Prayer for discipline of your time and priorities
Laura Bailey
Bible Reading:
“You say, ‘I can do anything,’ but not everything is good for you. They say, “I can do anything,” but not everything is beneficial. 1 Corinthians 10:23 NLT
Read or listen to the following:
My family is out of the time I lovely call “Maicantenma.” The grade is over, so there are award programs, field days, graduations and random dress-up days. Would you like to add more to your full calendar? The sports team is already taking part in the playoffs after a full season, dance recitals, art shows and celebratory parties filled the small square of my agenda. Oh, and there are Mother’s Day, numerous birthdays (does anyone feel like someone else has an unusual birth?), church programs that kick the summer, and somewhere there, there are millions of other things that have to be done as part of life. Who are we kidding? These will be taking back burners in May, at least around this area.
Are you exhausted reading the above? Yes, me too. But even when they try to protect their family calendars each year, it still looks like a bomb of events that exploded on the pages. We want our children and families to participate in many good things. We really want to be part of events where we cheer for nephews upon graduation, celebrate girls’ hardworking years by watching recitals and year-end school programs, and interact with our family and church communities. But that’s exhausting for everyone. And, as if I was honest, the pace of our general life is in a hurry.
This requires you to ask the following questions: When there are countless opportunities, do you know how to make the most of your time (and family) and what to say “no”? In our important poem, the apostle Paul warns the Corinthians to think carefully about their actions. He shares us that we are free to Christ and that God’s grace is abundant, but we should not use our freedom as a license to sin. Paul specifically spoke to those who felt that their sins were forgiven, and that they could do whatever they wanted. In this text, Paul speaks in particular about his ability to eat meat sacrificed by idols. But Paul is trying to tell us there are many things we have at the freedom we do as Christians, but that doesn’t mean we should do them.
“We can do anything, but not everything is beneficial,” Paul wrote. What does he mean? In the following poem, Paul says, “Don’t worry about your own interests. Paul wants to expose the idea that “doesn’t hurt anyone” in order to justify our actions. What we do is not isolated. As followers, we are called to think about how our words and actions affect us, and how they affect others. Specifically, rather than making decisions based solely on what is good for us, consider what is best for others.
When we think about these poems about calendars, before we pencil out another thing on the calendar, we say, “Do you mean you can do that?” Most of the things we are engaged in are not inherently good or bad. But if we live at such a furious speed, if our calendar is so packed and we live a self-focused life, we don’t have space to prolong, invest, and share Christ’s love, we need to adjust our priorities and adjust where we spend our time.
Today I’m inviting you to look at your calendar. Who or what will get your energy, money and time? Perhaps we should make margin room, space to remain in conversation, time for fellowships, and prioritize eternity over temporary ones.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, we love you, Lord, and we will give you our time and priorities. Thank you for updating every morning and for allowing me to experience rich bounty and overflowing love. Never accept the costs of your son, Jesus Christ, for the sake of eternal life and your grace. As your child, may we live in such a way that our calendar and checkbook shows you are our number one priority. Help create a room in your calendar for gospel-filled conversations, prolonged fellowships, and opportunities to help those in need. We love you and we are so grateful that you are not a master puppet or manipulator, but that your child will be free to act within your sovereignty. May we make the most of every opportunity to know you and let you know. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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Laura Bailey is an author and biblical teacher who encourages women to understand what they believe, why it matters, and how to apply biblical truths to their lives. Her recent book, embracing eternity here and now, explores how the timeless truths of the Church can help us today live a more peaceful, purposeful and abundant life.
She lives in northern South Carolina with her husband and three young girls. She is the director of the Ministry of Women at her church. Her passion is to teach the Bible to women and equip them to live in an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at the next event or learn more: www.laurarabailey.com Connect via Facebook and Instagram.
