Read His Words Before Ours!
Colossians 3:14-25
Mark 6:30-32
Ephesians 5:15-21 
Is organizing and planning something you look forward to?
Is it something you dread?
Is it maybe a little bit of both, depending on the day?
For many of us, when we hear the words “organize” or “plan”, we may think of busy schedules, time management, or a tidy home.
But did you know that God calls us out of chaos and busyness into organization and intentionality?
Busy lives are practically inevitable in today’s world, but God calls us out of this busyness, desiring us to seek His help on how to live fully and love others well.
God is the master planner!
From the beginning of time, He planned the world, our lives, and all of creation. Then when God sent Jesus to walk the Earth, He too was a master planner and coordinator of time. Jesus took time to love, serve, and heal people, yet He also took the time to rest.
In Mark 6:30-31, Jesus commanded the apostles to go and rest after a long day of work and teaching.
Jesus wants us to organize our lives so that we can do the same!
God planned to redeem us from sin.
God planned our lives out before the beginning of time.
God planned a day of rest after six days of creation.
And God’s plan for us is to bring the Kingdom here to earth, living for Him and loving others at full capacity.
When we are busy, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the wrong mindset. For example, look at Martha. She had the right intentions, but she was missing the point! She was so busy preparing things around the house, when Jesus simply wanted her to be at His feet. There’s nothing wrong with wanting everything to be planned out and well-prepared,
but we cannot put our schedules before serving the Lord!
A big part of organizing our time wisely is learning
to have priorities that mirror God’s.
We must identify what is most important, and then plan accordingly, doing each and every task to honor the Lord. Colossians 3:23 reminds us that no matter what we are doing – homework, dishes, driving, or working – to do it as if working for the Lord!
Though it might be hard, we have to plan time for God, family, friends, work, health, learning, AND rest.
It seems impossible to juggle them all, but when we seek God’s plan and priorities, we can better organize our lives.
To carry out all of these things, we must be motivated, focused,
and persistent in choosing what is wise and important rather than just the urgent things that need to be done.
Our lives are composed of time, so how we spend it is crucial.
Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise but wise, making the most of every opportunity…”
God created time to be a tool, to teach us lessons, and develop the character of God in us. This means we must learn to use our time how God would want us to. Opportunities are constantly coming our way, and often times they are time consuming.
Maybe you’re asked to take on a new task at work, or you’ve been asked to volunteer in a ministry at church. So how do we choose “the best yes”?
By making choices motivated by love and wisdom.
When we don’t do this, we often end up with an “I have to do this” attitude, rather than a heart that is wholly serving the Lord and others.
When our choices are made out of obligation
rather than heavenly motivation, we miss the point.
Is this “yes” going to further my spiritual growth?
Is this “yes” going to hinder me from doing my quiet time?
Is this “yes” going to allow me to pour into others?
Contrary to popular belief and personal guilt, it is OK to say no sometimes! If you are bombarded by an overwhelming amount of opportunities and you say “Yes” to all of them, the time and energy for personal growth and serving others may be compromised in a negative way.
THAT busy, isn’t healthy!
Say “yes” to being in the Word first.
Say “yes” to deeply conversing in prayer.
Say “yes” to loving others well.
God will lead us to the right choice if we simply seek Him and His priorities. But remember, we must allow ourselves to rest so that we can re-cooperate and make these wise decisions, motivated by love and the Lord.
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