PART 1: GETTING YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT

A lot of you are starting this year with hope, though. Youre like, This years going to be different than last year. Im focused. Im going to keep up with my assignments. Im going to study.

 Im going to keep my locker organized. The pack of pens and pencils I bought at Gaisano or SM last week theyre going to last at least two months. Isnt that the worst you start school with about 30 pens and 10 pencils.

PRIORITIES DEFINED:
Priority - something of importance to us.
The higher the priority the greater the sense of importance. Every choice you make, every activity you engage in, every ounce of energy you burn and money you spend is based on your priorities.

My Priorities this Semester 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Lets take a look at a story from the Bible. Flip over your outline and youll see this Scripture from Luke 10:38-42

Lets picture this storyHeres the setting: Mary is chilling out hanging with Jesus. Meanwhile, Martha is cleaning up the kitchen. Imagine that the disciples ate a huge meal, but didnt offer to clean up after themselves. Marthas a neat person. Everything in her house is her territory. If somebody moves something out of place, shes right behind them putting it back in order. One of the disciples sets a drink on the table and she runs over there to put a coaster under it.

 Right after someone sets something down, shes right there asking whos it is and whether or not theyre done with it. So Marthas been running around all night. Every time she walks by Jesus and Mary shes letting out a deep sigh. She thinks theyre not paying attention to her, so when she gets in the kitchen she slams cabinets and clangs pots. She walks back past Jesus and Mary talking to herself I wish I didnt have anything to do but sit around at the feet of Jesus. Jesus and Mary still dont pay any attention to her. Then she comes back by and wipes crumbs off the table onto Mary. She grabs Jesus partially eaten wheat bread off the table.

 Jesus is like Hey, Im not finished with that! Martha storms back into the kitchen for a minute or two until she drops something. She marches back out and says Jesus, Im working my fingers to the bone in here. Do you think you could tell Mary to get off her self and give me a hand? A lot of people, including Martha, would have thought that would be the way Hed respond. After all Hes perfect and He could see that Mary was in the wrong, right? And Ill tell you, most guys wouldnt have had the guts Jesus did in this story. A crazed woman running around cleaning up.

 , Hey Mary, I think maybe you should go help Martha in the kitchen before she blows a gasket.

But no, Jesus was a mans man. He wasnt afraid of how bad Martha was going to wig out. He was going to ride it out because this was time for Him to teach her an important lesson.
So Marthas standing there waiting for Jesus to be on the backup. Marys cringing cause shes thinking: Maybe Marthas right and now Jesus thinks Im a big fool for not helping out before.

 And heres Jesus reply: Martha you are an incredibly busy person. Youre a hard worker. You accomplish a lot. But the truth is: your priorities are all out of belt, and what Marys doing herewell, shes got it right.

REALITY CHECK:
Many things belong on your list, but if they distract you from the most important things namely your relationship with God, then they are out of whack.

WHY DOES GOD GET THE #1 SPOT?

God is the single priority that brings order to the rest of our lives.
God is the source of everything that we get that is good.

Heres an illustration:
Every form of transportation has a fuel which gives it the power to move. For a train, its what? For a car, its what? For a sailboat, its what? And you know what? For your life to move, for you to accomplish goals and be successful, there is also a driving force or fuel.

 For some people its pleasure. For others it is significance. For some people, its simply money or possessions. What do you think happens if those things are the driving force? A lot of people get hurt including yourself. Now if God is the driving force, if He is the top priority in your life, how do you think everything else in life is going to follow?

Heres what I believe:

I believe your relationships will be much more meaningful friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, teachers whatever. I believe your grades are going to be better. I honestly think you wont be beating your brains out over school. I believe youre going to be a lot happier. I believe your life is going to be much more carefree and stress-free. I believe overall youre going to see more success in your life and see more things go your way.

Why do I believe this?

Take a look at Matthew 6:25-33 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith? 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 Heres what Jesus is saying: Dont worry about money, what youre going to eat, what youre going to wear hey youve been doing that, and what do you have? A life of fear, dread, stress, etc. You know why you shouldnt be worrying about that? What God wants you to know is that He already is the Source of everything. That test you felt like you squeaked by to pass it wasnt just the last minute cram session that helped you. If God wasnt there, then you were sunk.

 Heres the offer that Gods giving you today: Give me all the important things of your life all the stuff your stressing, struggling, and worrying over, and, in return, Im going to give you peace. And, if you seek me first, Ill help you sort out all your priorities, Ill bring balance to your life. Ill give you wisdom when you study.

 Ill help you remember the answer on the test so you dont have to write It on the bottom of your shoe. Ill help you find that awesome guy for your life, instead of that dirtbag youre dating now. Ill calm your mind about all these things, then Ill give you the best of them. If you want the best, then you can have the best.

THE PROMISE:
He will prioritize and bring balance to our life Hell give us all that we need and desire

HOW CAN WE MAKE HIM A PRIORITY?

SEEK Him:
His Wisdom His Plan for your life His Advice His Knowledge

In all your daily activities, include Him, and Hell direct you!