Priorities

"You need to get your priorities straight." Often, we are quick to use this jab to the people in our lives who are disappointing us. This says that we need to be higher on their list of priorities.

But, how often are we to check in our own priorities? How often do we get our own priorities straight?

Many times, when people are going to ship something of great value, they want to make it priority mail. The sooner it gets there, the better. They would rather pay a little extra to know it's going to be in safe hands. So, what's your relationship with God worth? Is it valuable enough to you to make it priority? Are you willing to pay a little extra, get hurt a little more, not always get your way, be uncomfortable, in order to know your eternity is in safe hands?

What are your priorities?

Is it your....

Job?

Money?

Strength?

Popularity?

Schedule?

Family?

Love?

Happiness?

Hope?

Eternity?

What does the order of your priorities look like? Is your salvation worth enough to you to make it 1st class priority mail or would you rather make it standard home delivery? Is it important enough to pursue it now, (it should be) or do you think you still have time and you'll get around to it when you're older? (You shouldn't wait.) Christ will fill the void of that strength you need, the money, the family, happiness, hope, love, job and all other things. He knows our needs. Our needs may not look like what we want but Matthew 6:33 says "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." In the verses leading up to this one Jesus is telling the people to not be anxious because God provides for even the birds of the air; we need not worry about our needs because God will meet them, instead we should focus our energy on pursuing Christ.

Could you imagine if we worked toward seeking God and understanding His word the way we work for whatever new gadget we think we need? Could you imagine if we thirsted for truth the way we do for our Starbucks coffee we get every day? Could you imagine if we turned off Netflix long enough to write down our blessings and praise God for them? Could you imagine if we didn't jump on Facebook first thing in the morning and instead prayed blessings over our families and consulted with God before anyone else?

That's where the blessings start to happen folks- in the simplicity, the quiet.

Eternity should be our priority, what and who we prioritize now, will determine where we spend it. If we focus on eternity and we are sure in it, we have nothing to fear. We know where the finish line is so all we have to do is walk the path until we reach it. The path may have twists, turns, bumps, hills and valleys but it doesn't matter because the way has been made and we know we are winners in the end.

Maybe if we spent less time trying to make everything a priority and instead just made Jesus the priority, we would be less stressed, overrun, overworked and overwhelmed. Maybe if we spent less time wondering how people are ordering their priorities and where we rank on their list, and instead focused on the order of ours and being willful vessels, we would be at peace.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6

"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."- Psalm 27:4

Things you could work on prioritizing this week:

"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 4:7-11