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Thoughts on Priorities

Priorities are the value we give to things with regard to our time and money. One way we can use priorities is with our todo list and time management. Tasks with a high priority are completed first and given more time while tasks with a lower priority are completed last and tasks with a very low priority may never be completed.

We all prioritize our lives whether we realize it or not. Our priority system may simply be based on who we talked to last or what the boss just emailed about. Reactive priorities tend to seem chaotic and at the end of the day reactive people may wonder what they have accomplished. On the other hand if I consciously choose my priorities then I will be planning my day and getting done the things that I choose. This can be in conflict with a micro-managing manager or an understaffed office where the entire day is just reacting and putting out fires.   However, even in a fast paced, chaotic office lifestyle and goal oriented priorities can be chosen so that a person can move forward and even move out of the chaotic situation. People can choose priorities regarding their family, finances, vacations, home improvements and anything else that takes time and money. 

For a true believer in Jesus Christ, there are built in priorities. Jesus himself summarized life's priorities by telling people love God first, then love others. Every other priority is covered by these two umbrella priorities. For some these two tasks may seem daunting. For everyone these are impossible to complete obey.  However one tasks we can do is to review our day, at the end of the day, and honestly ask ourselves if we loved God at all and if we had any success in loving others. Prayerfully examining what we do allows God to set some priorities. 

Perhaps God will show you times where you did great and more of that needs to be done. Perhaps God will show you times when an opportunity was missed and corrections can be made to do better next time. If we do this exercise with a notebook or journal then we can have a record of the priorities God is giving us. Then, when we plan the next day we can pick several of these priories and make them high priorities so that while we are working or relaxing we can look at our list and choose to do things for God.  

Priorities do not always have to be measurable and we certainly do not have to be paid for them. Working on walking with Christ closer and deeper is an awesome priority and the fruit of that will mostly be experienced in heaven. Yet it is God centered work that can be prioritized and worked on here and now.  Matthew 6:33 tells every follower of Jesus to seek God's kingdom and his righteous first which means God has already set that priority for you. You can end each day asking yourself if you honestly did that.

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