One of the biggest lessons I have learned this year is about prioritising.
Deeeper than that though, was a message I heard in a sermon: you make time for what you value (#PRIORITISE).
That hit me straight in the heart. It is easy to say we value something, but it is a whole nother thing to prove it.
Firstly, what does it mean to “value” something?
Well I went to trusty Google and typed in “value definition” (yes, yes, very scientific and smart I know; sometimes my abundant knowledge surpasses even me) and this is what I found:
“consider (someone or something) to be important or beneficial; have a high opinion of”
In all honesty, I consider a good burger something that I have a high opinion of. And let’s not forget the new Baywatch movie (no, I haven’t watched it yet but I definitely have a high opinion of Zac Efron without a shirt on…. Hehe). Definitely my gym is beneficial (the burgers may go to the thighs but they end up making less gains than if I wasn’t exercising :P ), and I consider my academics to be important (okay, sorry that’s a lie. Varsity has made me very lazy! Fine another lie. Stupid free YouTube has made me lazy...). My time for series- yup, that’s a very important time in the day.
Uhm, wait a minute…..
Where does God fit into that?
When I heard that sermon I felt convicted. Especially in terms of gym. In the beginning of the year especially, I would plan my life around gym: academics, social, everything. If it happened in a convenient gym time, I would miss it or plan it to fit into another suitable time which is not only selfish, it shows what I truly value. I’ve worked on it though and can honestly say this is switching around! (although the extra 2kg I picked up after these exams may not necessarily be a good thing :P I blame the fact that I studied so hard my brain needed extra snack fuel... Okay I’m just saying that so my grandparents think I worked more than I procrastinated #FreeWifiIsTooTempting)
Gym was my personal struggle, but we all have that one thing. The sad part is, eventually this “thing” will be an idol, it will become the god in your life.
Exodus 34:14 says, “Do not worship any other god for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
Firstly, WOW. Just WOW. God is JEALOUS for YOU. He wants your complete and undivided attention. He is so big and mighty, yet He still wants your complete love: He doesn’t want to share it.
Secondly, we become like what we worship. If you worship gym like I did, that becomes your reality. I have had some significant friendships die down because of it, I’ve struggled fitting God into my day because of it, and that is growing time I will never get back. With relationships especially (and God is the most important relationship), what we worship will determine how we act, treat and are in the relationships we have (relationships include friendships, those you meet, coworkers, spouse, siblings etc). At the end of the day, you have to look at what you are giving up and if it really is worth it.
I love gym, seriously being in that weight room is so fun for me, but at the end of the day, I value people more. Some of my loneliest moments have been spent in the gym, it just doesn’t always fill that “hole” you know. At one stage I got very unhappy and negative this year and just started separating myself from God because of it. Because of that, it just got worse! Thank goodness I got a bit of a talking to from a very powerful woman in my life and that was the start of my journey to redetermine what I truly value.
In earthly terms, I think what I value most is life itself. There are moments (like just before an exam I don’t feel prepared for) that I think life is pointless and hard and I just want to go to heaven now (I am SO excited to go to heaven- just that freedom!!!!!), but Jesus warns us in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Deuterononmy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave your nor forsake you.”
Changing your values is a tough process and it will take bravery and determination, but again, at the end of the day it’s all about cost vs. benefit. In business terms, if you’re making a consistent loss, there is not point keeping that business in operation.
Don’t let the wrong values ruin vital relationships.
There are 525600 minutes in a year, which actually isn’t very long at all. Each minute can be used in a very precious way, wasting one is a minute that you will never get back. So please, listen to my heart and WAKE UP :/
Revelations 3:16 says, “So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
There is no time to be lukewarm in our relationship with God. The same with family and friends; the second you’re lukewarm is the time the time you don’t give your relationships the full value they deserve. I feel this is essential for families: don’t sacrifice your children, spouse, siblings because you value a material thing. There is more to life, I promise you. And yes, the refining process is tough. I’m sure the whole process of getting all the dirt and rock off a diamond is neither fun nor easy, but when that diamond is shining, the effort was worth it.
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
This week I challenge you:
Think about what you really value, what you make the most time for and think about what you have had to sacrifice to keep doing this. Is it worth it? (Be brutally honest!!!)
If not, shift your focus. Pray and ask God to guide you to what is most important. Sometimes even writing a checklist helps me because I like seeing what I have accomplished :P
Most importantly, realise it will not be easy. But you don’t want easy. You are strong, brave and incredible. You don’t have to be lukewarm.
Fight for happiness. At the end of the day, God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.
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