This year, do first things first!

We all get the same 24 hours every day. That’s 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. And we must give an account to God for how we use them (see Ecclesiastes 11:9). A good place to start is by asking yourself, ‘How would I spend the next 24 hours if I knew I would stand before God tomorrow?’ Your answer can help you prioritise your life. Think about it: if somebody steals your phone, you can buy another one. If they steal your clothes, you can get more. But who can you call when your time is taken? How you spend your time is how you spend your life! Ephesians 5:16 CEV says, ‘Make every minute count’, so learn to do the following:

(1) Stop saying yes to everybody. When your spiritual gut says no, but your people-pleasing gut says yes, go with your spiritual instinct. Jesus did. It’s what enabled Him to tell His Father, ‘I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.’ (John 17:4 NKJV) Don’t let the good rob you of the best. Back off on some activities so you can excel in others.

(2) Be led by the Spirit, not the flesh. Paul says, ‘But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.’ (Galatians 5:16 ESV) Furthermore, when you walk in the Spirit, you burn the oil, not the wick; the Holy Spirit supplies you with strength.

(3) Put first things first. A mark of real maturity is doing what you don’t feel like doing when you don’t feel like doing it. So, this year, put first things first—and keep them there!