deep … take in His truth today … then slowly exhale and let go of yesterday, the past. Move into the balance God offers you in this new day.

Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for offering all I need. Forgive me when I focus on all I want, especially those things that are outside of Your will. Lead me, Lord. I want to be able to say that, in You, I don’t need anything or anyone else. As above, so below.”

Just like the physical side of us, our spirits need a balanced diet and exercise, so to speak. That is our theme and goal.

Today, our Scripture focus will be on two of Paul’s prayers found in the book of Ephesians. Paul’s great desire and the focus of most of his teaching was to help the new churches find spiritual balance.

First, listen to Ephesians 1 …

I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Spiritual balance brings wisdom, insight, knowledge, hope, understanding, all from the same heart and hand that raised Christ from the dead. Which of those qualities do you feel you are growing in? Which do you want God to increase in you?

Now, listen to Paul’s prayer in chapter 3 …

I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Because you are in the family of God, these prayers are also for you.

Specifically, what do the words from this passage mean to you personally - From his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

Unlimited resources - absorb that fact

He will empower you with inner strength - can you claim that today

Breathe deep … take in these truths for yourself today … then slowly exhale and let go of yesterday, the past. Move into the balance God offers you in this new day.

Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You alone offer me every good thing I need in this life. Help me to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. I want to experience Your love and the fullness You offer me. As above, so below.”

Today, in this first week of the new year, we are focused on daily spiritual balance. We are seeking this together through the lens of Scripture. Focusing on passages that encourage us in growth, maturity, and depth.

Today, we will return to Ephesians once again and look at a great call to balance. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and tune in.

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Paul offered a list of contrasts for us to balance, to usher in new life and get rid of our old life. The image is much like taking off an old, dirty set of clothes and putting on a brand-new outfit. Listen to his words again in this way …

Take off lying and put on truth

Take off stealing and put on sharing

Take off discouragement and put on encouragement

Take off bitterness and put on forgiveness

Take off rage and put on kindness

Take off anger and put on compassion

Which of these have never been an issue for you? Which have been a problem in the past? And which may be a struggle today? The great news is if you are making progress, you are finding balance.

Some of these are an easy change of clothes while some may be tougher. The bottom line is Christ gives us all we need to take off the old and put on the new. But we can’t make any lasting change without Him.

Take these truths into your heart today. The exhale is our taking off and the inhale is the receiving of the new. Move into the balance God offers you in this new day.

Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, Thank You for all the things You have helped me to change, to take off. Thank You for the new that You have allowed me to experience. Help me to keeping transforming, changing into Your image. As above, so below.”

Today, in our final day of this first week of the new year, we take our last look at daily spiritual balance. The first four days were all about what is available to you in Christ and what you can experience in your own heart, mind, and spirit. But true spiritual balance will always be found ultimately when we give, when we meet the needs of others. Regardless of our spiritual maturity or growth at any time, we can reach out and help people. And nothing shows Jesus to the world like putting the focus on someone else. To love others as we love ourselves.

This week, we talked about Psalm 23 and David calling God the Good Shepherd. Today, we look at where Jesus called His followers sheep. This is one of the most intriguing passages of Scripture because the heart of God is made very clear as to what He cares about and what gets His attention.

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

To find balance in our spiritual lives, we don’t have to complicate things with religion or laws or rules or theology or any of the divisive issues that have hurt the church for thousands of years. We can simply agree that God would have us feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, help the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and help those in prison. The bottom line: see those who the world does not. Take care of those the world will not. Love those the world says are unlovable. Just like Jesus.

Giving to help others in small acts of kindness or large gifts of service or money, and everything in between, can be as easy as breathing in and breathing out. Take in God’s love and give out His love. It really is that simple.

Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me to see those You see, hear those You hear, and help those You point me toward. Keep me from religion and lead me deeper into a relationship with You. As above, so below.”

We’d all be hard-pressed to find anyone who speaks positively about 2020. Regardless of anyone’s political, social, or spiritual stances, this will go down as one of the toughest, most challenging year on record for the world.

As we consider the start of the new year, we need to see that God planned starts and stops for us. He showed us the value of a weekly end point in the creation of the Sabbath and then a fresh beginning point in the first day of a new week.

When we write to communicate, we use punctuation to show changes in our language. These tiny symbols are just as crucial as our words in how we comprehend messages. A comma produces just a slight pause for effect, while a period means a change of thought. As we walk through life, there are also commas and periods—places where God says to pause and consider, then others where He tells us to stop and change course.

One of the biggest problems we can face in life is getting stuck between the commas and periods.

Let’s define being stuck as our forward motion has ceased. Consistently remaining in the same place with no growth, no progress, and the longer we stay there, the more the realization sets in of our state of stuckness. It is also easy in our culture to think that running in place is forward motion, when in reality it is just slowly wearing us out.

Here are a few points to consider as we enter a new year regarding the state of stuckness:

1— If you have lost your hunger for growth and change, you’re stuck.

This point needs no further explanation. We get it.

2—We can’t mistake activity for productivity.

Running in place is great for fitness, but not life. When we get stuck in useless, non-productive situations, we are tempted to just increase the activity, so as to fake everyone out, including ourselves. That kind of activity slowly digs a hole into which we eventually disappear.

3—Wisdom from God is the only true catalyst to discern comfort from being stuck.

The God Who sees the future knows when it is the perfect time to move, so as to never be stuck SO ask.

4—The only way to get unstuck is to move in a new direction.

Isn’t it interesting that the human condition will cause us to sit in one spot being miserable, because the risk to move creates a more overwhelming emotion, usually fear? Feeling a growing level of misery seems to numb the courage to risk.

Here’s a great resource for challenging our stuckness. Take 30 minutes and scan through the key characters of Scripture. We will quickly see that every one of them was challenged at some point to step out and risk, often on an on-going basis, moving out to a place where God was leading.

If you are extremely comfortable with where life is, Even being comfortable with uncomfortability, watch out and pray for wisdom. It may be a habit, a routine, a job… Whatever has been comfortable day to day but it is not growth. It’s so tempting place to fall asleep at the wheel and wake up in a wreck, wondering what happened. Let’s take a moment this week to examine our hearts and motives and walk into a new year with renewed purpose.

Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You know when I am to pause and when I am to stop and start again. Guide me to know when to stay put and when to step out and risk. Following You means I move when You move. As above, so below.”

Today, we’ll begin with one of the toughest questions we can ever ask ourselves: Why? Why do I do that? Why do I say those things? Why does that tend to happen to me? Why do I always respond that way to that person? So often, we turn our “Why” questions to God. And often, in frustration. But turning the “why’s” upon ourselves, well, that can put us on the path to some real changes, if we get honest.  Because only identifying our “why’s” can change our “what’s”.

The answer to the question of “Why do I do (blank)? always being “Well, I just do” is never a good answer. To anyone, but especially to ourselves. So often, that answer is just an excuse for unacceptable behavior.

Two dynamics cause us to avoid answering the “why” questions.

The first is fear. Fear of not having a good answer. Fear of having to change. Fear of having to let go of something. Fear of not knowing how to find a new direction. Fear of the unknown. Fear of, well, fear.

The second reason we avoid the “why” questions is laziness and apathy. Fear and laziness keep us from greatness, from experiencing the real reason we are here, living right now, today, not "someday." Two things can happen when we honestly start to answer the “why” questions.

First, we open up the opportunity for change.

Second, we give God a shot at speaking to us in a new way.

So, today, I want to encourage and challenge you in a very personal way: I’m going to assume that because you are listening to this podcast right now, you are getting something out of our ministry. Well, there was a day in my life where I was consumed by the “what’s” in my life and avoiding the “why’s”. I was tired. Defeated. Hurt. Full of fear for the future. And, yes, I had plenty of days where apathy ruled.

But when I got up the courage to start asking myself “why” that’s the day God began to put me on the path toward hope and healing. And then as God began to shine a light on my path, the bigger questions led me to begin this ministry.

I want you to know that I’m not special. I don’t have some in-road to God more than you do. With that in mind, what might He want to do with you in in this new year that would be your calling, your way of reaching people just like today I have reached you. It begins with deciding to ask the tough question of “Why?” This week, as we walk through some honest evaluation, let’s apply just one simple question to every aspect of our lives: Why? It just might lead to the most powerful answers you have ever experienced.

Let’s close today from an amazing passage that U2 made popular with their song 40 from The Message Bible.

I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.

Let’s pray: “Father, today, I give you my fears. I give you my tendency toward laziness and apathy. I hand over all my “why’s”. Speak to me this week as I prepare for a new year. I want to follow exactly where You want me to go. As above, so below.”

Have you ever dumped everything out of your purse onto the table and gone through all the contents you collected in there? Or your wallet that became so fat, you’re lopsided when you sit down? Maybe for you, it would be a backpack or briefcase where you collect remnants of your life? When we dump everything out to clean up and organize, what do we have to do?

Well, first, we have to empty it all out, every pocket, every compartment onto a table or on the floor so we can see what’s there. Nothing can stay in there.

There is a more compressive list of questions designed for reordering the mess in our show notes, so check that out for a deeper dive. But for our purpose during this time of reflections I want to focus on just a few questions for you to reflect for a few minutes.

We have to go through all the contents of our life - relationships, habits, coping mechanisms, expectations, feelings and ask:

If that’s how we clean out, organize, and maximize your purse/bag/wallet/backpack/briefcase, then this is actually a really good exercise to apply to all the areas and aspects of our lives.

What if you went through every area of your life and wrote down a personal inventory of:

What if you carved out an hour this week and dumped your life out on the table, so to speak? Take a look at the four points I just read? And then allow your mind and heart to get honest about where you are.

The start of a new year can be the best time to lay everything on the table and ask God three questions:

None of the questions or evaluations we are offering you this week are intended for you to criticize yourself. The only goal is to be honest about what needs to change. If we never take the time for personal evaluation then we fulfill the prophecy of “Nothing changes if nothing changes.”

At Solo Parents Society, we want to constantly create different ways to communicate to you, “You are worth every effort. Your kids are worth every effort. You can do this. You can change anything you need to. With God’s help, anything is possible.

Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, and Luke 18:27 all record the same statement from Jesus.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

Let’s pray together: “Lord, there have been so many things I believe I can’t do. But this next year, help me claim this verse: “With You, everything is possible.” As above, so below.”

At the beginning of every New Year, we see the marketing begin for “a new you.” Diets, weight loss programs, fitness centers, fitness gear, financial programs, all the tools we might need to make positive changes come at us to buy or join up. Even Home Depot and Lowes put all their advertising dollars into pushing bins, tubs, shelves, and organizational items. And then of course there’s the new specialty calendars.

More than anyone, God knows we need opportunities for fresh starts and new beginnings. Today, I want to offer you another resource for your new year. I want to introduce and invite you to take part in a spiritual concept that could help drive real change in your life. I’ll offer you two approaches to this concept:

First, what if you looked through your Bible, went through the concordance in the back, or searched online and found a Bible verse or passage that will be your theme for 2021? A verse you will claim for your life and pray into your life all year long.

Second, you might even want to consider adopting a life verse. Find a verse or passage that becomes like a mission statement, a life filter for you that helps you make decisions, choose direction, and apply to every aspect of your life.

What if when questions or crises arise, temptations fly in your face, or offers are presented, you quoted your verse to yourself and then answered honestly how that truth affects your dilemma? You can memorize your verse, write it on a 3 X 5 card and put it on your car dash, write it in Sharpie on your bathroom mirror, or record it on a voice memo so you can play it as often as you need to hear it.

What if your life verse or your 2021verse was Micah 6:8? How might this help you navigate choices this year?

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:

What about Ephesians 4:31-32?

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (NLT)

If you want to see real change this next year, adopting a verse can create a great “litmus test” or a mission statement for your life. Pray, read, look up, and ask God to lead you to what He might want you to apply and focus on this next year. He will show You. After all, it’s His Word.

There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 MSG)

Let’s pray: “Heavenly Father, I ask You to show me a verse in Your Word that I can place into my life as my mission statement for 2021. Give me a personal word from You for my life. I know You can show me and Your Word will help me. As above, so below.”

Today is our last day of offering you some resources to evaluate and prepare for real change in the new year. For this final session, you might want to take notes on your phone or ipad, or grab a pen and piece of paper. You may also be prepared to hit the pause button a lot as you work through this or so you can write it down. If you take this resource seriously, you’ll need to commit some time to it.

As I work through the questions, I will give a few seconds of silence to allow for pausing and hitting play. Here we go …

What was your greatest accomplishment in 2020?

What were any other worthwhile accomplishments or successes from this past year?

What would be at least one lesson you learned from those successes in 2020?

What was your greatest struggle or failure this past year?

What would be at least one lesson you learned from your struggles/failures in 2020?

To whom or to what did you contribute the most value in 2020?

How or why were you able to contribute that value?

Who or what did you neglect this past year?

How can you change that in 2021?

What was the greatest truth God showed you in 2020?

What was one area or situation this year where you think you missed God?

What can you learn from that to avoid it happening again in 2021?

Thinking through your entire life, when was the highest point of your Christian life? (If this year has been your spiritual high point, write that down.)

What do you think made that season your high point?

If that point is a 10 on a scale, from 1 to 10, how would you rate 2020 for you spiritually?

What is one step you can in 2021 to get back to or surpass your greatest season of spiritual growth?

What is an old thing you need to stop in 2021?

What is one new thing you need to start in 2021?

What is one thing you would like to see God do in your life in 2021?

What is one thing you believe God would want to see you do in 2021?

That’s it. We hope and pray this tool and everything we have you given you this past week can lay a solid foundation for you to have the best year of your life, and remember Mark 10:27: “With God, all things are possible.”

At Solo Parents Society, we borrow Paul’s words from Ephesians 3 as our prayer for you in 2021:

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

As above, so below.