Creating Healthy Priorities in My Life | You Asked For It
You Asked For It
Creating Healthy Priorities in My Life
Priority: a thing that is regarded as more important than another.
Am I over-committed, overwhelmed and ineffective? If so, do I need to say no to some things so I can focus my time and energy on the right things?
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Luke 17:3a (ESV) Pay attention to yourselves!
SOUL TATTOO: The most effective way to approach my priorities is by doing so spiritually, not administratively.
What if we could see our priorities through a different lens?
HALT Acrostic:
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
We need systems to help with the priorities:
Without a system for my priorities I can be blown everywhere!
With a system I can be too rigid and inflexible.
SOUL TATTOO: The most effective way to approach my priorities is by doing so spiritually, not administratively.
What if I could say with confidence…
1.) GOD is my priority.
Exodus 20:1-3 (NLT) 1Then God gave the people all these instructions: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 3 “You must not have any other god but me.
Matthew 22:37-38 (ESV) 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
2.) My priorities lead to OTHERS.
Matthew 22:39 (ESV) 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
1 John 4:19 (NLT) 19 We love each other because he loved us first.
3.) My priorities lead to LEGACY.
Legacy: Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past.
Proverbs 13:22 (ESV) 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
3 John 1:4 (ESV) 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
SOUL TATTOO: The most effective way to approach my priorities is by doing so spiritually, not administratively.
Three helpful tips to make my priorities practical.
1. Pray first, make God a priority.
2. Think steps, not leaps.
3. Alter rhythms not just behavior.
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Am I over-committed, overwhelmed and ineffective? If so, do I need to say no to some things so I can focus my time and energy on the right things?