At Home with Susan
Monthly Column by Susan Sikes

Jobs, Duties, Chores, Errands, Family, Church, Ministry – the list goes on and on! All of these things are important responsibilities that we as women have. The question is, “How do we prioritize them and keep them manageable?” The first thing we must do is discern which of these are from the Lord, and which ones Satan wants to use to keep us busy and away from the Lord’s work. I have even found that sometimes the Lord calls you for a specific task, but when you accomplish what He called you to do, it is time to move on. If we get away from the Lord’s work, or continue working on something that the Lord is finished with, we are certain to get frustrated.

The best way to get clear direction in these areas is to stay in direct contact with the Lord through prayer and reading His word. He shares His priorities for our lives through many of His scriptures. Let’s take a look at just a few.

The Lord

• "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5).
• "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
  

Home & Family

• "She brings him (husband) good, not harm all the days of her life"
  (Proverbs 31:12).
• "She provides food for her family" (Proverbs 31:15b).
• "She makes coverings for her bed" (Proverbs 31:22a).
• "She watches over the affairs of her household" (Proverbs 31:27a).
  

Ministry

• "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy" (Proverbs 31:20).
• "Then they (older women) can train the younger women to love their husbands and children... to be busy at home…" (Titus 2:4-5).
  

Just from these few verses alone you can see some of the things that are priorities to the Lord. We should always put Him first, next our husbands, children, and then church/ministry. At this time, I really need this devotional for myself. In fact, this has come out of re-evaluating the things I am currently doing. It is so easy to get caught up in doing so many “good” things and assume that they are from the Lord. When this happens most likely you will start falling behind in all things. The things that really matter will begin to suffer.

For the past month or so I have felt as if I were drowning in my responsibilities. I have definitely allowed myself to take on too much, and it has begun to be a juggling act. Instead of doing anything well, I have ended up skimming the surface of a lot of things -– trying to survive. In the end, nothing has been done with excellence! This is not the way God intended for us to live. I do not believe this brings Him glory at all.

I pray that you will join me in evaluating our priorities and making sure we are in line with what the Lord wants for us. Although it will be hard to give up some things, I know that is what the Lord is challenging me to do. Whatever He calls me to do, I know that He will help me every step of the way. Take the challenge yourself -- re-evaluate your priorities.

© 2008 by Susan Sikes