It’s hard to catch a break between kids, work, bills, and all the other responsibilities we all face. It can be a challenge to remember what peace feels like. This is when we realize the importance of setting priorities as a Christian.
As Christians, it is important to set priorities in order to align our actions and decisions with our faith and values.
By setting priorities, we can ensure that we are making choices that align with God’s will for our lives and that we are using our time and resources in a way that glorifies Him.
Setting priorities can help us to stay focused on what is truly important and to avoid being distracted by less important things.
As Christians this allows us to live our lives in a way that reflects our faith and brings us closer to God.
When we trust in God’s promise, not only do our priorities fall into place, but our tasks and schedules begin to mimic the life God wanted us to lead.
Let’s review how to overcome busyness and achieve balance in our lives.
Assessing and Prioritizing Tasks
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
~Matthew 6:33~
One of the first things to do in order to find balance in your life is to assess your tasks.
Evaluate everything that takes your time, energy, and focus.
Remember to organize them based on importance to the will of God in your life.
- Identify your goals – both short-term and long-term. You can see which are most important and will have the greatest impact on achieving your goals.
- Categorize your tasks – such as work, ministry, personal, and family. You can see which areas of your life you need to focus on the most.
- Create a schedule – Use a calendar or to-do list to schedule your tasks; so you can see if you are making progress on your goals. Make sure you include time for breaks and relaxation to avoid burnout.
- Review and adjust – Regularly review your schedule and priorities to see if they are still in alignment with your goals and make adjustments as necessary.
- Learn to say no – Avoid taking on too many tasks by learning to say no to requests that are not in line with your priorities. You will thank yourself.
- Trust in God – This goes without saying but I will anyway…. Trust in God’s plan for your life and rely on Him for guidance as you prioritize and tackle your tasks.
Identify Your Time Stealers
“If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?”
~1 Timothy 3:5~
The big picture is that the things of the world are fleeting. Everything that we do and have is temporary.
So we need to make sure that we are ready for when our time comes. We need to decide if our time here has more value than our time in eternity with our Heavenly Father.
Take a look at what is distracting you from the big picture. What is stealing your time that simply needs to go?
Identifying and eliminating time stealers is an important step in developing a system for assessing and prioritizing.
Get rid of things that take up your time without providing any real value or contributing to your goals.
Stay Focused On Your Progress
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
~Philippians 3:14~
As with all things, learning to rearrange your life in order to find peace and balance will come with pitfalls now and then.
It takes the courage to keep trying. There is no shame in starting over when your train gets derailed; it happens to everyone.
What matters is that you get realigned and keep your eye on the prize: peace.
Stick to Your Priorities
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Setting priorities comes with its rewards and challenges.
We have to stop doing things that don’t matter in order to make room for the things that do matter.
God says not to conform to this world, so ask yourself which tasks and activities count as “the world”.
Here’s the twist: sometimes things aren’t necessarily worldly, it’s that you’ve said yes to too many things and now you are overwhelmed.
An activity is considered worldly if it is not in line with our values as a Christian.
- Check if it goes against biblical teachings.
- Does it align with God’s will for your life?
- Is it a distraction from your faith?
- Does it negatively impact your relationship with God?
- Does it promote sinful behavior?
It’s important to remember that not all worldly activities are bad, and some activities that are considered worldly may be okay in moderation.
However, if an activity is causing you to compromise your faith or hindering your relationship with God, it may be best to avoid it or limit your involvement in it.
align priorities with the Word of God
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Remember that God’s priorities might not always align with your own, and that it’s important to be willing to put your own priorities aside for the sake of following God’s will.
Seek counsel from other Christians, such as a pastor or mentor, who can provide guidance and help you to align your priorities with the Word of God.
Practice discernment and take time to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and to hear His voice in the decisions that you make.
Remember that this is an ongoing process and that it may take time to fully align your priorities with the Word of God.
By staying committed and seeking guidance from God, you can make progress towards living in alignment with His will for your life.
improve priority skills
“If you love me, keep my commands.”
The only way to truly improve your priority skills is to intentionally make the choice to put God first. If you love Him and place His hope for your life above all things, the rest will fall into place.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
Seek first the Kingdom of God. Write down your hopes, desires, and goals. Then, let God do the rest!
I wear many hats; Wife, Mom, Minister, Blogger and Entrepreneur.
It’s not easy juggling everything but with the Grace of God, I can do all things!
My plate is full but my cup runneth over!!
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I love the points written especially learning to say no and identifying your time stealers. Learning to say no is so important for your sanity. Back then, I would feel bad but now I know better. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful and practical, much needed post my friend! I had to learn to start saying no a few years ago which was not always easy but brought much needed calm and structure back into my life. I feel like I’m living a much more God honoring life right now. Thank you SO much for this wonderful and beautifully laid out post. I will be sharing this … 😘🙏💕