First Things First: Setting Priorities

I. God's Goal for us Matt 6:33; 1 Cor 10:31; 2 Cor 5:9; Col 3:23

Please Him, Glorify Him, Represent Him

Alternative: Idolatry

Read Gospel Treason by Brad Bigney, From Pride to Humility by Stuart Scott. Watch Heart of Change videos: www.faithlafayette.org/heart.

II. God's Purpose for us: to make us more like Christ Rom 8:29

III. God's Priorities for us

1. God Himself Ps 42:1-2; Matt 6:33; Mark 12:30

1. Husband Titus 2:4-5, Eph 5:22-24, 31

1. Family Prov 14:1, 24:3-4

1. Our Parents Eph 6:2

1. Believers Gal 6:10; Rom 12; 1 Cor 12

1. Unbelievers Matt 5:13; 2 Cor 5:20; Col 4:5-6

Life is about relationships!! Matt 22:37-40

IV. Questions to ask when setting priorities.

1. Starting with God, how am I making Him my top priority?

"My sin is not so much this or that particular evil, but my continual separation, disunion, distance from Thee and having a loose spirit towards Thee." Valley of Vision--A Collection of Puritan Prayers

1. Do I have a plan for developing my love for Him?

1. Am I at church whenever possible to learn more about Him?

1. Am I talking to Him and studying His word?

1. Am I changing? Am I aware of areas that I need to change? Have I seen growth in my life?

1. Husband

1. Do I have a plan for developing my love for him?

1. Am I putting my ministry to him above other ministries?

1. Do I know what is important to him regarding my priorities?

1. Have I asked him what is important to him and what he would like me to be doing more or less of?

1. Am I teaching and training my children?

1. Do I know what their weaknesses and needs are?

1. What can I do today to show them that they are a high priority in my life?

1. Do my parents have needs that I should be meeting?

1. How am I encouraging other believers?

1. Who am I mentoring/discipling?

1. How am I contributing to building up the Body of Christ?

1. Where am I serving? What's my ministry?

1. What unbelievers around me have needs?

1. Who am I befriending?

1. How am I letting my “light” shine? Does my life give others a “good opinion” of God?

V. General Principles

1. Opportunities related to higher priority areas take precedence.

1. Focus on areas where you are uniqulely designed or positioned to serve.

1. Need takes precedence as well. Luke 10:25-37

1. However, need does not necessitate a call. Mark 1:35-39

Christ’s example

1. Christ did not do everything that He could have done.

1. Christ did not do everything others wanted Him to do. John 6:14-15

1. Christ did what God His Father wanted Him to do. John 4:34, 6:38, 17:4

Recommended Resources:

A Woman After God's Own Heart, Elizabeth George

Becoming a Woman of Purpose, Cynthia Heald

"Heart of Change" DVD series, Pastor Brent Aucoin

Life Management For Busy Women, Elizabeth George

Tyranny of the Urgent!, Charles E. Hummel

When people are Big and God is Small, Ed Welch