A Biblical promise that I quote as a prayer when I need to organize my day is Proverbs 16:3, which says: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established” (NKJV). But I often mix up the words and pray to commit my thoughts to the Lord so that my works would be established. Finally, I realized that both are important as our works begin with thoughts, ideas, and responsibilities that need to be planned, and then those plans need to be executed.
The Lord showed me that I need to focus on the attitude of my heart. Do I seek His guidance? Am I committed to following the precepts in His Word? I can’t tell you exactly how it works, but I can say that when I pray and ask the Lord to guide my thoughts, the events of the day seem to flow better. I feel more prepared to meet unexpected challenges. In fact, an “unplanned event” can often become the highlight of my day.
The principle of setting priorities is the subject of this February issue of Activated. Most of us live fairly structured lives, and those of us who are more organized likely keep agendas that we faithfully check in order to not fail in our responsibilities. Yet sometimes the Lord may want us to step outside the routine to be part of an unplanned adventure. Perhaps He has a mission for us, or maybe we need to spend quality time with Him.
Missionary and author Norman Grubb prayed a novel prayer to begin his day: Good morning, Lord. I love you! What are you up to today? I want to be a part of it. Thank you, God. Amen. How wonderful it is to place our day in God’s hands! Who knows what adventure He has planned as we allow Him to lead and guide us.
Every day can begin with expectation. What does the Lord have in store for me today? From the mundane to thrilling escapades, God wants to be an active part of our lives. So, as the verse I noted earlier tells me, when I hand over my thoughts and plans to Him, I can trust Him to lead and guide me. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6 NKJV).
May the Lord guide you as you establish your priorities this month and throughout the year!