Priorities.

I read this today…. so. so. good.

Often women are overwhelmed by too many things to do (see Luke 10:40) because there are many good choices concerning how to apportion their time (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). To set priorities is to determine what is important to you and how your time is to be apportioned-that is, who and what will take precedence over other parts of life.

Scripture contains guidelines for God’s order:

• Your personal relationship to Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:33; Philemon 3:8);
• Your commitment to home and family-especially spouse and children (Genesis 2:24; Psalm 127:3; Ephesians 5:22,25; 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:2-5; 5:8; 1 Peter 3:7) and even to the extended family, as so beautifully portrayed in the relationship between Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17);
• Your responsibility to employer and tasks assigned (see 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12); and
• Your service to God through ministries in the church and involvement in the community (see Colossians 3:17).

Once you have these divinely appointed criteria in mind, you are ready to sort out the opportunities that come (Psalm 32:8) and move forward in the most effective and productive management of time and resources. A very practical way of accomplishing this is to list all the tasks before you, consider each prayerfully as to merit and timeliness (see Colossians 2:5), arrange them in order of importance, then proceed to do the most important things first (see 1 Corinthians 14:40).

To be consistent in your priorities, consider these admonitions:

• Assign God first place (Matthew 6:33);
• Consult with the Father regularly in your quiet time (Psalm 55:17; Luke 5:15-16);
• Examine your own heart (Ecclesiastes 3:1);
• Keep yourself spiritually fit (Isaiah 30:15).

Jesus met with the Father in intensive prayer and meditation to determine his priorities and to prepare himself for each day (see Luke 5:15-16).

Note also these cautions:

• Put people before things (see 2 Corinthians 8:5).
• Do not limit your investment in those you love and others who cross your path, to money and gifts.
• Look for ways to invest yourself, your time, your energies.
• Family must be more important than occupation since
  Scripture clearly states that there is no success if the family is lost (1 Timothy 3:5; 5:8; Titus 2:4-5).
• Sometimes you must say no, as did even Jesus when some seemingly good requests for his time did not fit the overall plan for his ministry (Luke 4:42-43).

The underlying principle in determining priorities is always that spiritual values must overshadow worldly pursuits (2 Corinthians 4:18).