When God Orders Your Steps: How to Get a Grip on Your TimeSample

PUT GOD FIRST 

It’s so easy to let time get away from us, isn’t it? We start the day in hopes of getting things done, then before we know it, the day is over and not enough got checked off the to-do list. It can be frustrating and stressful. 

I’ve had my share of those kinds of days, and I’ve learned something. I’ve learned that God wants to be a part of our day every day, and He wants to help us get a grip on our time and get things done! When we put Him first each day – reading and meditating the Bible, spending time in prayer and listening to Him – He can set things order and help us be more productive and more peaceful than we ever imagined possible.

There have been times in my life when I was so busy I didn’t think I had time to spend the first part of my day with God. And those are the times when I’ve needed to the most! I’ve developed a 4-step the habit in the mornings for putting God first: (1) spend time praising and magnifying Him (2) read His Word (3) talk with Him (aka pray), and (4) listen to Him. Once I do those things, then I make my to-do list for the day.

I ask Him how to get things done, what order to do them in, or maybe what to delegate, or what to postpone. In other words, I ask God to help me every step of the way.

When we do things in His strength and power, we’re more effective and much less stressed. He knows exactly how to map out our time. When we put Him first, He somehow can make extra time. Of course He doesn’t really add hours to the day—but He makes the day run smoothly, and we end up getting way more done. We can enjoy His presence as we tackle potentially stressful events, and even be peaceful doing it (which is priceless).

Matthew 6:33 says it this way, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” I take that literally! Seek Him first—before anything else. I’ve found that when I put Him first, He makes sure I have everything I need to equip for the day.