RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

Many people begin the Christian life experiencing victory, only to find themselves defeated after a few years. I’ve watched men and women surrender to God’s call on their lives. They live with excitement and enthusiasm for Christ and do what He has called them to do. Yet years later, they can be found on the sidelines of the battle. What happens to these many well-meaning believers? Some of us may even ask, “What’s happened to me?”
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 sidetracked chasing rabbit trails that lead us nowhere. Often we settle for rabbit stew when God has prepared for us a banquet.
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 these seasons that our priorities change. My wife and I went through a seasonal change when our younger child, Renee, left home to study at the university. My wife was able to begin traveling with me. So 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 limit on my travel. But since the season has changed, I 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 neighbors are 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 the victorious Christian will have priorities that look something like this:

First: 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 God has for each of us. Priorities tell the truth about what’s really important to us. We can say we love God with all our hearts. But the true test of that love will be the priorities we have established and continue to refine as our 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 what is really important. Establishing priorities and living by them takes courage. 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 will pay benefits for years to come.