Post No. 11 - Reading Time: 4:30

This week started off with a great service Sunday, regardless of the diminished numbers in attendance. Many times if you are going to press in and experience the Lord, you have to overlook your expectations and build on what you have. The great thing about the service was my son, Stephen Jenkins, was welcomed as our newest member here at Calvary. He’s always been back in the booth handling the media as long as I have been in pastoral ministry. He was too young back when I was evangelizing. Now in his 30’s, he is still keeping up with all the technological changes, doing our on-screen lyrics, and producing the video of the service.

I didn’t even get to my blog on Monday this week because I’ve got a full schedule of hospital visits, shut-in visits, preparation for a baptismal today (Tuesday), and our Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday night. I could feel the tension in my neck this morning when I got up and my mind was darting all over the place as to what I should be doing first. It’s always been hard for me to prioritize competing activities, and I’m definitely one of those people who thinks he can get so much more done than he actually can. However, what really happens is the more pressure I heap upon myself the more I procrastinate and avoid getting started. Does that sound familiar to you?

Divine Order

My go to verse for when I get myself in these situations is Psalm 90:12 (KJV) “So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” This does not mean count the days until we die. It means to set them in order of priority, as Stephen Covey says in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, “...put first things first.” Generally I do, but on days when I have a lot of physical and mental tasks to perform, I sometimes choose the hardest tasks first, according to my own wisdom, but fail to seek God’s wisdom for the day. What is his priority? How would he number my list?

This all leads back to the self-discipline I talk so much about, but struggle with so much in reality. Like Jesus said, ”The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Another way we put it is we “bite off more than we can chew.” We all hate things hanging over our heads. But Psalm 90:12 answers itself by telling us what the first priority is, “apply our hearts unto wisdom.” We must first seek the Lord and take care of his business first, before we even begin to number our list of priorities. This may be the first year I’ve truly attempted to follow this pattern by putting prayer and the study of God’s Word first each day.

First Things First

On several occasions, as I have “put first things first,” God has transformed my days by building me up on the inside to tackle the things hanging over my head. Something more than me rises up on the inside. There is a voice that says, “You can do this “thou mighty man of valour.”” (Judges 6:12) This is what the angel spoke to Gideon, who had to leave his hiding place, just eking out enough to get by, and go public with his anointing from God. Many times you have to rise to the occasion, but you must prepare for it in the secret place of Gods’ presence. For Gideon, knowing that the Lord had ordered his steps made him mighty in those same steps. Also, remember, the angel began his address to Gideon with these words, “The Lord is with thee.” That’s what you need to know as you face each day. He is your means of success, you can’t do anything of value without him, and he is the strength that overcomes your weakness.

It’ll Work Out

Somehow after a morning of devotions and an hour of prayer, the rest of my day just works out. And even if I feel I have fallen short, there is a comfort from God that assures me that I did the most important thing first—I spent time with him.

Life will always be busy and you will never get it all done. So what do you choose to put first? Maybe it ought to be the things that truly last.

“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part,
 which shall not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:42 (KJV)

Until next Monday (‘er Tuesday?), may the Lord bless you! Pray for us!

Pastor Brian Jenkins

Calvary Assemblies of God