To succeed in what God has called us to do, we need to establish our priorities and remove distractions. This is easier said than done! The Apostle Paul himself struggled with this and wrote, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:15, NLT) While he was focusing more on his sinfulness, his words certainly apply to our distractions, for they can cause us to take our eyes off of Jesus, who desires that we keep our eyes fixed on him that we might “bear much fruit.” (John 15:16)

When we establish our priorities, we are not trying to accomplish easy things first, or difficult things first, or even urgent things first. We are doing “first things first” – the activities that provide the highest return on our time and energy. Generally, these are based on what’s most important and flow from our core values. Our priorities should be a matter of ongoing prayer so that our schedules are bathed in prayer and directed by God. The writer of Proverbs writes, “Look straight ahead.” (Proverbs 4:25, NLT). When we get off track, with God’s help, we are able to adjust and continue to pursue our God-given purposes.

Jesus provided his disciples an example of disciplines such as prayer, solitude, worship and study of God’s word that enabled him to stay focused on his priorities. These habits provided Jesus the strength and the ability to focus on the needs of others. In other words, Jesus was able to recognize the difference between distractions and divine interruptions. With God’s help, you and I can do the same. In her devotional, Jesus Calling, Sarah Young writes, “[God] will help you sort out what is important and what is not, what needs to be done now and what does not.” (Young, May 6 entry, p. 133)

Another devotional writer offers great wisdom to us: “To know people’s needs, Jesus spent time with people. To meet people’s needs, he spent time in prayer. He was always in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, doing the right things.” (God’s Word for You Today, May 8 entry) We can do the same if we put first things first by “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:2a, NIV)

In Christ’s care and service,