Set Your Priorities

I love making lists! Ask anyone in my family. I’ve got a list for everything. I think it’s the only way my brain functions. But so very often lists become long and unmanageable. And it can quickly turn from a sense of accomplishment to a sense of dread. We tell ourselves – I just need more time. Time management – the most dreaded phrase! But it’s typically never a time problem that we are challenged with – it’s a priority problem. If you feel things are getting out of control then it’s time to prioritize.

“We don’t drift in good directions. We discipline and prioritize ourselves there.” ― Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley is right. It certainly requires discipline in order for us to prioritize ourselves well so that we are focused on the right things. Staying busy doesn’t automatically equate to accomplishment. And prioritization is not just something that happens with good intentions.

As you read through the New Testament you start to see Paul as someone who knew how to prioritize. I believe we can apply his teachings and the type of leader that he was to our own lists. Ephesians 5:15-17 “Be very careful, then how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Paul is explaining three very important principles here: 1) look at how we are spending our time 2) ensure that we are using our time wisely and 3) focus on what is important. To put this into a practical perspective, write down the top 10 items from your “to do” list. Then rank them in order of priority from 1 to 10. Lastly, take that same list and rank them according to the time that you are spending on them. Does your time line up with the priority that you have given?

Time is the one thing that we can’t make more of or take back once it has been used. In order to lead by the principle that Paul gave us in Ephesians we may have to make some tough decisions in how we manage our “to-do’s.”

What needs to come off the list? It’s taking up too much time and is not a high priority.

What items can you pass along to someone else?

What priorities are you not spending enough time on? Fight for them!

Take some time today and focus on your priorities. Think about the words from Paul and start to transform how you lead yourself, your team, and your family. #itsallintheBible

From Rooted

Love, Heather