ll Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity—of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear—but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well balanced mind and discipline and self control.” (Amplified)

As we have observed before, each attribute mentioned in this verse builds upon the previous one: power allows us full access in opening the gift in its entirety; perfect love in all its brilliance is generated because of that power while at the same time it enables the power to be used in its purity; calm comes about as a result of love; and now today we come to the topic of a well balanced mind which is fostered by calmness.

Whoa now that is a rather tall order—to maintain a well balanced mind.  It seems like our entire being is so frequently buffeted by upheavals, agitation, alarm, and uncertainties, that it is a struggle to just maintain any mental balance much less being well balanced.  But we know it is more than possible because remember—this is a part of the gift God has given us.  So the ability to maintain that balance is ours to grasp.  

I love to cook and entertain and I discovered years ago that a major key to success was preparation: determining a menu so I knew the dishes I was going to serve; based on that menu I then determined what ingredients to purchase at the store; establishing the length of time each dish would take to prepare so it all came out at the same time;  making sure that time consuming elements such as cutting, chopping, sauces, etc., were completed in advance.   

In the same way being endowed with power, love, and calm is the preparation demanded in order to achieve a well balanced mind.  Now that we have properly prepared the terrain of our psyche for the end result, just what does it mean to have a well balanced mind?  

The dictionary defines well balanced as nicely or evenly balanced, arranged, or regulated, emotionally or psychologically untroubled.  Let us take a few moments to examine three of these adjectives more closely: evenly balanced, arranged, emotionally untroubled.  

Evenly balanced conjures up in my mind a gymnast on a balance beam.   The balance beam is often regarded as the most difficult event in women’s gymnastics. At only four inches wide and four feet off the ground, there’s barely enough space for a person’s foot to fit on the beam let alone enough room to flip and dance.  Talk about needing to be evenly balanced!!!!  How applicable to the state of our minds.  We need to be on guard that we do not allow external circumstances to disrupt this delicate balance.  Paul tells us in I Corinthians 2:16 (AMP), “…we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].”   And then Peter reminds us to  “…Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind).  I Peter 5:8 (AMPC)

The word arranged reminds me of an article I read about an older lady who had to take up residence in a rest home.  Leaving her familiar surroundings was made even more difficult because she was blind.  Upon arriving at her new location a loved one trying to make the transition a bit less stressful, explained how the furniture had been arranged.  The elderly lady’s response was, “It really does not matter how the furniture is arranged.  The important thing is how it is arranged in my mind.” Ah there it is—she knew the key to a well balanced mind.

Emotionally untroubled forms an image of one who has the capability of not allowing themselves to become ruffled, perturbed, unsettled, disquieted, nor anxious no matter how turbulent the events swirling around them—kind’ve like water sliding off a duck’s back.  James 3:18 speaks of working toward peace, concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals and ends the verse by saying,”… with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts.”  Then Paul invites us to share a little secret to obtaining that frame of mind of being emotionally untroubled.  in Ephesians 4:23 (AMP) he says, “and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude]”

In closing I leave you with this beautiful passage spoken by Jesus in John 14:1 (AMPC), “Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me.”  Umm—I would say the perfect formula for a well balanced mind.

Lonetta is available to speak at any of your church or Christian gatherings.  For further information please contact her through this site or on the “Contact” form at her website: livingbeforegodsface.com

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