Soul Training

She later told me how meaningful this decision was. She was able to do better in school, deepen her relationship with God and her family, and go about her day with a rhythm and a pace that made her feel happy and at peace. She and her boyfriend were still able to develop their relationship as well. Remember, God never called anyone to marginlessness.

When we lack margin, it is our own doing and is a sure sign we have stepped outside the kingdom. So be honest and be ruthless with your schedule. Your spiritual, relational and physical health depend on it.

Holiness is essentially wholeness—a life that works. Sin is dysfunction or sickness. The number one spiritual sickness of our day is “hurry sickness.” We are constantly in a hurry because we have overloaded our schedule. When we lack margin in our lives we become tired and lonely and joyless, which seems to invite temptation. We need margin. Margin restores balance and restores our soul, thus increasing our capacity for joy. Joy is a bulwark against temptation. Margin and holiness are related to one another in very deep ways.

Here are some ideas for finding margin:

Get up ten minutes earlier and create a space for silence before you begin your day.

Cut out unnecessary entertainment activities.

Explore scaling back some of your commitments by asking, “Is it essential?” For example, must you serve on three church committees?

If you do something often (for example, spending time with a friend), consider reducing the frequency without cutting that person out of your life.

Whether you are going through this material alone or with others, the following questions might be helpful as you reflect on your experience. Either way, it might be a good idea to answer these questions in your journal. If you are meeting with a group, bring your journal with you to help you remember your insights as you share.

1. Were you able to practice any of the suggestions for creating margin this week? If so, describe what you did and how you felt about it.

2. What, if anything, did you learn about God or yourself through the exercise?

3. As you tried to develop margin in your life, what was most difficult? What was most rewarding?