Priority Reorganization...

Yesterday morning I clicked on one of my favorite author's new blog post.  Joanna Weaver has written some amazing books like Having a Mary Heart in a Martha Word, Having a Mary Spirit, and Lazarus Awakening.  She is working on a new project and asked for help.  She needs snippets from her books that really speak to her readers and would be appropriate in a devotional book.  Amazing how she asked for that, we just talked about priorities at MOPS, and the little sign on my bathroom mirror for over a year has been from one of her books and talks about priorities!  It's like God is speaking to me....

Paraphrased from Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

The Practical Power of "One Thing"


Jesus told Martha she only needed one thing and that was fellowship with Christ.  The principle of "one thing" can also have smaller, practical implications that can help when life feels overwhelming.  Here are some practices for when life feels overwhelming.

1. Invite Jesus to rule and reign. Start your day with prayer and ask God for wisdom and guidance.
2. Ask God to reveal the next step. This is a big one for me! I keep praying "what next, what next".  The idea is to not let the big picture overwhelm you.  
3. Have faith that what needs to get done will get done. If we started the day with prayer and we are asking God for the next step, then trust that what wasn't accomplished was either unnecessary or is being taken care of by God.
4. Be open to the Spirit's leading. Don't resist interruptions, flow with the one thing that God brings across your path.  

Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.
 Proverbs 16:3

This was liberating for me when I read it.  I try to keep my list shorter and my options open.  I know the most important things are not necessarily the most urgent.  I want the important tasks of going to the park with my kids and playing to not be drowned in a list that can't be completed of urgent tasks.  

My priorities are more inline when I am focused on the "one thing" and only the "next step".  By not looking too far ahead, I won't miss what is right in front of me that God feels is important!