I’ve been feeling low energy and sick this week. Trying a simplified format today:

Five Things God Desires Us To Be Balanced In:

1. Study the Word AND Seek the Author

Study the Word:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
— 2 Timothy 3:16

Seek the Author:
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!”
— John 5:39

2. Plan for Tomorrow AND Focus on Today

Plan for Tomorrow:
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
— Proverbs 21:5

Focus on Today:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
— Matthew 6:34

3. Enjoy Self-Care AND Embrace Self-Sacrifice

Self-Care:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…? Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Self-Sacrifice:
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”
— Matthew 16:24

4. Be Confident AND Stay Humble

Be Confident:
“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’”
— Hebrews 13:6

Stay Humble:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
— James 4:6

5. Desire Good Things AND Be Content in All Things

Desire Good Things:
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
— Psalm 37:4

Be Content in All Things:
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
— Philippians 4:12-13

~~~~~

Balanced By His Design”
by J.A. Kane

God never asked us to live lopsided—
to chase one virtue
and abandon its companion.

He teaches us
to study the Word
with diligence,
and also
to seek the Author
with longing eyes
and a listening heart.

To plan for tomorrow—
yes, with wisdom—
but not at the cost
of missing the mercies
that rise with the morning.

To enjoy the healing
of quiet rest,
warm tea,
a moment alone,
yet to pour ourselves out
in love,
in service,
in sacrifice that sings.

He shapes us
to stand tall
in holy confidence,
knowing Whose we are,
but never forgetting
we are dust
and He is God.

He stirs in us
desire for good things—
beauty, joy,
growth,
yet teaches us
to sit peacefully
in the waiting,
to find contentment
even in the in-between.

This is not a life of extremes,
but of fullness—
each truth balancing the other
like wings on a bird,
like day and night
in their appointed time.

By His design,
we live steady,
rooted,
whole.

~~~~~

In seasons when energy runs low and the days feel heavy, God gently reminds us that balance isn’t a burden—it’s a gift. His Word invites us into a rhythm that reflects His heart: not frantic striving or passive waiting, but steady trust. Just as Jesus held space for both prayer and action, rest and purpose, so we are called to live whole—not torn between extremes but anchored in Him.

These five pairs of spiritual principles reflect a life lived with God, not merely for Him. They are not checkboxes to complete, but invitations into relationship. When we’re overwhelmed, it’s not more effort we need—it’s more of Jesus. In Him, we find the strength to plan without anxiety, to rest without guilt, to desire without grasping, and to walk confidently while remaining humble.

Let today be a reminder: we are not called to balance on our own. We are balanced by His design.

~~~~~

Father, You are the author of balance and the giver of peace. Thank You for calling me into a life that reflects Your wholeness—not extremes, but steady, grace-filled rhythms. When I’m weary, center me in Your truth. When I’m restless, remind me to be still. Teach me to walk in wisdom and wonder, to be both diligent and dependent, confident and humble. May my life bear the beauty of Your design—balanced, rooted, and full of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

June 11 2025