Friday, July 24, 2009

Setting Priorities (Blog #47)


Whenever there is a transition in one's life, it is imperative that one sets priorities and establish goals for the next year, the next decade, or the next phase in your life. Over time, as our life circumstances change, those priorities and goals we set for ourselves are likely to change as well. What may have seemed important to us as recently as the last year may not be as critical as we once thought.

For someone who is totally consumed with their job or career, that may be the most important focal point or priority. Perhaps as circumstance change, such as health issues or family concerns, the benefits an employer offers or time off considerations may take precedence over other priorities. Then again, it may even be a matter of the better company to work for than a higher dollar compensation. Obviously, other work related factors to be considered would be the hours required and the travel time required to commute both to and from the prospective position.

Changes to other priorities and goals may reflect our needs and desires regarding housing, family, friends, church and other social activities. As we change, our priorities regarding these, among other things, will hopefully change to reflect our life situation. I, personally, am finding more of a need to be connected to family and friends with the passage of time in my life. I am also certain that in the years ahead, my priorities and goals will continue to change along with other life changes. However, despite how my earthly goals may change along the way, there is one goal which never changes. The apostle Peter expresses that constant goal elegantly in his first letter.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." [1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV]

~ DB Turnmire

1 comment:

  1. I enjoyed this blog. I really needed to read the verse from the Bible. Thank you!

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