Most of us have a list of priorities. Sometimes we have the life "priorities" the things that we feel we need to put first in our lives, and sometimes we have the daily priorities. The fight is getting the two sets to line up. When we don't we end up making statements like Hermione did in the movie. We end up giving up, throwing in the towel and essentially going to bed before someone comes up with that plan that will wreck what we were thinking.
Proverbs 16:1 says "We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer" NLT
So, how do we go about making plans, that the LORD will give the right answer too? Plans that line up with Him? I've been spending a lot of time thinking about that again lately. I'm a list maker, a planner, an organizer. Yes, I know that means I'm type A and possibly rigid with my planning, but that's the part that I've really been working on.
It's been a multiple year process and one that will most likely continue to need to be revived. Here is where I'm at now though.
I start, as so many have suggested, with my list of things that I find important.
1. My relationship with God
2. My relationship with my husband
3. My relationship with my children
4. My relationship with other family members
5. My relationship with friends
6. My job
7. My home
8. My health
9. My hobbies
10. My goals
From there I try to build my day. There's a list for me, there's always a list, but sorting out my priorities mean that on any given day I'm willing to let the list go, or rotate what is taking the top position. Yet, how do I do that? One of the things I do is make sure I don't have too many things on the list. I've heard the number is 6 I've heard the number is 10, but regardless we need to keep in mind we can't do it all in one day!
Next I spend time thinking about the things that are non negotiable.
I need daily time in the Word. When I don't take the time for that, I loose my focus and my plans, no matter how well thought out, tend to get messed up. Are there days that I don't get this time first thing? Yes. Life does happen, but my goal is to make time first thing in the morning to spend time with God in His Word. When that doesn't happen I purposely leave my Bible out on the kitchen table so I don't forget.
The other non negotiable items rotate. There are days when the projects or appointments the kids have to get done or get to, need to take priority over other things that are on the to do list. Three days a week my job has to take priority over my home, as those are the days I teach. Regardless, I try to take some time for each of the things on my priority list at least once a day.
So what does this look like in real life?
Let's look at today.
6 am- Up, dressed, finished packing lunches FAMILY PRIORITY
6:15 am- son asks me to drive him to school (Priority interruption taking place!!) He's been sick, so getting him to school needs to outweigh some other things on the list.
6:15am-6:45 Time in the Word RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
6:45 am Make sure daughter is up and then out the door with son, prayer time in the car on the way home RELATIONSHIP WITH KIDS
7:00 am back home. Took 10 minutes to complete a form that son needs for school tomorrow-which was on the to do list for the day HOME LIFE STUFF
7:10 am out the door with daughter RELATIONSHIP WITH KIDS
7:30 am arrive at a local middle school to borrow music for my band program
and catch up with friends that teach there JOB AND FRIENDSHIPS
8:00 am Grocery store HOME LIFE
8:45 am Home, Groceries away, laundry started, and getting ready for work HOME LIFE/JOB
9:30 am Finishing this blog!!! HOBBIES/GOALS
9:45 am OR AT LEAST THIS IS THE CURRENT PLAN
Out the door for work
10-3:45 pm Work JOB PRIORITY
3:50 pm Take daughter to appointment KIDS
5:00 pm Make and eat dinner HOME LIFE/FAMILY TIME
6:00 pm Walk dog with Hubby RELATIONSHIP TIME
6:30 pm Rec Center for Workout Class HEALTH
8:15 pm Home for rest of laundry, homework, and any chores that need done FAMILY AND HOME
10:00 pm Read for 20 min. GOALS
Obviously, I'm only to the 9:45 am time frame so things may change, but this is the plan at the moment. Keeping in mind that God may have different plans for my day helps me to be more flexible. Knowing that His ways are perfect and that I can rest on Him, also helps me to realize that there are days when the list doesn't get done and instead of saying "I got nothing done today" I'll know that my priorities may have changed, but that I tried my best to put first what needed to get done first and let things that could wait be pushed aside so that the people and things that need to take priority don't get neglected along the way.
Got to run! As, the time is now slipping away! But, being a bit flexible means I'm not in panic mode, but relaxed because I got to spend a few minutes on my hobby!
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