A Prayer to Prioritize Your Time Better - Your Daily Prayer - October 11

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I purchased a new planner at Target recently. I was feeling overwhelmed by all my responsibilities that seemed to be piling up, and I was hoping this tool would help me “get my life together.” On top of my other responsibilities as a wife, homeschool mom, and ministry leader in my church, I added another part-time job to help our family financially. On the cover of the planner, it read: “I am really busy.” I chuckled as I put it in my cart because it was the perfect statement about how I was feeling about my current task load and schedule.

As a society, that seems to be a common phrase we use when someone asks us how we are doing, right? We are busy people with full plates, but if we are not careful, our full schedules can crowd out more important matters of the soul and harm our hearts. We may not be able to unhitch ourselves from all our responsibilities, but we can be intentional and mindful to ensure we not only create appropriate margin in our lives but also avoid allowing our responsibilities to become our sole focus and goal. As Christians, we need to learn to prioritize, making room for Jesus’ peace to reign in our hearts and lives. Christ tells His disciples in Matthew 6 that they must seek God’s Kingdom and His ways first and foremost in their lives, especially when tempted with anxiety from the things of this earth. This command also applies to us as Christ followers.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).

Are you prone to worry, especially when you are facing a never-ending “to-do" list? What happens to your heart rate when it’s time to sit down to do your monthly budget? Instead of going into panic mode or gritting your teeth and rolling up your sleeves to tackle the tasks ahead of you fully in your own strength, perhaps you take a deep breath and talk to Heavenly Father, who is the One who can give you supernatural wisdom on how to take on the difficult and stressful projects ahead of you. If we are too busy to spend time with the Lord, then we are way too busy!

Sometimes, when life feels overwhelmingly busy, we tend to fill our lives with things we think will help us find peace, but all too often, we are just distracting ourselves from the very One who can bring us true peace and comfort when we are stressed out. Knowing what tempts you when you are stressed and want to “check out”- TV, social media, online shopping, food, gaming, alcohol, drugs- is a wise way to be on your guard when you are feeling weak and seeking some relief from the cares of this life. If you are born again, you have been given the fruit of self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) to stand against those temptations. We can always turn to the Lord and ask for help when we feel like the temptation to pursue those distractions is too challenging; He is always faithful to provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13)! Let us come boldly to the throne of grace and ask our Father to help us prioritize our time wisely so that we can put Him first and ensure He receives all the glory and honor in our (busy) lives!

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father,

It feels like there truly are not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that is ahead of me, but I know You are the giver of good gifts, especially Your supernatural peace and wisdom. Although this world is not my home, You have given me assignments and tasks to accomplish for Your glory. Instead of becoming overwhelmed, You call me to seek You and Your righteous ways first. You are my Father, and You promise to care for me as one of Your own. There is no need to become overcome by worry, stress, or fear. You have numbered my days, and I trust that You will help me better prioritize my time. Please strengthen my desire to run after You when the things of this world tempt me with their false comfort and peace. You know what my distractions are, and I trust that You will help me not turn to them in place of time with You. I love You, Lord, and long to make time for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper: Why It's Hard to Receive God's Love and Rest in His Delight

Have you ever worried that you’ve disappointed God? Maybe you know intellectually that He loves you, yet past rejection, painful relationships or years of striving have made His delight difficult to experience. Bible teacher and Awaken Delight author Stephanie Rousselle shares how her own childhood wounds and performance-driven thinking created a disconnect between what she knew about God and what she could receive from Him. If this episode helps you face fear with God's confidence, be sure to follow Faith Over Fear on Apple or Spotify so you get new episodes every week!

Discuss today’s devotional with others in the Your Daily Prayer thread on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Renel Wackett

Emily Massey began writing short stories and poetry as a little girl, entered the blogging world in her early 20s, and published her first book in 2015. She enjoys being a homeschooling momma of four boys, while still being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Believing she has been forgiven much, she loves much, and desires to point others to Christ and His redemptive and transforming power, especially by sharing truth found in God’s written word. If you would like to connect with Emily, you can visit www.emilyrosemassey.com.

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