Proverbs 31 Magazine

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by Glynnis Whitwer\n
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By 9 a.m. this morning I was already overwhelmed. Deadlines loomed, laundry piled and my to-do list screamed. Two responses battled for attention: \n
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1) Just start doing something on my list \u2026 preferably something easy.\n
2) Do something completely different, like play solitaire. \n
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When my panicked instincts take over, I become a micro-manager. Instead of bringing focus to my work, I shift and shuffle the tasks before me.\n
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Thankfully, I\u2019ve got a deeper river of motivation: my priorities. It\u2019s how I stepped back this morning to a place of simple, calm focus. Does it always happen? No. Sometimes I jump into the fray with both feet. Usually those days end with me shrugging my shoulders and wondering why nothing got done. It\u2019s like going to the grocery store, spending $100 and having nothing for dinner. \n
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Planning my day based on God\u2019s priorities for me gives me a much greater sense of peace and purpose. My days can still fall apart, but they are less frequent. \n
Although there\u2019s satisfaction in checking items off a to-do list, mundane work can easily fill our days. Then we find ourselves looking in the past, wondering where the time went. Weeks, months and years fly by, \u201cIf only\u201d sprinkles our conversations, and we establish patterns of regret. \n
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Can we know God\u2019s will?\n
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\tThe Bible makes it clear we can avoid this type of reactive life and know God\u2019s will. Romans 12:2 says, \u201cDo not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God\u2019s will is \u2013 his good, pleasing and perfect will.\u201d \n
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Based on Scripture, we can know God\u2019s priorities for us. However, there are two conditions:\n
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\u2022\tNot conforming to the pattern of the world.\n
\u2022\tBeing transformed by the renewing of our minds. \n
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The pattern of this world will obscure God\u2019s priorities for us every time, because it creates a self-centered life \u2014 one in which we consistently choose the ways of this world. That typically means following our own desires, regardless of whether they line up with God\u2019s desires. \n
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Ephesians 2:1-3a explains in greater detail: \n
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\u201cAs for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.\u201d\n
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We live among parallel kingdoms constantly in a spiritual battle for our hearts. When we weave between the two kingdoms \u2013 choosing between the ways of the world and God\u2019s ways \u2013 our hearts are divided. A divided heart always faces confusion.\n
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Years ago my own life reflected this conflict. Even as a committed Christian, I didn\u2019t understand the need to seek God\u2019s will above my own. For years I pursued priorities that took me further spiritually from where God wanted me. My inner struggle resulted in frustration and annoyance, which often spilled out onto those I loved.\n
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Outsiders might have looked at my priorities years ago and thought they \u201clooked\u201d good. My resume included a career in public relations, serving on non-profit boards, leading ministries at church, singing on the praise team, and spearheading exciting projects. It was a full and productive life. Just not the one God had in mind for me.\n
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My mind was stuck on me \u2013 my career, my plans, my needs. Apparently I needed an earthquake to get unstuck. Once that happened through a cross-country move, it didn\u2019t take long to see the truth \u2013 about myself and my life. God sweetly began the process of renewing my mind, a process which continues to this day.\n
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When I seek God\u2019s priorities and not my own, renewing happens and clarity follows. Like a dancer who focuses on one point while twirling \u2013 I maintain balance no matter what swirls around me. \n
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How to determine priorities\n
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One way I evaluate if I\u2019m living according to God\u2019s priorities is to work through a set of questions. By taking the time to process them, I press the pause button for a few moments and reposition myself to a peaceful place outside the fray. \n
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What can only I do?\n
What has God entrusted to me?\n
Am I a good steward of what I already have?\n
What has God asked me to do that I haven\u2019t done yet? \n
What passion (or dream) has God put in my heart?\n
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\tMy questions always start with an evaluation of how I\u2019m doing with the responsibilities I already have. If I\u2019m neglecting the priorities God has given me, I\u2019m not ready for new ones. \n
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Once you have a clear vision for your priorities, don\u2019t be surprised if it takes time to work it out. You may have to resign from certain responsibilities in order to fulfill others. Crafting your schedule to reflect your priorities takes prayer and ongoing revisions.\n
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All this to say, it isn\u2019t easy. To be a woman who lives according to priorities, I frequently check my motives. I choose to pull my heart back to a place of submission when I want to run ahead. I\u2019m learning to wait on God\u2019s confirmation of something rather than challenging Him to stop me. It\u2019s a completely different way of thinking than I had 15 years ago. But it\u2019s brought more peace \u2013 in my life and the life of my family \u2013 than any to-do list ever could.\n
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Glynnis Whitwer is on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries as the Senior Editor of the \u201cP31 Woman\u201d magazine. She is one of the writers of Encouragement for Today, the Proverbs 31 e-mail devotions, with over 350,000 daily readers. Her newest book, \u201cI Used to Be So Organized,\u201d was just released. Glynnis, her husband Tod, and their teenagers live in Glendale, Arizona. Visit www.GlynnisWhitwer.com or www.HerOrganizedLife.com to learn more.\n
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