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PROGRAM D-6818
You know, it’s highly likely that the burn-out you and I experience, the frazzled nerves and frayed edges, are a result of taking on jobs God never intended for us, trying to be superwomen or supermen, thinking we can be all things to all people, never saying “It’s not my job.” And in the midst of all those urgent voices, you and I have shortchanged what is important: The word of God and prayer.
We cannot allow others—no matter how well intentioned—to cause us to try to be what we’re not supposed to be. We may disappoint them, but if we’re going to be effective for God, we have to avoid the tendency to try to be all things to all people.
It doesn’t mean a life of ease with no pressures. I’m sure the hours will still be long and exhaustion will still be a part of our lives. But the more we submerge ourselves into God’s Word, the less frantic we’ll be, the more we’ll know what God wants us to do and what he doesn’t, the more peaceful and calm we can be as we face our heavy schedules.
In his booklet, The Tyranny of the Urgent, Charles Hummel has a suggestion which I think is excellent. He suggests that in addition to that daily time of getting to know God, we set aside one hour a week for spiritual inventory, to evaluate what’s happened over the past week and plan for the week ahead. To make certain our To-Do List has the important things at the top.
To help you and me in that process, I’ve written a simple guideline to use for that spiritual inventory. If you are really serious about getting your priorities in line, about spending serious time getting to know God, about weeding out the unimportant things on your list of priorities and putting God’s Word and prayer at the top of your list, then copy my guide for a weekly spiritual inventory at the end of this message.
I just wonder what would start to happen in our worlds if Christians considered important things a higher priority than urgent things. It could be a very exciting adventure.
I hope many of you will consider using this weekly spiritual inventory. I believe it will be a great help in getting out of crisis mode and into a more God-centered lifestyle.