Do first things first

We all get the same twenty-four hours every day. That’s 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. And we “must give an account to God” for how we use them (see Ecclesiastes 11:9 NLT). A good place to start is by asking yourself, “How would I spend the next twenty-four hours if I knew I would stand before God tomorrow?” Your answer can help you prioritize your life. Think about it: If somebody steals your car, you can get another one. If they steal your wallet, a few phone calls to the credit card company usually resolve the matter. But who can you call when you lose your time? How you spend your time is how you spend your life! Ephesians 5:16 says, “Make every minute count” (CEV), so learn to do these: (1) Stop saying yes to everybody. When your spiritual gut says no, but your people-pleasing gut says yes, go with your spiritual gut. Jesus did. It’s what enabled Him to tell His Father, “I have finished the work…You have given Me to do” (John 17:4 NKJV). Don’t let the good rob you of the best; back off on some activities so you can excel in others. (2) Be led by the Spirit, not the flesh. Paul said, “If you are guided by the Spirit, you won’t obey your selfish desires” (Galatians 5:16 CEV). Furthermore, when you walk in the Spirit, you burn the oil, not the wick; the Holy Spirit supplies you with strength. (3) Put first things first. A mark of real maturity is doing what you don’t feel like doing when you don’t feel like doing it. So today, put first things first – and keep them there!