On Changing My Priorities

Right now, things are very busy for me. In an effort to be efficient with my time, I've started to make lists of the things that I need to do. Here is my list of priorities...

1. Spend time with God (prayer/Bible)
2. Spend time with Ashley (watching Shrek and Judge Mathis!)
3. Spend time with Jocelyn (read, play, feed, repeat)
4. Study/Homework
5. Eat (wow)
6. Stay in touch with friends/family
7. Work (mentoring/guitar lessons)
8. Bass (choir rehearsals/practice)
9. Leisure (read, fantasy sports - really, that's it)
10. Sleep
11. Exercise
12. Church
13. Various meetings
14. Getting to know new people
15. Maybe blog.....?

With all of these things to make sense of, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. I don't have time to do ALL of these things well. I'm developing strategies to improve, of course, but it will never be perfect. I'll always be shifting and moving something to make time for something else. I found some comfort in scripture on this topic.

In Matthew 22:37-40 (below), Jesus says that we've only been given two priorities:

1.Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength;
2.Love your neighbor as yourself.


Wow. As long as I'm doing this, my priorities are in order. The things in my life are not meant to make me feel burdened. My family, my schoolwork, this blog, none of it is meant to bring me down, but to lift me up. By decreasing my priorities and accepting His, I can have peace about all the things going on. And you can have peace too... Peace!

God, thank You for the ability and capacity to do many things. Please remind us all that we were not meant to do everything. You said Your yoke is easy and that YOUR burdens are light (Matt. 11, below). Everything in life is not the most important thing. The most important things are to love You and to love my neighbor. Lord, please help me focus on that, especially when I start to become burdened by my "priorities". You are the best, I love YOU...



Learning,
j.a.g.







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Matthew 22:37-40
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”