What are the priorities in your life?
Or maybe a better question would be- if I looked closely at your life what would I conclude were your priorities? TV? Facebook? The latest fashion?
I’d like to say that health is a great priority in my life. However, if you were a fly on the wall you might determine that sugar and Netflix were the priorities.
I’d like to say that family is a great priority in my life. But, if you spied on my dinner table you would find a lot of cell phones out. 4 to be exact. Of course, that’s only IF we’re actually at the table.
I’d like to say my quiet time with God is a great priority in my life. But, if you were there, you would find my quiet time is often…. not so quiet. Does reading a devotion on the bible app while waiting in a long line at the grocery store count as “quiet time”?
I’m guessing not.
Needless to say, I need to work on prioritizing my priorities. My guess is- you do too.
Here are a few tips for doing that:
IDENTIFY YOUR PRIORITIES. Make a list. Who or what are your priorities? TV? Candy Crush? Surely not. Perhaps your spouse, your children, and your health would be better choices.
IDENTIFY YOUR OBSTACLES. Who or what is taking up your time and keeping you from your priorities? At the end of the day, take a few minutes to review your day. Where was time wasted? Those time-wasters must be either limited or eliminated. Netflix and Facebook can wait.
BE INTENTIONAL. Make a plan. How will you make time for the people and the things that are most important to you?
Maybe you need to get up 30 minutes earlier each day to have a quiet time with God or to go for a walk.
Maybe you need to actually schedule your priorities on your calendar. Who said calendars are just for doctor’s appointments and dance recitals?
Here are a few things you may need to add to your calendar:
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Quiet time with God.
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Daily walks or workouts.
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Date nights with your spouse.
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Game nights or movie nights with the kids.
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Family Dinners.
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A visit with parents, grandparents, or siblings.
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Lunch with a friend.
Notice everything on this list involves loving God, loving yourself, and loving others. If you make love the priority, you can’t go wrong.
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Matthew 22:37-39
Don’t worry, you will still have time to surf the internet and watch TV. Simple pleasures and relaxation are important too. Pencil them in. Just don’t let them take over your schedule.
Teresa is a happily married mother of two from Crossville, TN. She is a "jack of all trades" when it comes to Grace! She serves on staff here as well as being an incredible Teaching Pastor and Women's Ministry Director.
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