Daily Devotional: Tuesday, Dec 29

Speaker: Paul Diaz

Theme: First Things First

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Break My Heart by Mike Flathers; Hosanna by Paul Baloche; Sing to the King by Passion Worship Band; Came to my Rescue by Hillsong.

Read: Psalm 25:4-5; John 17:4; Mark 8:34-35

Think: I was having dinner with a long-time friend and catching up on life. She is incredibly giving and has always been involved in all kinds of things... volunteering with Big Brothers and Sisters, helping an elderly neighbor, tons of ministries at her church, devoted to her kids and family like no one I've ever seen.... You get the picture. As we were talking about the New Year she said she'd really like to settle into a good schedule and not be so busy all the time.

That's a familiar desire isn't it? And as Pastor Paul talked about establishing priorities on Sunday, I think that's really the key to handling busyness. Max Lucado, a well-known Christian author and Pastor says this in his book, Walking with the Savior:

Being busy is not a sin. Jesus was busy. Paul was busy. Peter was busy. Nothing of significance is achieved without effort and hard work and weariness. Being busy in and of itself is not a sin. But being busy in an endless pursuit of things that leave us empty and hollow and broken inside-that cannot be pleasing to God.

Lucado continues on to encourage us to devote ourselves to the things that give us joy and to do what matters! A benchmark I often use in deciding what to put my time into is simply asking this: Is there an eternal impact if I do this? Everything I spend time on I want to be used by God to help someone come to know Him or to grow in Him. I want to be able to answer God just as John the Apostle answered:  having accomplished the work that you gave me to do, I brought you glory on earth. John 17:4

Do: There are so many things tugging on our time... Let's decide today to invest in what is truly important. That may mean trading in some good things we do in order to do some great things for Jesus.

Pray: God, I want to be used by you to make an impact in this world. Help me to see what I need to change in my schedule in order to make room for the great things you want to do through me. Amen.

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