THE SECRET OF ACHIEVING A WORK - LIFE BALANCE

“There is just so much to do! I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day!” Are you familiar with that statement? I’ve heard people make that complaint several times. Unfortunately, a 24 hour day is what we’ve all got, and we can’t change it. To be always stressed out for lack of time is a symptom of a work – life imbalance. It is unhealthy for anyone to live in such state. The good news is that something can be done about it.

Some of the causes of a work – life imbalance, are lack of set goals and absence of planning. Some people have goals and plans but have their priorities out of order. In some cases the root of the problem is the fear of man. People take on responsibilities they ordinarily wouldn’t take on because they are too scared to say NO when asked, while some are too proud to admit they are overloaded. Whatever the case may be a work - life imbalance if not taken care of may eventually lead to a break down in a person’s health and relationships.

I’m aware that there are some seasons of our lives that life seems to throw more than we can bear on our shoulders, but God’s promise to us is we’d never be tempted beyond what we can bear.


No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

What is the starting point of achieving work – life balance? Get your priorities right. Quality time with God should be our number one priority in life. Jesus modeled this for us throughout His earthly ministry. He started and ended His day by spending quality time with the Father. He made the Father His first and last.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35 NIV)

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:16 NIV)

It did not matter how busy Jesus’ schedule for the day was, quality time with the Father could not be compromised. If Jesus could not do without this practice, none of us can achieve a work –life balance without it. What is quality time with God? It is your time alone with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It’s time spent presenting your life afresh to God, reviewing your life in His presence, laying down your day before Him. It is also the time you spend feeding your spirit by reading the word. During this time, you want to listen twice as much as you speak, because it is what He has to say that will make your day productive and prosperous.

The bible teaches that God daily loads us with benefits.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah (Psalms 68:19 KJV)

I like to get my daily supply of grace, strength, courage, knowledge, understanding, joy and peace before I get into my day even if it means waking up very early. The problem is some people rush into their day without their essential daily supplies. To do this is to set you up for a tough day, where your 80% efforts only yield 20% result.

Jesus introduced Himself to us several times in the book of Revelation as the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. If we truly allow Him to be this in our daily lives, dedicating the first and last parts of our day to Him, there is no demon in hell, or human on earth that will be able to stop us from achieving a work – life balance. This practice strengthens our spirit man and subdues our flesh. The word becomes an integral part of our thinking and decision making, our spirits having been sharpened is more in tune with the Holy Spirit and more readily receives and downloads God’s guidance into our minds. It brings order into our inner being and God’s favor overshadows us. The result is 20% efforts produces 80% result.

This is a principle that has been tried and tested, it did not fail Jesus, and it has not failed me and all the people that I know apply this principle. Every time I stay faithful to this principle, I’ve always achieved more in my day.

If on a daily basis He is your personal Alpha and Omega, He will set you free from the fear of man and make you as bold as a lion. He will teach you to say no without feeling guilty and will also establish order in your life.

'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' (Acts 17:28 NIV)

If the Lord is your beginning, you will begin with Him each day. If He is your ending, you will end with Him each day, that way you can experience Acts 17:28 and this bible verse is the secret of achieving a work life balance. With the Lord as your First and Last, you can be rest assured, He will take care of everything in – between and work – life balance will be your testimony.

To your success!

With Love

Angela

WHAT IF A RECESSION HITS THIS NATION?

The planet earth and its inhabitants are no strangers to economic recession, depression or famine. Mankind has experienced these before and will experience it again at some point. However, the saints of God do not have to go down with the economy! In God’s economy there are no such things as recession, depression or famine.

WANT TO STAY ON TOP IN THE MIDST OF ECONOMIC CRISIS?

GET CONNECTED TO THE RIGHT SOURCE
Who is your source? If your source has been your business or job, then you have every reason to be worried. But if you choose God Almighty as your source, then you are in safe hands.

THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT GOD ALMIGHTY

• He is called El Shaddai because He is all sufficient always
• He is called Jehovah Jireh because He provides for Himself and His own
• He is called The Way Maker because He alone can make a way where there seems to be none
• He is called the God of impossibilities because He specializes in making impossible situations possible
• He is called the Unchanging Changer because He can turn any kind of situation around without being changed Himself
• He is the uncreated creator
• He never leaves Himself without a witness. If He did something once, He can do it again

I noticed that some people spend so much monthly on groceries though they have pantries full of all kinds of food. Trying to understand why this is so, I asked a friend who shops that way. Her response was she feels very insecure if her pantry is not stock up because of the economic situation. “What if there is a famine for food?” she asked, “I like to have enough to carry me for a season if we ever found ourselves in a situation like that”. I have no problems with saving up for “the rainy days” but I if things went that bad, and your confidence in what you have stored up for yourself, you may find it very difficult to survive when disaster strikes. I told my friend that my strategy for preparing for economic crisis is as follows:

• Be a good steward of God’s blessings in my life
• Aim to be at the centre of God’s will daily
• Learn to be content in whatever situation I find myself, master how to be abased and know how to abound, knowing that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me (Philippians 4:11-13)
• Give thanks in all situations

I believe the above points are our responsibilities as believers. God’s part of the deal is settled forever. He’s proved Himself again and again all through the history of mankind, that He is unquestionably faithful to His own. I believe if things went so bad and God has to rain manna down from heaven like He did for the Israelites in the wilderness, He will do it again without hesitation. This is the main reason I do not fret over what to eat or drink.

Right from the book of Genesis right through to the book of Revelation, we see several incidences of famine or economic downturn, but all through those periods God never failed to provide for those who were faithful to Him. From Abraham down to the apostle Paul, God always made a way where there seemed to be no way.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise (Isaiah 43:19-21 KJV)

He made a way for Abraham to prosper when there was an economic recession in his country (Genesis 12:10-20)

He made a way for Isaac to prosper right in the midst of economic depression (Genesis 26: 1-6, 12­­­-14)

He made a way for Jacob and his entire family when their country was plagued with famine (Genesis 45:9-11).

If you haven’t been a good steward of God’s blessings in your life, and have consequently found yourself in a bad situation, learn from it, repent seek God’s face. He will give you a strategy to come out of whatever mess you are in. This will require patience and perseverance on your part. Remember your mess did not happen overnight, so expect to go through the process of change, which always involves time. If you stay your new course, you will get to the light at the end of the tunnel.

No matter what happens in the days to come, you can count on God’s faithfulness, so stay connected to Him and like Noah and his family, He will keep you safe in the ARK OF HIS PRESENCE.

Have a great week!
With love,
Angela