John Stanko

TOPIC: Time and Priorities

"'You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.' After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee" - John 7:8-9.

The Jews had a rhythm and routine to their year, which revolved around three special festivals and holy days. The festival in today's passage was not one of them, so Jesus chose not to attend, at least initially. When He did go, He went on His own terms and for His own reasons. You must learn to do the same, resisting cultural, family, and even church traditions to maximize the use of your time. This requires a bit of self expression, for you sometimes must do what's in your best interests, or at least the best interests of your purpose and top priority goals. Are you managing your own time, or is something or someone else doing it for you? Are you using your time to fulfill your purpose and achieve your goals?

Lord, I encounter a lot of expectations as to how I will use my time, and I need courage and resolve to resist those that are not in the best interests of the purpose work You have assigned me. Help me step back to evaluate how I use my time and then help me formulate a plan of how to use it more efficiently.