Set Your Priorities Straight
Several weeks ago, I felt like I was sinking in a sea of anxiety. Having feelings of anxiety is not uncommon for me, but it was more intense than usual and from a “logical” perspective, there didn’t seem to be a reason why it felt this intense and all-consuming.
While Matt was at work, I had the day alone and decided to rekindle a way that I used to spend time with God. So I turned off my phone, pulled up YouTube on the TV, and searched for a worship playlist. For the next hour and a half I spent time at the feet of Jesus pouring out praise, releasing the pent-up emotions, and truly fixing my eyes on Him instead of the triggering circumstances that contributed to my anxiety. And for the first time in a while, I felt refreshed and filled up.
This moment reminded me of this biblical story:
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
- John 12:1-8
There can be different takeaways from this special moment when Mary anoints Jesus with expensive perfume, but what I saw here was unrestricted devotion. It didn’t matter that the perfume was costly. It didn’t matter that her hair got soaked with oil. Her love for Jesus overshadowed the inconvenience. She poured out the symbolism of how much she cared for Him.
While worshipping Jesus in my living room cost me nothing, a thought dropped into my mind during that time. My priorities need to be realigned. The world tells us that we need to maximize productivity, we need to set goals and accomplish them, and we need to constantly be checking off our to-do lists. The world’s narrative is just like Judas’— he judged Mary’s “wasteful” action because it wasn’t “practical.”
It’s very easy and tempting to get caught up in the workaholic culture and think that spending time worshipping Jesus is a waste of time, but it’s the very act of pouring out my cup to Jesus that actually fills up my cup to be able to pour out to others. Resting at His feet and ministering to Him is the most important element of my day. My relationship with Him comes first.
He also revealed to me how mis-prioritizing Him was like pulling the last piece of wood from the Jenga game–—it crumbles the whole stack. All my other priorities had become disordered. My first priority is my relationship with Jesus, then my husband, then family and friends, and finally the work of ministry. I had replaced my relationship with Jesus with the work of ministry and it had tipped the boat.
Of course, I need to do constant re-evaluation of my priorities and it will not always be perfect, but after this moment with Him, the unsettledness that was trying to oppress me lifted up.
Maybe you find yourself in a similar position. You have put-off spending time resting with Jesus because of excuses or realistic busy-ness. Now you feel more burnt out than ever. But I want you to take away this truth: spending time with Jesus is the most valuable and important way to spend your time. Remember, He designed you to be in a relationship with Him. Yes, He is with you always. He nevers leaves your side. But He wants you to pause and just be with Him.
Similarly, I can be with Matt the entire day while we do house chores, errands, and work on the ministry. But, nothing beats focused quality time with each other.
Take a Moment:
Where have you misaligned your priorities? What can you do to practically reorder them?
Are you finding joy in the moments with Jesus or are you too goal-oriented and too future-oriented to be present?
Choose to spend uninterrupted time with Jesus today. It doesn’t have to be hours or even an hour, but just sit at His feet and pour out your heart and praises to Him.
Maybe you fear that if you spend time with Jesus, you won’t get anything done. But, I challenge you to do it anyway. I think you’ll see that you actually end up with more time to do what you need to do.
Prioritizing your relationship with Jesus is what it means to live by faith.
-Alina