Can you stand on one foot, not fall over ... and stay that way for a good while?

In athletics, that ability is called "core balance." Regardless of the sport, all good athletes work their "core" (their trunk) for strength, adding core balance drills for agility and flexibility.

Photo: Der Psychoblog

Without core balance, athletes are incomplete, no matter how fast they may run or how strong their shots may be. Soccer players who lack core balance skills slip easily on sharp turns. Dancers without refined core balance struggle during lifts and leaps. More than one excellent golfer has neglected balance drills and lost his swing.

In the same way, spiritual core balance reflects completeness in mind, body, spirit, and heart - no matter how much Bible knowledge you may have or how deep your servanthood extends.

How to achieve spiritual core balance

Athletes acquire core balance through drills that exercise specific abdominal and back muscles. Spiritually, Christ-followers cultivate core balance through solitude (the intentional effort to carve out time to be alone with God), accountability (the willingness to explain and be responsible for thoughts and actions), continuous learning (the life-long commitment to cultivate a hearing relationship with God), and a well-ordered life (deliberate choices in investing time, money, and energy.)

How can you tell if you're in balance?

There's a good way to determine if your spiritual workouts are allowing you to achieve genuine core balance: how do you operate as circumstances change?

Do your spiritual lifestyle choices significantly shift in the midst of change? Do you regularly miss out on alone time with God, avoid accountability to others, find that you're not hungry to learn new things about God, and generally experience more chaos than order in your life? If so, then your spiritual core balance may have only been outward. External spirituality tends to be weak and superficial.

On the other hand, do you maintain well-being when circumstances change? Do you intentionally seek solitude with God, accountability with other Christ-followers, an ongoing attitude of learning, and a sense of order in how you use your time, money, and energy? These are the signs of balanced spiritual strength, agility, and flexibility. This person's spiritual core balance has deep roots.

Outward core balance versus authentic inward core balance? It's the difference between toppling over ... or standing steadfastly on one foot.

Genuine spiritual core balance reflects a complete person in Christ.

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23, NKJV)