A Refining of Priorities by Mercy Found Me

Today’s guest post is by Jacqueline from mercy found me

This new year has arrived in full bloom, and as it begins I’m sensing a need for some purposeful pruning–a refining of my priorities. There are so many things that are important for me to accomplish, and my to-do list is a mile long. I check one thing off and another just hops right on, in an endless and demanding cycle. And sometimes what is really important to me isn’t always represented by what I spend my time doing. So what should be the priority? How do I measure the most important thing?

And the answer comes from God’s Word, which always provides the refining and pruning that my heart needs. And I find it right there in Deuteronomy…

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (NASB)

 

God … He is to be first. Pursuing Him is the most important choice. In the midst of all my busyness and the lists to be accomplished, the priority is how I’m honoring Him while checking off my list, and less about the order in which I check it off. It’s about my character instead of my tasks. And I am to love God with EVERYTHING within me, and surrender myself to His way of being, and I am to teach my children to do that too, in every moment of every day.

I am to be their example, and create an atmosphere where their hearts become ripened … ready to fall in love with Him.

I am to be a reflection to them of who He is–a loving God full of mercy, grace, lovingkindness, gentleness, and patience.

I am their first practical glimpse of Him–their experience with me laying some stones down as a foundation for their own relationship with Him.

And being reminded of this overwhelms me. Because I am imperfect. And I fail every day. I’m too easily irritated and too quick to raise my voice. I get flustered and impatient. I set unrealistic expectations and get frustrated when they aren’t met.

And yet, as imperfect as I am, I’m the one He has chosen for them. He has made me their mom, and He believes I can be what they need, and the Holy Spirit promises to help me. And this is so humbling and I am so grateful.

I’m realizing I need to pick my battles more wisely and seize each and every moment more. I’m needing to be okay with having a messier house and at ease with things not being done exactly as I think they should be, and focus more on my responses amidst these situations.

And as I strive to obey and die to self, they will see and learn how to die to self too. By modeling instead, the fruit of the Spirit in the middle of chaos, I will be teaching them by example that ultimately obedience to God is our love for Him in action. If we love Him, we will obey Him, and allow Him to conform our character to His–our obedience the way we give thanks for who He is and what He has done for us.

And so in this new year, while I’m checking-off my never-ending to-do list, I’m purposing to realign my priority. I’m asking for His help–that I may reflect Him in more of my mommy-crazed moments. And in whatever task I am completing I am praying that I will measure everything against this …

Am I loving God with all my heart, soul, and might?

And am I teaching my children to love Him too?

May we each refocus and pursue an onging process of surrender and obedience, that we love God with everything that is within us, and in doing so, reflect Him to our children. A way modeling and teaching them how surrender and obey Him too.

How do you refine and evaluate your priorities for a New Year?

Jacque resides in Southern California as a wife, and mama to 3 boys and 2 girls, ages 4-16. When not enjoying their new homeschooling adventures, she works as a labor & delivery RN and never tires of the miracle and wonder of birth! She travels along life’s road, amidst daily missteps and failures, yet has been found by God’s mercy and met by God’s grace. Her heart is to encourage others to see His mercy and grace in their everyday moments, and be healed and set free by the freedom only He brings. You can find her writing at www.mercyfoundme.com or on twitter @jacque_watkins.