How many times a day do we prioritize and reprioritize what must be done? What can wait? And what matters most? So much of our lives are spent making decisions about what we can do today or tomorrow or postpone until next week, aren’t they? When it comes to looking even further ahead, we often make plans, block out time, and schedule months or years in advance for family visits, vacations or moves. Understandably, all of this is necessary if we want to manage our time, talents and treasure in the most productive and fruitful way.
But if we want to live where our natural and spiritual lives intersect—which really should be in every area of our lives—how are we to decide what really are the priorities—the nonnegotiables around which all our day-to-day decisions are to be made? Particularly if we want to live our lives on track, living in the will of God? The truth is, there’s no better place to look than the Word of God—because God’s Word reflects His priorities for each and every one of us.
Consider these 10 Scriptures Describing God’s Priorities for You.
1. The most important priority for us all is that we be born again.
“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God’” (John 3:3).
2. The first step God wants us to take after making Jesus the Lord of our lives is to be baptized in water—just like Jesus was.
“Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38).
3. The next step to walking in all that God has for us is to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
“Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 1:4-5).
4. As we walk with God, He wants us to put Him and His Word first place in our lives.
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33).
5. Our journey as believers is to live by faith, and to please God with our faith.
“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
6. God gave us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, so we’re to be led by His Spirit.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14).
7. We’re to communicate with God, connect with Him; and we do that by praying about everything.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6).
8. We’re to walk in love by loving God and loving one another.
“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-38).
9. We’re to repent, ask God for forgiveness, and be quick to forgive others.
“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (Mark 11:25).
10. We’re to keep growing as long as we walk on this earth.
“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).
God’s priorities are not limited to these 10 Scriptures Describing God’s Priorities for You, but they are a powerful start to walking with Him through every minute of every day.