Have you ever tried to juggle? If you are like me, it is simply survival-one ball to the next. No flaming fire batons or slicing sabers-just three little round balls suspended in the air (if I am lucky). Life in ministry seems to be much like this at times-with the "color" of the balls changing with every new day. There is no doubt, however, that ministry and our personal lives are always in the mix somewhere. The question is whether or not we recognize when those get out of balance, before one or both end up "on the ground" so to speak.

You see, sometimes the most difficult task in ministry can be to prevent it from overtaking everything else in your life. After all, when is sharing the gospel with more kids and parents not a good thing? It might not be such a good thing when the price tag becomes your family, friends, or even your health. Are you listening to the people around you? Are you listening to your own body? Exhaustion might be a sign of a ministry life that is out of balance..The secret is determining not what is good, but what is best.

In their book, Boundaries in Marriage, Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend state, "as it is with your house, so it is with your soul. You need protective boundaries that you can put up when evil is present and can let down when the danger is over." Establishing appropriate boundaries is probably the single most important factor to aid you in keeping life in balance, and help ensure healthy personal and professional growth. Note that there is a difference between walls and boundaries. The healthy individual wants boundaries instead of walls. It is merely a hunch, but I think God prefers boundaries while Satan relishes when God's people build walls.

There are a number of boundaries that will assist you in the juggling act. First, understand your biblical role. Whether male of female, married or single, know yourself in Christ and what that means in daily life.

• Listen and watch for warning signs given in various areas of your life.
• Schedule appropriate time for yourself, your family, and others.
• Never forget that ministry is about people-not programs.
• Recognize that decisions you make in ministry affect everyone in your life-family, friends, and co-workers.
• Finally, establish positive, personal boundaries that will assist you as you seek balance in your life.

Prevention is clearly the best method for maximizing your personal and ministry potential. You never want it to be said that you sacrificed those closest to you for the sake of "the crowd." Jesus made time for Himself and those closest to Him. We must do likewise.

So, as we continue our juggling act, how do we know when a ball is heading to the ground? In your personal life, there are a number of possible warning signs. Perhaps it is your family's resentment of you and/or the church. Or maybe your spouse is seeking personal fulfillment through alternative sources outside your marriage. You may be experiencing an inability to connect with those around you, loneliness, or selfishness.

Professionally, warning signs could include a loss of creativity, lower productivity, excessive overtime, or an increased stress level. Additionally, you may be consistently working at home, choosing work over family, suffering from stagnant personal spiritual growth, or implementing a more controlling leadership style. All these signs-and others-indicate there may be an imbalance between your personal and professional life.

As you seek to find that ever-changing balance in your life, know that you are not alone in your venture. Everyone is constantly juggling. Sometimes we juggle confidently, and at other times those balls seem to be dropping faster than we can pick them up. At that point, it is time to reassess your life. You must be willing to make adjustments. Be ready-repair is more difficult than prevention-and is usually more painful! But, the goal is to be in ministry for the long haul. When your personal life is out of balance, your potential for long-term ministry success is bleak.

I know because I was there. I once came to a point of either quitting ministry, giving up on my marriage, or performing major surgery on both to get the juggling act going again. I chose the last option, and things are great today. But, for all of us, it is a constant battle to keep the balls in the air. So, how are you doing today? As you read this, are there questions in your mind about balance in your life? Are you choosing to do those things that are good, or are you pick only those things that are best?

Determine today that you will find balance. Spend time in God's word to see what that balance should look like. Set healthy boundaries. Find an accountability partner who will ask you tough questions about your schedule and your commitment. Finally, take time to be still and let God speak to you. When you choose God's best, everything else will fall in line. The juggling act becomes much more simple when God is in control.