La da da... Hmm? Wait... what priorities???

It's been awhile, my apologies to anyone who reads this blog. So here is what I learned today... I have SCREWED UP priorities... who knew? I sure didn't.

I was at church this morning and got another one of God's handy 2 x 4s to my head. I swear, that one of those is far more efficient in getting the point across than a lightning bolt.

So here is my honest to God list of priorities while at college... let us see where I've gone wrong.

1. School/Friends (basically the same time commitment in college)
2. Work (which is sad because I don't like my job)
   
3. Family
4. Free Time (my time to regain/retain a bit of sanity)
5. Chores 
6. Sleep
7. Church
8. Food
9. Exercise
10. God

I am ashamed. This is the first time I have ever written down my priorities honestly. Yes I am  21 years old and just now doing this. I am slow, I get it. (I am sure my mom is shaking her head at me right now haha). So what have I learned?

I need a priority makeover.

I wish it was like Boom! Voilà!!! Se magnifique!!! But it isn't that easy. See, these patterns have formed after years of repetition. Ugh! So what needs to change? Some people will say, put God at the top of your list.

My response: an emphatic NO.

Now before you pick up some rocks to stone me or start screaming "Heretic" or "you go girl" or whatever, listen to the core of what I learned this morning.

Yes, my priorities are screwed up and I need to fix that. But the real problem is that I have made God something to mark off my list as completed, dealt with, etc. God is supposed to be the center of my life and my very sustenance. God does not just get a quadrant of my brain, a piece of my heart or a corner of my soul. All of my heart, mind, soul and strength belong to him. He bought it with the precious blood of his Son Jesus Christ. His transforming salvation is pretty pointless if I only allow him a small, and obviously unimportant compartment of my life. He should be present in every category.

Here is my goal-list of priorities...

1. Relationships (family and friends) & God
2. Health (food, sleep, and exercise) & God
3. School & God
4. Work (job and chores) & God
5. Free Time & God

I must say that this list looks a whole lot simpler, less stressful and much more beneficial to my whole being (heart, mind, body, and soul).

What about you? Where are your priorities, and be honest. Dishonesty encourages bad habits rather than rectifying them.