Often, we get tripped up in the life and work to which God has called us because of misplaced priorities.  We begin well, but finish poorly because we didn’t keep “the main thing - the main thing.”  We get side tracked chasing interesting looking rabbits that lead us nowhere.  Often we settle for rabbit stew when God has prepared a banquet of sirloin steak for us.
 
In order to maintain correct priorities, we have to always keep our focus on God’s purpose in our lives.  There are seasons in everyone’s life.  It’s often in the change of   the seasons of life that our priorities change.  For instance, my wife and I went through a seasonal change about five years ago.  Our youngest child, Renee, left home to go away to study at the university.  Thus, my wife was able to begin traveling with me.  Therefore, I stepped up the pace of my travel and speaking schedule.  As long as our children were home and unable to travel with me, I placed a self-imposed limit on my travel.  However, since the season has changed, I now have the liberty to travel more often.

I know God’s purpose for my life is first to love Him with all my heart, mind and soul.  Second, it’s to love my neighbor as myself.  My closest and most important neighbor is my family.  Therefore, they take high priority in my life – higher than my ministry.  I’ve seen many people lose everything – their ministry and family because of misplaced priorities.  You may be wondering what a Christian’s priorities should be.  I’m convinced that the victorious Christian will have priorities which will look something like this:

The number one priority is - my walk with God.

Second – my walk with my family.

Third – my work and ministry.

I’ve seen many people establish incorrect priorities and eventually find themselves defeated.  Our seasons of life may change, but our purpose in life must remain constant.  And our priorities in life must always be built around the eternal purpose that God has for each of us.  Priorities tell the truth about what’s really important to us.  We can say that we love God with all of our hearts.  But the true test of that love will be revealed in the priorities which we have established and continue to refine as the seasons of life change. 

Priorities find their expression in time spent.  Our time should be spent doing what is important to us.  Some people want to do that, but they don’t muster the courage to do that which is important.  Establishing priorities in our lives and living by them is a courageous act. But such courage will produce victory in our daily lives.  Take that step today and begin to establish God given priorities in your life.  It pays benefits for years to come.