The Only To-Do On the List That Really Matters

Hey y'all,

Well, we're officially a week into the new year. Yikes.

Resolutions are hopefully well-underway. We're beginning to see our floors and countertops again after the holiday scramble. For the majority of us, this fresh new start after the holidays is oftentimes just as busy as we try to set into motion new and better habits for the future, and maybe even focus on taking out a few of the bad ones already in place.

I'm on the sidelines, playing "Eye of the Tiger" for you as you knock out your entire agenda today, whooping and hollering that you're definitely the bomb.com.

But take a second and please hear this brief reminder God had for me today:

My husband and I are aiming to read through the entire Bible chronologically this year. We are currently finishing up Job. Chapter 28 is a fantastic reminder right now as we seek wisdom for the new year and set our goals.
In verse 28 of this chapter, God tells us that "the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)

My agenda today looks absolutely crazy; and for the week, it's insane. This Bible reading plan we're doing only has me reading just a couple of chapters each day; but I'll admit to you, I'm already a couple of days behind. Because there really just aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I should be doing, much less everything that I'd like to be doing.
But here in this verse, pretty much in the middle of the Bible, God reminds me what is truly important on my long list of goals and things that need to be done: taking time to sit with Him and read His Words to me. This item on my list is not only the most important one, but it is also the best choice I can make all day. It is, The Good Choice.

Well, hello there, Mary and Martha. (Luke 10:38+) Mommies, wives -- read about these two women.

"Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'" (emphasis added)

Firstly, can you imagine having such a relationship that you could call out the Lord like Martha did??
Secondly, He didn't even reprimand her -- not really. He didn't say that all of her agenda and serving and preparing was bad. All He pointed out to her was that the most necessary thing on her list of things to do was to sit with Him, just for a little bit, and hear what He had to say.

There are many reasons why this is The Good Choice.
God gave us our work to do. It is a gift and our calling. Doing our work well is a testimony of Him, and our personal way of giving Him worship and glory and honor. But (and I've said this many times before, and I'll say it many more times) we can not complete our agendas well, fulfill our calling to it's greatest potential, without Him. This is one of the biggest reasons why spending time at His feet, studying His Word, is The Good Choice, the necessary choice, the only choice that matters on your to-do list today. Truly.

So, wherever you are, whatever the next thing on your list is, crack open your Bible or open the audible app on your phone and take some time to really hear Him. It can be 10 minutes. It can be 5. However long you have, however infrequent, make The Good Choice and watch Him move in mighty ways because you are seeking out True Wisdom.

Make it part of your agenda every day. 10 minutes with Him.

Side note: If your goal as a God-following parent is to someday lead your kids to Christ, then one of the greatest weapons you can have in your arsenal is the example you set by spending time with your God.