Prioritize THIS Above Your List

[soso]

Prioritize THIS Above Your List
Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. (Proverbs 31:17 NIV)

Friend to Friend

Many of us check off neatly penciled boxes. Some draw lines /through the tasks () we’ve finished. A select few of us even add things /to our lists /after we’ve done something //that wasn’t on our list … so we can mark it off! (I may or may not do this…) Some of us keep track / in our heads, while others track progress of daily goals/on paper, on a computer, or on an app.

At times I fluff my list. Instead of simply writing, "Do three loads of laundry," I’ll create twelve list items /to check off

//that read:

• Wash whites
• Dry whites
• Fold/hang whites
• Put away whites
• Wash colors
• Dry colors
• Fold/hang colors
• Put away colors
• Wash darks
• Dry darks
• Fold/hang darks
• Put away darks

I just love to check boxes. I think () it’s because I sincerely want to be a productive person. I want to feel like I’m accomplishing something. It's pretty much a daily struggle for me. As an optimist, I wake up /anticipating that the seconds, minutes, and hours of each day will bend to cooperate with the demands of my list.

And …it never works out /that simply or efficiently.

You struggle /with this too, right? Most of us feel frustrated and at times, overwhelmed by the abyss of a rarely satisfied to-do list. It’s exhausting. We face constant demands //that call to us and vie /for our attention. We sift through the essentials and the fire drills, then we go to bed, wake up, and do it all again.

*vie; To strive for victory or superiority; contend.

The good news is that we don’t need to face our lists alone. God offers to come along side of us /daily /to provide the strength, perspective, and wisdom () we need. He helps us prioritize our days /when we turn to Him in prayer. In the Bible, we read of a woman //who approached each day /with God-power and God-perspective:

“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks” (Proverbs 31:17, NIV).

Though this is an impressive statement about her work ethic, and though it seems this fictional woman dominates her daily to-do list, it’s important that we consider the source of her strength: God. At the end of the chapter, Scripture shows us that she “...fears the Lord...” (Proverbs 31:30, NIV). This means that she lives /in awe of God. That she worships and prioritizes Him /above all else. That the source of her strength is rooted in her dependence on and reverence of God.

Ours should be, too.

Your list looks different from mine. We have unique goals, friendships, jobs, responsibilities, and families. Whether you are in the work force, unemployed, or retired … or a stay-at-home mom, a single mom, or an empty nester … a wife, a widow, single, or divorced, God can and will give you the strength and guidance () you need /when you prioritize and revere Him.

Consider the following verses:

“Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal /by human effort?”

(Galatians 3:3, NIV)

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength /to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar /on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV)

God will strengthen our arms /for the tasks of today when we prioritize Him /above the list. Let’s go to Him now and ask for direction, wisdom, renewal, and strength.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Please forgive me when I rush /into a day /without calling on You for my strength. I need you, Lord. Please prioritize my heart and my list today.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen.