Take a stand for... Priorities (JOY- Jesus, others, yourself)

Take a stand for... Priorities

Often we find ourselves being overwhelmed by too many things to do or to prepare. Even women in the bible felt the same way (Luke 10:40). To set priorities is to determine what is important to you and how your time is to be spent.

If you were to be completely honest with yourself, who or what takes priority over your life first and foremost? Could it be your family? Job? Money?

No matter what is going on in our life, God should always be the number one priority. Our first and most important.
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you."
I encourage you to read Mat. 6:25-34, because if we put God first and not worry what lies ahead or what we will eat or drink, God will provide it for us. God knows us more than anyone else, look up to Him, He knows what you need. We can not both worry and trust God at the same time because worry destroys the single-hearted devotion Jesus described in verse 33.

Romans 12:11 "not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;"
God wants us to set priorities in our life and then organize our time and our tasks so that they reflect those priorities and do not allow the little details to overwhelm us. Take this time to read Colossians 3:1-17

God wants us to realize that the most important person we are is the one that we are with Him! Honestly, the moment I started fully letting God into my life and putting Him first in my life, I became my most happiest and I continue to feel so blessed and thankful now than ever before. God is just that good. All my worries are gone, my stress is gone. My stress used to be just the typical stress of a school student, being overwhelmed with work. But now I'm not stressed, I get more work being in college but somehow I'm always able to finish everything days in advance and still able to study and read my bible everyday. God found the time for me to do this and much more for Him. I truly am blessed and I have no intentions of ever putting Him anywhere else than first in my life. He is always with us. Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." "

Okay, so how can I put God first in my life?

• Be consistent in your priorities, put God first place. (Matt. 6:33)
• Talk to Him regularly in quite time in prayer. (Ps. 55:17, Luke 5:15,16)
• Examine your own heart. (Eccl. 3:1)
• Keep yourself spiritually fit. (Is. 30:15)

Remember, Jesus had met with the Father in intense prayer and meditation to determine His priorities and to prepare Himself for each day. (Luke 5:15,16)

Also, make sure you are putting others first before yourself. 

We can remember it like this..

JOY

• J- Jesus
• O- Others
• Y- Yourself

Jesus first, others second, yourself last. Easy way to remember our set of priorities. 

One last thing to leave you with...

Ecclesiastes 7:8 "the end of a thing is better than its beginning"

Put God first because experiencing eternity in heaven, rather than hell, will be much better than having lived here. :)

*image courtesy to bruncee

Take a stand for.. Joy! Patience! Prayer!

Take a stand for.. Joy! Patience! Prayer!

Romans 12:12 "Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;" NKJV

This is one of my favorite scriptures, as well as chapter. I advise you to read Romans chapter 12, it's a great chapter to read and study. Verses 9-20 is even, how we should behave like Christian. But for this post, I'd life to focus on Romans 12:12. We can learn so much from even just one scripture, and it is beneficial for us to examine scriptures. 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." KJV 

So lets break it down..
"Rejoicing in hope,.."
So, what does it mean to rejoice in hope?

• 1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," NKJV
• 1 Thessalonians 1:3 "remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father," NKJV
• 1 Thessalonians 2: 19 "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming" NKJV

So, to rejoice you must be happy. Why should we be happy? Be happy because you have a hope of salvation thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ through his resurrection!

Next,
"Patient in tribulation,.."
Wait a minute, what does tribulation mean? Well, according to dictionary.com
Tribulation: (n) 1. grievous trouble; severe trial or suffering
                        2. an instance of this; an affliction, trouble, ect.
When we come face to face with troubling times, given trials to go through, suffering with great affliction... we must remain patient and not let it get to us, no matter how hard the weight of it may pull us down. Remember, the testing of our faith produces patience.

• James 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." NKJV
• 2 Corinthians 6:4 "But in all things we command ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distress," NKJV
• Colossians 1:11 "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;" NKJV

Many times in our life our patience is tested, many times for the littlest of things. Sometimes I may be impatient with my littlest sister but then I remember that she is just a child as I once was. Just remember they don't stay little for long so enjoy those times when they ask for a story to be read to them, to draw with them, or even play a game with them. These children look up to us, so give them something to look up to and just love them as Christ loves us. Having the patience in the littlest of things can even go such a long way. But, sometimes it's a lot bigger than the small things isn't it? As a Christian, don't be afraid to look towards your brothers and sister for prayers, and always look up to God. Do not spend much time worrying for things of this world, be patient because we have the hope of salvation. (Titus 1:2, 3:7)

Finally,

"Continuing steadfastly in prayer"

Steadfastly: (Adj.) 1. fixed in direction; steadily directed

                            2. firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc.

As defined by dictionary.com

Our prayer life is so very important so I'd like to go a little more in depth with this. To pray steadfastly, meaning to pray very frequently. Never stop, and always remember to make it an important part of your day. Many people also think it is beneficial for them to keep a prayer journal, that way it is easy for them to remember some of the things they'd like to remember to pray about or the people who need prayers.

• Through prayer we can find peace that guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
• We also obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of our need (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Take in mind that..

• Not all prayers are acceptable by God (Proverbs 28:9)
• God does not hear the prayers of all men (1 Peter 3:12, Isiah 59:1-2)

So, what is a prayer that is pleasing to God? 

In the book of Matthew, Jesus had much to say about prayer in His sermon on the mount. The kind of prayer which finds favor in God's sight. This is Matthew 6:5-15. In this we learn what type of prayer that pleases Him, what not to do in regards of prayer, insincere prayer, our spiritual needs, and much more we can learn on this subject of the model prayer. Lets be sure we offer the kind of prayer that pleases Him. Do not take prayer for granted, it is a blessing that we have someone there, every hour of the day. Keep your prayer life healthy.

In conclusion, there is just so much you can learn from and take in even just from one scripture. Open up your bible and take in what God has to say to us all.