Devotions with Pastor Michael

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

I have a confession to make. If I allow myself, I can be a full-fledged workaholic. There is always so much needing to be done: cut the grass, fix a broken toy, change the oil in the car, clean the garage. And then there’s always ministry related tasks: reply to emails, return phone calls, check in on this family, prepare for this message. This list goes on.

These things are all important, even necessary, but to have healthy family relationships, it is absolutely essential to prioritize time wisely. If I’m not careful, I can quickly allow stuff, work, and the expectations of others to dictate my time. As a result, I find that I’m not in control of my schedule—rather it controls me.

It hit me the other day as I took my oldest daughter, who’s almost nine, out on a princess date: In almost that same span of time, she’ll be gearing up to leave the house. As I considered how fast my time with her has gone, I was overwhelmed with the realization that coming years would not slow down. I quickly took a look at how I was spending my time and began making some necessary adjustments. I can’t say I’ve mastered balance, but I have learned there is always one more call I could make, one more thing to check off my to-do list. But the reality is, those phone calls and lists will still be there tomorrow. That won’t always be the case with my children.

Love has an old adage. “It’s spelled T-I-M-E.” Taking that into consideration, the best way I know to love my family is simply by experiencing life together: working, playing, studying, serving, or simply relaxing with them. There are some great ways to invest in our relationships, the dividends of which are immeasurable.

Some questions to consider today:
What does your schedule say about your priorities?
Are there any changes you need to make?

-Pastor Michael