If you don’t prioritize your life, others will gladly do it for you. The subject of setting priorities is a recurring theme on The Rest Stop and is one of the top two to three disciplines that leads to rest and greater life balance. Perhaps the statement I make most often is “Don’t prioritize your schedule, instead schedule your priorities.”

Trust me if you don’t set priorities, establish and enforce boundaries, and manage your time well, there are plenty of people waiting in the wings who will. Employers, the culture, government, the media, social media influencers, others in your social circle will subsequently impose their agendas on you. This is why the discipline of scheduling your priorities is so vitally important. Failure to do so will result in living life according to their priorities rather than yours.

Priorities are ultimately born out of purpose.  Once purpose is understood it leads to your belief system, what we believe is true, which then determines values what is good and right, which then drives your behavior. So, your starting point for determining priorities is to know your purpose in life, clearly identify and articulate your beliefs, which shapes your value system which in turn impacts and determines your behavior.

 If you are a follower of Jesus your purpose is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others as yourself. We are called on to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

As believers the sole source which should form and shape our beliefs, values, and behavior is The Word of God. This makes things really simple. Most people, however, allow their beliefs and values to be shaped by the culture, their environment and other external factors. As a result, everyone does what is right in their own eyes which leads to confusion, chaos, and a collision course between their wills and the will of God for their lives. As an example, if you believe in the Genesis account of creation, God created man in His image, versus the theory of evolution, man evolved out of primordial ooze, billions of years ago, you can imagine how those beliefs will impact your values, actions, and priorities.

Your belief system impacts your personal values. These are the things you identify as important to your personal well-being and will serve as the foundation for the priorities and practices of your life. However, before scheduling your priorities make sure your purpose, values, and beliefs are in alignment.

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