Priorities

I had to chuckle when I looked up on the screen of my computer and it was blank except for the word priorities. I had been browsing my phone, allowing it to distract me when I was gently reminded of the plans I had made to accomplish some new task today. I struggle with the word priorities. Sometimes, I do not have my priorities in order; that causes mass chaos. Priorities are the nuances in life that are supposed to take precedence over other, less important goals we have to accomplish. Priorities can either cause us to focus when we feel driven, or go crazy when we lose site of the end result. Life is about priorities.

Loving and serving God is always my top priority. It is most important on my list because I know that if I can accomplish this top task every day, the rest will fall into place. But some days, much like today, I allow the distractions of the world to dictate my priorities; and my determination becomes less than stellar. Priorities give us a goal, something to drive towards. A conversation with my best friend earlier led me to start thinking about priorities. She is a teacher, so she has to make the most of the two months she will have off for summer break. She excitedly told me of all the targeted ambitions she was planning for the summer. I asked her to call me back so we could talk some more about motivation. I have this issue in life sometimes that causes me to lose site of my goals before they are accomplished. My priorities become stressors, and I lose faith in myself to accomplish what I set out to do.

When I stopped and considered all of this for a moment, I was reminded that we have an enemy who is a great distracter. When we lose track of our priorities, we open a door for negativity and complacency to enter our lives, pushing us further from our goals. To that I say, we need to remember we have a plan. There is a God-given destiny that we have been place here to accomplish, and we can not do that if we take the focus off of our main priorities. Even the disciples, those closest to Christ, lost site of the bigger picture. I can recall in Matthew when they started to argue over which of them were the greatest disciple. Um, excuse me guys; isn’t the goal to glorify God and not yourselves? But we do that so often. When we are setting our priority, it is a “best practice” to create a plan for when distractions come our way. When I was in high school it was so corny to hear, but “When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” True statement if I ever heard one. We need to have an escape for when distractions come our way. I have found that an accountability partner is an incredible helpful way to stay on track. When you have some one who knows your goals, and your desire level to reach them, they can come in and say, “Hey, get to work slacker. I don’t pay you to look at Facebook all day.” Or, you know, something else of that nature. My point is when we set priorities, which we should all have, we need to make sure that they take precedence over the things that can wait. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a closet to reorganize.

Scripture Reference:

 1^st Corinthians 9:24(NIV)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets a prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

           

2^nd Timothy 4:7 (NIV)

            I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Matthew 18:1-7 (NIV)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and place the child among them. And He said, “Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in My Name welcomes Me. If anyone causes one of these little ones- those who believe in me- to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be ne drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things come, but woe to the person through whom they come!”

Thought Builder:

What is the biggest distraction in your life right now?

How can setting priorities make our life easier?

What priorities can to rearrange to make God top priority?

Love LIFE (Love Is ForEver):

           

Our spouse often becomes less and less of a priority as life becomes more demanding. Do something today that reminds your spouse they are still a top priority to you. A handwritten letter or poem may seem cheesy, but I promise it will make them feel so loved because you took the time to do something from your heart.