Priorities for a New Year
As a homeschooling mom with four kids my plate is full. My plate does not have a chance to get sparkling squeaky clean before more is piled on in a delicate balance. All my good intentions and resolutions for a new year become a barely touched side dish. The past year could not boast of a woman who lived a life wholly surrendered to the Lord. What will the next year boast?
Priorities. As I became distracted with tasks my heart wandered and I lost focus on priorities. Yet, under the weight of a heavy list of chores to finish and errands to run God’s Word whispers to my heart.
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh down with her hands. Proverbs 14:1
If I am called to be a wise woman then my focus should be on building my home. If I engage in activity contrary to this I am operating foolishly. A foolish woman stands with the walls of her home crumbled at her feet while wondering how it all occurred. She was too busy performing tasks to see the cracks or to repair the holes.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27
The definition of idleness is vain, pointless, having no value. Idleness is the product of one operating in the flesh. Idleness comes in many forms that are hard to recognize or hard for us to admit.
I rarely feel idle yet there are days that end and nothing seems to have been accomplished despite feeling overwhelmed and busy. In the middle of grading papers, teaching a child how to read, sorting socks, chasing a toddler and pursuing my own interests I forgot one very important thing. I had forgotten the care of my husband. I had not noticed my neglect for him. He noticed. The damage done is like a sinking foundation on a home. He feels lonely, put off, and disrespected. This breaks my heart as it was never my intention. It was merely a by-product of balancing homeschool, kids, home, and my pursuits. It began slowly but the build up and impact are undeniable.
She will do him good not evil all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12
It is important to remember the calling of a wife and to fulfill it with all your heart. When you honor your husband you honor the Lord.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
If our priorities are out of sync we will be teaching our children incorrectly. We need to be careful not to train our children to be task masters, neglectful, or to seek validation from outside sources. Our role is to raise future soldiers for Christ without rusty swords or tattered armor.
Let all things be done decently and in order. I Corinthians 14:40
The word “all” is significant as we are not to pick and chose which things we do decently or when we are to be ordered. This includes how we run our home and families.
My pursuit for the New Year is not to fill my plate. My pursuit is to clean my plate and carefully place priorities in the proper place. Priorities in the proper order are God, husband, children, home, and personal pursuits. If fifty tasks are accomplished in one day yet not in order or with neglect to Godly priorities my plate was simply filled with the bread of idleness. This will lead to frustration, insecurity, hurtful actions and feelings. I encourage you to order your steps as the Lord would see fit.
To help in this pursuit and keep you on track please print these Godly “to do” lists here.
For the wife who wants to fulfill her role as wise counsel and a partner in his vision here is a week’s worth of scripture to cut out and place neatly in his lunch box, wallet or where he will be encouraged by it.
Copyright © Richele McFarlin, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved