Priorities: February 22, 2011

TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2011

PRIORITIES

DEFINITION:

The state or quality of being earlier in time or occurrence; the right to take precedence in obtaining supplies or services as during a shortage; the right to proceed others in order; something given special attention.

SCRIPTURE:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:35.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 2:6

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:39.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
A priority is something that is considered to be more important than anything else. Most people today do not set any kind of priorities in their lives. Just ask a few people when you see them today, “What do you plan to accomplish today?” An even more important question is what do you want to accomplish in your life? You will be surprised, we are sure, that very few, if any, will give you a definite plan of their priorities.

We are living in a generation where people literally live just from one minute to another with absolutely no direction or any kind of priority as to where they are or where they are going. The saddest thing we see is that people do not have any concern for others. They live totally for self.

To be a success in business you must have a business plan. This plan will outline the priorities that you need to take to be successful. The same is necessary if you want a happy family. You must have a plan, a schedule and a listing of daily priorities. You must outline how you will spend your time and schedule your activities.

These words, above, from the scripture gives us the most important priorities we need in our lives. The average person, even the Christian, will have a daily routine and they are stuck in a rut. They get up, maybe pray, grab a bite, go to work or school, come home, eat, watch TV, maybe talk to the family for a few minutes and then off to bed. And then people wonder why their life has no meaning. This routine is far more prevalent than one may want to believe.

We encourage you today to set goals and priorities in your life. God leaves no doubt as to what our first priority is to be. He states it very clear in Matthew 22:37-38: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the FIRST and GREATEST commandment."

Thus, your first priority must be your relationship with God. Every day you need to set aside time to read and study the Bible and to pray. Along with this you need study tools to help you grow spiritually. If this is not a priority in your life, you need to be concerned enough to make it a priority.

Your second priority is to your family. Parents have the responsibility of providing not only for their children’s physical needs but also for their spiritual needs. This includes involving them, with you, in reading the Bible, praying and going to a church. To do this requires a commitment of your time, and unless you make it a priority, it will not happen. Countless things will come up and become excuses for not having time to read the Bible, for not praying and for not going to church together as a family. When we talk to parents and they share with us their concerns, we almost always never hear that they set apart a time daily for their spouse or children. Your family must be second to God in your list of priorities.

Your third priority is to set Christ honoring standards to live your daily life by. We need to live by example because our children watch and listen and follow in our footsteps. Children need positive role models in their lives beginning with their parents. Parents have a responsibility to help their children do their school work and guide them in their school activities and other responsibilities. Those times of sitting with our children at the kitchen table, helping them with school work were wonderful times of bonding.

Is there an act of kindness or encouragement that God has urged you to do for some time and you just have not done it? If so, this should be a priority for today. Never get too busy to put off what God leads you to do. Priorities are dreams with a deadline and remember you cannot dream a dream too big for God. You need to set your priorities each day.

Every morning I (Ken) write down my priorities for the day and it keeps me on track. Try it and you will be amazed at how much you will accomplish. When you are setting your priorities ask yourself the question: "What is the center of attention for me today?" Then I ask, "Does it control me?" If it is not Christ centered, then change it. The key thought here is “control.” The priorities you set will control your life.

The reason many people do not go very far in life is because they side step opportunity and shake hands with procrastination. Think about this statement.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 26:2.

Examine me, o Lord, and prove me; try my mind and heart.

PRAYER:

Help me to keep my priority with You by loving You with all my heart, my soul and my mind. Give me wisdom to set priorities that honor You. Let my talk and my walk set a positive example for others. Help me to step outside of my normal activities to touch the life of someone who needs a special touch from You. Bless our family and help each one of us to be a role model for others.