Restoring The Balance Volume II- The Spiritual Ironman® Blog

To be balanced is to have an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady. Without balance, it is impossible to stay steady, and as men, our goal in life should be to remain upright and steady in all aspects of our behavior. I want to deal with two critical areas in the lives of men that are significantly out of balance. Those areas are commitment and passion.

First, we need to restore the balance in the area of our commitment. Before I proceed, let's define commitment.  Simply said commitment is a promise to do or give something.  It is a promise to be loyal to someone or something, and it is the attitude of someone who works very hard to do or support something. Based on the definition of the word, I can see why so many have a phobia to commit.

I came across this quote, I do not know who wrote it, but the source I got it from was iliketoquote.com: "Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you." What an insightful and profound statement.  How many times have I made commitments when I was feeling inspired and was emotionally charged only to later re-think what I committed to? When I was no longer excited or inspired by the moment, I had a different perspective.  Don't worry; it happens to the best of us.  However, a man of integrity will keep that commitment regardless of his mood, or emotional condition, and this is what makes you an upright and steady man.

We live in a time where commitment is sadly lacking. Fear to commit to anything seems to be running rampant, and men appear to be at the head of the epidemic. I question why so many men are fearful of commitment; perhaps it is because they do not know how to commit, or they have been hurt by past commitments. Whatever the reason, learn to overcome the fear of commitment and begin to engage. Only then can a man become who God has called him to "BE." Only then can a man become someone who restores the balance.

Here are some areas to work on relating to commitment:

-       Let us commit to spending more time with God by praying more and reading the Bible daily.

-       Let us commit to being true to our word.  If we say we are going to do something, do it! Stop making excuses. My father in the gospel the late Bishop Joseph always said: "Every excuse is a lie."

-       Let us commit to being better managers of our finances by becoming better stewards and seeking help when needed.

-       Let us commit to being better husbands, fathers, and sons.

-       Let us commit to living by Biblical values and doing the right thing, even if the right thing does not benefit us.

-       Let us commit to helping other men to become committed.  Remember, "Iron sharpens Iron."

Finally, let me close this blog by quoting what Abraham Lincoln said about commitment:

"Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality."

Be Blessed!

Your Iron Coach,

Bishop Roberto Jemmott

Restoring The Balance

Balance is defined as an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady. The words upright and steady are not often used when referring to the character of most men, especially men who call themselves believers. Because of the many roles men are forced to play, it is sometimes difficult to maintain a balanced life; we may find it difficult to distribute the weights placed on us by the demands of this journey.

Author Gary W. Keller stated this about a balanced life:  “Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls - family, health, friends, and integrity - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered.”  As Mr. Keller states some things in life don't bounce back like a rubber ball when we drop them, they get scuffed, nicked or even shattered.

One of the areas in our lives that have been shattered is our relationship with the Lord. Men are no longer leaders in spiritual matters; we no longer take the forefront in leading our families, nation, and church to the Lord. This lack of spiritual leadership has created an unbalance in our society.  Women are raising sons and daughters who have no concept or idea of what it is to be loved by a father or an example of what a real father should be.

The ancient Hebrew writer and prophet by the name of Joel wrote the following about the last days:

“It will come about after this; That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. “Even on the male and female servants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days."

Joel 2:28-29 (NASB)

Did you notice the balance in the outpouring of God's Spirit in the text - "sons and daughters" and "male and female"? If you remove man out of the equation, there is no balance. While women may be more sensitive to Spirit of God, they do not receive more of God’s Spirit than men, it is an equal outpouring. It may be that men may have removed themselves from the equation, and as a result our society, our country, and the world are out of balance. Did you also notice that the text emphasizes the role of the man? The text specifically mentions, "old men will dream dreams." Where are the dreamers?  It would appear as if old men only reminisce about the past and are not dreamers, and "young men" are not visionaries, but only live in the moment. It is time to restore the balance.

The first place men need to restore the balance is in our personal walk with the Lord. It is time for us to take back our rightful places as spiritual leaders for our families, nation, the world and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Let's commit to doing the following so that we may begin to restore the balance:

1.       Let's start by repenting and turning our face to the Lord in prayer.

        

"The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."

Psalms 51:17 (NLT)

"In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy."

1 Timothy 2:8 (NLT)

2.      After repenting - ask your families, friends, and church to forgive you for your shortcomings and neglect of your role in spiritual matters.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues
those whose spirits are crushed."

Psalms 34:18 (NLT)

3.      Promise to take your place in your home, church, community, and the world and become the man God destined you to be.

"But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." 

1 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT)

4.      Continue to excel, grow and become the man God has called you to be, by devoting yourself to prayer - personal and corporate study of the Word of God.

"Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth." 

2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)

5.      Commit to mentor, father, teach and lead other men to become the man God has destined them to be.

"Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them."

1 Timothy 4:13 (NLT)

Remember the balance can only be restored when man takes his place and becomes all that God has destined him to be!

It's time to restore the balance!

Be Blessed,

Your Iron Coach

Bishop Roberto Jemmott