Daily Grind

2014/October by Marji Laine 2 Comments

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23

In focusing on this verse, I started contemplating how I spend my days. I’m to take up the Lord’s “yoke” (Matthew 11:29-30) everyday. I’m to be “burdened” by those things to which He leads me. That’s what following is about. The disciples shed the details of their lives to sit at the feet of the Master and learn from Him.

He asks me to do the same thing. (You, too, by the way.) But what can I shed? Everything I do has been set on
me by the Lord. I’ve not accepted responsibility for anything without prayer and belief that He’s led me to that activity/project/purpose.

So my first step to truly following is to evaluate my priorities. Those things, given to me by the Father as my personal responsibilities. I need to pray over each of them and see if they are truly where He wants me to spend my time.

Homeschooling, for instance. I have no doubt that He wants me to continue with my last two kids. And they want to continue. But does He want me to teach the two writing classes (voluntarily) for other homeschoolers? Does He want me to continue as the high school coordinator for the large co-op we attend, or should we remain in that co-op? Should my girls spend such a large portion of their school year in volleyball?

See, He knows the benefits of the different puzzle pieces of our lives. If we’re trying to do too many things, we’re stealing from someone else’s puzzle. If we don’t step up where we’re supposed to, our puzzle will have empty spaces.

So I’ll take the priorities I have now and spend the week praying over them. Some of them may have to be reduced. Some may play a lesser role for a while (like volleyball which is ending for the year – YEA!)

If I truly want to follow, then my priorities must line up with God’s path and purpose for me. (Tweet This!)

This isn’t a one time deal, either. the path turns from time to time. The way narrows. I must re-evaluate again and again to prune or add things to my priorities.

Next week, scheduling to match the priorities God has given.

Your turn: Is there some activity that you do that you feel God is wanting you to give up?