A Struggle of Priority

As Fall approaches, school starts up again and families get back into their routines. Churches often follow suit. Life’s going to get busy for pastors, ministry staff and all of those who volunteer in a local church.

With the busyness of ministry, church can become very structure and process heavy. There always seems to be one more task, one more project, one more meeting, one more…

We pack these things into our schedules.

It’s not that these things are bad per say; many of them are quite essential to church life. I just get nervous.

I get nervous that we get so focused on plans and preparation, that we lose focus on the people. Lose focus on our families.

And dare I say it; lose focus on God.

Pastors are great at making plans.

If I’m to get honest for a moment, sometimes I find myself looking at my calendar far more than my Bible. That’s a problem.

But avoiding my calendar all together isn’t going to help. I just need to look at my calendar differently.

If I want to spend more time with the community, more time with my family and most importantly, more time with God; I have to control my calendar so it doesn’t control me.

Scheduled Empty Blocks

This year, my calendar needs to have empty blocks of time. But not empty in the sense that I do nothing. Empty so that I can do something else.

Empty so that I can do something different. Blocks of time set aside to move away from planning and preparation.

So I Can Decide

I can decide in that empty block to go meet someone new. I can decide in that empty block to take my wife for lunch, or take my boys out for ice cream.

I can decide in that empty block to have focused time of worship and devotion with our Lord.

In that empty block, I can decide to choose my Bible over my calendar.

Can I get your feedback?

Does it feel like your calendar is leading your life instead of God’s Word? How will you bring life back into focus?

Please comment below or share your answer on Facebook or Twitter.