Reasonable for Him and ourselves.

[CharliRenee]

Is this your experience?

When I spend too much time watching tv, writing, playing online, being idle, or the opposite being too busy, I find that my mindset starts running a muck. I have found that one of the sweetest things about a relationship with our Lord is that He helps us find balance. Whenever I start feeling too confident, I feel He finds a way to humble me. If I am too hard on myself, He also helps me find victory in Him. If I am taking poor care of myself, He signals change is needed. In so many ways, I think He gives us tools to keep ourselves in chk.

We see so much in the word about balance, being reasonable in all that we do; my understanding is such that in doing so we are obeying Him, being in control of self, which requires keeping our minds and bodies, balanced, right?

Don't get me wrong.. it seems daily, I am out of balance one way or another. It seems that when I am most balanced, I have to be so mindful and it isn't easy. I guess this is where He comes in. After all, with Him, all things are possible.

How do you keep yourself in balance? Do you think it is an important part of walking a Christian Life? Do you think it grieves the spirit when we are out of balance? Do you think doing anything in excess is a sin of idolatry?

 

[theanointedwinner]

One's focus or attention can easily feel disoriented due to multitasking

 

[zeroturbulence]

The chinese philosophy of the Tao also believes that having balance in life is important. That's where the yin and yang symbol comes from.

 

[Lynx]

Well it ain't Bible, but the Greek poet Hesiod had it right: "Moderation in all things is the best policy."

Of course they didn't know about chocolate when he wrote that...

Of course you should even use moderation in using moderation. Don't be afraid to be extreme if the time and situation is right. I bought 18 jars of peanut butter when the sale price was good enough. Just don't be extreme for too long.

 

[Krumbeard]

Well it ain't Bible, but the Greek poet Hesiod had it right: "Moderation in all things is the best policy."

Of course they didn't know about chocolate when he wrote that...

Of course you should even use moderation in using moderation. Don't be afraid to be extreme if the time and situation is right. I bought 18 jars of peanut butter when the sale price was good enough. Just don't be extreme for too long.

Lynx, man this made me laugh! I like peanut butter also and will buy a couple of jars at one time once in a while but 18...

It must have been a great deal. Were these the big jars or just the normal small ones?

 

[Lynx]

Lynx, man this made me laugh! I like peanut butter also and will buy a couple of jars at one time once in a while but 18...

It must have been a great deal. Were these the big jars or just the normal small ones?

That depends on your definition of "normal" and "small." They were about a pound each.

For quite some time I did experiments. I found if you dump a lot of corn syrup into a jar of peanut butter it thickens and becomes kind of an ersatz peanut butter fudge? I also found if you add ANYTHING to peanut butter it thickens. I went through three jars of peanut butter fudge. It's delicious on my homemade sourdough bread. I also mixed a jar of peanut butter with a jar of fig preserves. Saved a lot of time in the long run, not having to get two jars out of the fridge every time I wanted a bite to eat.

 

[Krumbeard]

That depends on your definition of "normal" and "small." They were about a pound each.

For quite some time I did experiments. I found if you dump a lot of corn syrup into a jar of peanut butter it thickens and becomes kind of an ersatz peanut butter fudge? I also found if you add ANYTHING to peanut butter it thickens. I went through three jars of peanut butter fudge. It's delicious on my homemade sourdough bread. I also mixed a jar of peanut butter with a jar of fig preserves. Saved a lot of time in the long run, not having to get two jars out of the fridge every time I wanted a bite to eat.

Again, laughing!

What is the weirdest thing you've added to or had peanut butter with? Corn syrup seems a little odd to me but that's not a good measure of anything.

And the sourdough bread...you mentioned in another thread I could give you my address and you would send me some. It's tempting!
Hmmm...1035 Gree….Nah I better not!

Umm...CharlieRenee...Ahem back to YOUR thread.
Sorry!

Yes, moderation is good.

I find in my life that as I work at a particular sin in my life and spend a lot of energy and time on that area I avoid other areas and may have a short lived victory here and have a defeat in some other area(s).

Makes me think about a book I had to read in school, like a thousand years ago, "The Shining Sword". I forget who wrote it and not even sure if it's in print anymore. I liked it.

 

[CharliRenee]

You guys are funny. Yummy chocolate and peanut butter, and icecream and...but...

Don't you think self control, sober, reasonable, stable and moderate are all words used in the bible describe balance?

I know about the eastern new age yin yang, but I wasn't thinking along those lines, just believe He made us with balance, (not thinking eastern here).

Thanks though for your feedback and the giggles. We always need more of that.

 

[Dino246]

The need for balance is built in to our physical bodies. We eat, and then stop eating while our food digests. We are awake, and then we sleep. We work, and we enjoy a day of rest.

The key to biblically sound balance is not equality, but proper place given to what is needed. I don't sleep twelve hours a day or take 3-1/2 day weekends every week (thought I might like to). Even with reading Scripture, I find that regular smaller doses are more effective in bringing about understanding and life change than infrequent "binges".

There are, of course, many things that don't need to be part of one's overall life balance: willful sins, poisons, self-harm, foolish risk-taking, and the like. There are many recognized disorders that illustrate imbalance in one's life: bipolar, OCD, alcoholism and addictions of most types, anorexia, etc.

God made us as unique individuals, so we need to be careful not to impose "our" version of balance on others. Better that we each seek to learn how He made "me" and, in each area, find the balance that is right for "me"... within the bounds of wisdom.

 

[CharliRenee]

Very good point. I agree, def would not want to impose set ideas. I mean it varies, even in the individual from season to season, day to day. I suppose talking about our bodies, chemistry, design, and natures as opposed to the HS are very different. I guess that I wonder if it is, because doesn't the spirit help us find balance or is that too eastern? I guess that if the bible isn't clear then speculating is NEVER good, especially when drawing conclusions. When I put in verses that address balance, none that I found were specifically addressing that, except self control or reasonable but that doesn't again say balance. Oh well, i'll ponder less and move forward. He gave us a sound mind, I'll pray about it. I do know my analytical mind needs balancing. Help, lol.

 

[love_comes_softly]

Is this your experience?

I have found that one of the sweetest things about a relationship with our Lord is that He helps us find balance.

How do you keep yourself in balance? Do you think it is an important part of walking a Christian Life? Do you think it grieves the spirit when we are out of balance? Do you think doing anything in excess is a sin of idolatry?

I agree with you. Balance is very important in our lives and I think the Lord helps us with that. He gave us the Holy Spirit as our helper and I find that when I'm focused on the Lord and the life style he has directed me to, things are smoother, more balanced naturally, and peaceful. When I get off track, not only does it stress me out, my schedule/priorities get all messed up and I'd say things are not at all balanced.

I think it's VERY important as a believer, to live and walk a life pleasing to the Lord, which would mean putting the Lord first. In doing that and spending time in His word, I think that's what makes our life balanced.

So I think it does grieves the spirit when we fall out of balance because that mostly likely means that our priorities are different and we're pulling away from God unintentionally.

 

[CharliRenee]

I agree with you. Balance is very important in our lives and I think the Lord helps us with that. He gave us the Holy Spirit as our helper and I find that when I'm focused on the Lord and the life style he has directed me to, things are smoother, more balanced naturally, and peaceful. When I get off track, not only does it stress me out, my schedule/priorities get all messed up and I'd say things are not at all balanced.

I think it's VERY important as a believer, to live and walk a life pleasing to the Lord, which would mean putting the Lord first. In doing that and spending time in His word, I think that's what makes our life balanced.

So I think it does grieves the spirit when we fall out of balance because that mostly likely means that our priorities are different and we're pulling away from God unintentionally.

See that makes such good sense to me, but that is because we are so on the same page. In my humble opinion, your response was BAM!!!

 

[theanointedwinner]

Keep focus on Jesus, and rely on God to help us focus on Jesus

Q: how to apply this?

 

[AuntieAnt]

Titus 1:15 - To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are corrupted and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they’ll see God.

As for sin, if your life is in Christ, He has made you holy in Him. Your flesh self is crucified with Him, so the outward man is not your reality anymore. Christ in us is our reality. He is holy in us, His vessels. We're bought with His Blood.

Yes, allowing our minds to be continually fed by carnal things wars against the liberty we have in Christ Jesus. We have a free will only when we are walking in the spirit. You have no free will if you are a prisoner to the flesh. That's bondage, not freedom.

All things in moderation, don’t be brought under bondage to anything. If the Spirit of God in you is alerting you that you’re being habitually drawn to a thing, take heed and quickly get away from it. Practice actively listening to the Voice of God in you and follow His instructions. He will keep you from falling.

The key is listening to Him, believing Him, obeying Him immediately when God tells us something. When we lean on our own understanding, or hesitate and try to figure things out on our own, we wind up perplexed, discouraged, and doubting. Trust in the Voice of God with all your heart. When our eyes are continually on Him, all things are pure and good.

 

[CharliRenee]

Keep focus on Jesus, and rely on God to help us focus on Jesus

Q: how to apply this?

For me, with prayer and supplication, the word, with thinking on Him, looking for Him and giving Him praise and thanksgiving. Do I always, no? But with His help, He leads me back to Him. How do you focus on Him? I love Phil 4:4-9.

 

[CharliRenee]

Titus 1:15 - To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are corrupted and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they’ll see God.

As for sin, if your life is in Christ, He has made you holy in Him. Your flesh self is crucified with Him, so the outward man is not your reality anymore. Christ in us is our reality. He is holy in us, His vessels. We're bought with His Blood.

Yes, allowing our minds to be continually fed by carnal things wars against the liberty we have in Christ Jesus. We have a free will only when we are walking in the spirit. You have no free will if you are a prisoner to the flesh. That's bondage, not freedom.

All things in moderation, don’t be brought under bondage to anything. If the Spirit of God in you is alerting you that you’re being habitually drawn to a thing, take heed and quickly get away from it. Practice actively listening to the Voice of God in you and follow His instructions. He will keep you from falling.

The key is listening to Him, believing Him, obeying Him immediately when God tells us something. When we lean on our own understanding, or hesitate and try to figure things out on our own, we wind up perplexed, discouraged, and doubting. Trust in the Voice of God with all your heart. When our eyes are continually on Him, all things are pure and good.

Auntie, love @When our eyes are continually on Him, all things are pure and good. How hopeful and shines His Truth and Glory.

 

[theanointedwinner]

I have a question for @AuntieAnt

What does it mean to pray without ceasing?

 

[AuntieAnt]

I have a question for @AuntieAnt

What does it mean to pray without ceasing?

Well, Jesus came into this world to bring us into the kingdom of God to be one with Him and commune with Him. The Sovereign Ruling of GOD produces a consciousness of Him within us and brings us into fellowship & union with Him. We're no longer of this temporary world, we are of God. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit; He leads us into all truth. That is what we manifest and bear testimony to. Although we we still get tripped up in error and experience problems, we know we’ve been delivered from the system of the world, the kingdom of darkness. We are under the rule of God's Son, Jesus Christ. We are forever in communing with God, we operate in a kingdom not of this world. We in effect pray without ceasing as we are in continuous fellowship and communion with God. He knows what we have need of before we ask. We can trust Him every moment for every need.

Praying without ceasing is always being in communion with God, which we are because of Christ.

 

[Deade]

Well, Jesus came into this world to bring us into the kingdom of God to be one with Him and commune with Him. The Sovereign Ruling of GOD produces a consciousness of Him within us and brings us into fellowship & union with Him. We're no longer of this temporary world, we are of God. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit; He leads us into all truth. That is what we manifest and bear testimony to. Although we we still get tripped up in error and experience problems, we know we’ve been delivered from the system of the world, the kingdom of darkness. We are under the rule of God's Son, Jesus Christ. We are forever in communing with God, we operate in a kingdom not of this world. We in effect pray without ceasing as we are in continuous fellowship and communion with God. He knows what we have need of before we ask. We can trust Him every moment for every need.

Praying without ceasing is always being in communion with God, which we are because of Christ.

Yes, we tend to formalize our prayer life. But we shouldn't really. As we walk through the day we can talk with the Lord on what He thinks about every situation. He will commune with us. Sometimes when we have choices that are spiritual rather than worldly, we do the spiritual and tell the Lord that was just for Him. The small things and our praises are the only things we can offer the Lord. If we are following the Spirit, our works will already be ordered. Also, our needs will already we met. Everything that approaches us, The Lord knows it is there and has allowed it. Praise Him for giving us directions on how to handle them.

Jesus often spoils me with the desires of my heart. The problem is, those desires are in this world and they have become meaningless. In retrospect, I have been given things that I desired while still worldly and when the Lord finally gives me those things, I chuckle because they have lost their importance. Our Lord surely works in mysterious ways.

 

[CharliRenee]

Again, laughing!

What is the weirdest thing you've added to or had peanut butter with? Corn syrup seems a little odd to me but that's not a good measure of anything.

And the sourdough bread...you mentioned in another thread I could give you my address and you would send me some. It's tempting!
Hmmm...1035 Gree….Nah I better not!

Umm...CharlieRenee...Ahem back to YOUR thread.
Sorry!

Yes, moderation is good.

I find in my life that as I work at a particular sin in my life and spend a lot of energy and time on that area I avoid other areas and may have a short lived victory here and have a defeat in some other area(s).

Makes me think about a book I had to read in school, like a thousand years ago, "The Shining Sword". I forget who wrote it and not even sure if it's in print anymore. I liked it.

I think that I will look up that book, thank you.