Priority

A few days ago, during prayer, I asked God for more.  More of Him, His presence, power, love, anointing, just… everything.  My heart was laid bare, my arms raised high, my expectant smile awaiting His response. 

He said “you need to adjust your priorities”.

Wait.  What?  Did I just hear Him correctly?  My priorities?  Shouldn’t He have said something more like – Yes!  You have done so well, and I am so proud of you.  Here.  Have this great experience and amazing moment with God. 

I felt like Naaman in 2 Kings 5 asking Elisha to heal him of leprosy.  Naaman had expectations of how he thought the prophet should heal him.  He got angry when Elisha told him to go wash himself seven times in the Jordan.  He wanted a big show of his healing, and felt insulted when he was told to go to a dirty river for a mundane act. 

After the shock wore off, I tried to understand why God would say such a thing.  I wanted Him to respond in a certain way and my expectations were dashed when I heard His reply.

In my heart I could feel how He wanted me to put Him first.  That there are plenty of hours in the day to accomplish everything I had to.  I needed to reprioritize my life and make Christ number one -instead of wherever I could fit Him in.  A box to check. 

Don’t get me wrong, I do have plenty of responsibilities that I really have to do.  Care for my family.  Go to work.  Pay the bills.  And on and on continue the demands for my time. 

He wasn’t asking me to stop living life.  To drop all my obligations and go hide in a cave and focus only on Him.  He just wants to be the starring role in my life.  My everything.  The first person I look forward to talking with, not the last.  My best friend that I can’t wait to tell everything that is happening in my life.  The One that I seek council with when things get tough.      

Everyday we choose how we are going to spend that day.  Sure, some parts just have to get done.  But there really is more leisure time than we realize.  We fill our hours with things that we say are important to us.  But if we inspect how we truly spend our time, we would be shocked at how many hours we just waste away.

Reflecting on how I fill my days, I’m reminded of Luke 12:34: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  What we prioritize in our lives shows where our hearts are – God or what we have put in His place.  I can truly say I love Jesus Christ with all my heart, but I have let the cares of this world out-prioritize Him far too many times. 

I now am grateful for what He told me that night in prayer.  I really needed the wakeup call, and He knew it.  I just wanted so much more of Him.  The problem wasn’t getting enough of Him.  It was taking away all the stuff I had put between us, to then have clear access to Him. 

He has never left my side or taken His focus off of me.  I was the busy one.  The productive lady that had just enough time for God but not as much as my heart and soul cried out for.  He was patiently, lovingly waiting for me to drop the unnecessary busyness, and put Him first.

Where are your priorities today?  Have you made Jesus Christ the most important part of your day or are you just scraping by?  What could you stop doing now to free up your schedule for Him?  He wants to spend time with you.  He has so much to share with you and to teach you.  He misses your voice and your attention.  He misses you.  Can you spare a few extra minutes with God today?