Daily Delight

Balance.It is a word more or less lately that seems to define a goal of successfully maneuvering all of life’s many demands with a certain grace and poise. I see so many blog entries, self-helps and social media posts geared around this one word detailing how to have the budget balanced, meals prepped, house clean and designed, body in shape, makeup exquisitely done, hair perfectly curled, all the while documented with perfect lighting for the most insta-worthy photo.What some call balance sounds all too similarly to another word to me: stress! Toss in a 40 hour work week and the hours of sleep necessary for survival, and I find myself more frazzled in this pursuit than accomplished. Because in the midst of marking off the checklist of appearances one by one, I’m essentially saying no to the only pursuit guaranteed to give true balance: time spent with the Lord Most High.With a name so renown and reliant, I often treat Him much less than the Most High. Rather than giving Him my best and my most, I’m sadly so guilty of handing Him the weary scraps after another attempted day to live up to the so-called “balancing” cultural demands. In turn, I feel more depleted and discouraged as I see-saw through the tilted reality of peace I’ve bought into.If you’re anything like me, what you truly need isn’t a formula for multiplying your means to do it all and have it all. What you and I need is the simplicity of intimacy with the Creator of all things, void of distractions and demands. For anyone willing to level with me and admit a need for an end to competing undertakings stealing you away from fuel for your soul, commit this scripture to prayer along with me:

“Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Psalm 86:11, NIV).

For a focused heart ever guided by daily truth, I need less subscribing to the world and more abscribing to the God who calls me to rest and renew rather than perform and perfect! {photo: @joyfullychristiana}

About the Author

Bryanna Irvin

Bryanna is an infectiously extroverted 26-year-old born and raised Arkansas gal with a knack for conversation and heart chats. She is married to her college sweetheart, Blake, but falling more in love each day with her newest heartthrob: baby boy Emmett who is due this October. Her passion is for cultivating relationships new and old with hopes of sharing any inkling of the joy, peace and purpose she herself has found through her relationship with Jesus Christ. Though she’d gladly hop on the first flight to Haiti and never look back, God has so assuredly called her to use her gifts and passions to minister to young and college aged women through her position as a retail store manager.

When she isn’t working or maneuvering her social calendar, Bryanna can undoubtedly be found cuddled up in her Jonesboro home with her five, yes five, fur babies, a pepperoni pizza and “Friends” reruns on loop!