As we journey through life, it is imperative that we learn to keep first things first. No matter the season that we find ourselves in, our priorities will always be challenged. If we are going to experience the full blessing of God in our lives, we must understand the importance of keeping first things first.
Keeping First Things First: 10 Tips
1. Set rules for yourself.
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? What’s your personal order of operations? We must be intentional to not quickly throw ourselves into our day without first throwing ourselves at His feet.
2. Remain humble.
For me, this has to stay top of mind. I have a prayer for humility that I really like/need to pray every day. We all have those areas that we have to stay on guard with. Know yours and remain humble.
3. Verbalize that God is your #1.
You have to be able to speak this. I get it, we’re all in various stages of our journey, but we must understand the importance of being able to communicate our commitment to God to others. If we can’t, we must acknowledge this is an issue and pray to God to uncover and uproot it.
4. Know your priorities.
What are your priorities? What’s important to you? You have to know that you can’t be everything to everybody. Accept that and focus on being great at what you are called to do.
5. Live your priorities.
It’s one thing to know your priorities, it’s another thing to live your priorities. List out your priorities in a journal or planner and regularly spend time reviewing them to assess how you’re spending your time. Did your time commitments match your priorities? Or, did you spend a lot of time on things that aren’t that important?
6. Focus on growth.
One of the mishaps of our generation is that we tend to overly focus on the external, while overlooking the internal. This is backwards. We should be more concerned with our growth, as our growth will precede any true, lasting change in our lives.
7. Seek feedback.
Seek feedback from those you love and trust. Ask them what they see you doing well, as well as what areas of opportunity they notice. Let the Lord lead you on who to ask, let the Lord lead you on receiving the feedback, and let the Lord lead you on applying it. We’d be surprised at the areas of opportunity that others see in us, but just don’t proactively share.
[ Consider a mentor or reach out to me for coaching! ]
8. Work.
True change and progress in life will only be a result of work. Dream, but realize that dreams come to fruition by much business (Ecclesiastes 5:3). Ask God to give you a mind to work (Nehemiah 4:6). Trust Him and allow Him to lead you and bless the work of your hands (Psalm 1:3).
9. Love.
So easily overlooked, but so important. The greatest commandment sums it up for us (Matthew 22:36-39). I Corinthians 13:2 demonstrates God’s priorities. We can have all gifts, knowledge, understanding, and faith; but if we have not love- we have nothing.
10. Pivot.
Lately, God has been revealing to me the importance of knowing how to pivot. So often we get stuck. Stuck in people’s opinions of us, their expectations, or even to our past decisions. Freedom in Christ allows us to pivot. If we are going to grow and keep first things first in our lives, we must learn how to pivot and adjust.
To live is to learn.
We must adjust our mindsets and understand what will be required of us as we journey towards God’s best for us (Luke 12:48). We must be willing to keep first things first, realizing that God’s plans for us are far greater than what we could ever imagine or create on our own (Ephesians 3:20). His order of operations protects us every step of the way and keeps us on His path for our lives (Psalm 23).
With love,
