Know Your Role - Guard Your Time

I like to take time away now and then for quiet reflection and prayer. It is usually when I am feeling off kilter a bit or if I am looking into a new season. It always requires an honest look within. Every venture in this direction proves to be a reevaluation of my priorities. God always wants to make sure that Jesus is dead center.

This July like many others, I look ahead to a new season - that of Fall. The Lord has so graciously placed me in a position of influence, and my desire is that He be glorified as I wrestle and stumble through. I've decided to delve into a favorite book of mine during my visit with my Mom. As I sat on my favorite couch last night, after everyone had gone to bed, I dithered for a while trying to decide which book to pick up. I brought a good list of books to choose from. There was discipleship material, Christian fiction, guitar prose . . . but my heart was drawn to a nobler pursuit. I wanted to feel close to God in that moment, which for me means it's time for some character building.

I would recommend the following book to anybody who desires to emulate a close walking relationship with Christ. The word "leadership" adorns the cover, but don't let that fool you. This masterpiece prepares any heart for the upward call of loving God and others. It is called "Spiritual Leadership" by J. Oswald Sanders. If you decide to give it a look, proceed with caution. This book will not leave you unchanged.

So what did God teach me in the two chapters I was able to get through before dozing off last night? I'll tell you, it was a big enough lesson to last me a lifetime. It is something He keeps whispering to me over and over again. I just cannot seem to escape this vision.

I started listing my priorities, God, Mark, kids, extended family, friends, work/ministry. I wrote down ways that I will put these priorities into practice - and they all had one common denominator. LOVE . . . How will I truly love God, Mark, the kids, my family and friends, and those I serve next to in the ministry? God made it very clear to me that HIS priority is love.

To share this stuff feels extremely risky. This is private. But I will pour myself out like a drink offering, with hopes to encourage all of you to sit down and ask God how you should be living your life. Here are the parameters He has given me . . .

God - pray continuously, quiet time each morning, blog - cultivating awareness, Bible study and writing, worship with my guitar

Mark - pray for, kind in the morning (I can be grumpy at times), mid-day contact (lunch or a phone call), make dinner without complaining and quality time in the evening

Kids - pray for, do something with each of them every day (conversation, read, play, etc.), stop and really listen to them and tend to their needs with love and patience

Family - pray for, regular contact with (write on calender), forgive and add value to them

Friends - pray for, go out on dates with, send notes of love and encouragement

Work/Ministry - pray for, know my purpose and stay focused, pour into my team individually and corporately, attend to WM requirements, live God's priorities for ministry

Well, those are the instructions I've been given. Looks like I've got some work to do, and some boundaries to set. What about you? What is God's purpose for your life? I am not looking for a general statement, but a very personal and thought out answer. You don't need to give me your answer. That is between you and the Lord.

I heard recently that if you aim at nothing, you are bound to get there. What would God have you aim at? Who will you bring with you?

I encourage you to know what your role is and guard the precious gift of time you have been given. You are here for a reason. Know what that is, and spend every waking moment living out His priorities for your life.