January week 2

If someone followed you around all day, and was then asked to report on your top 5 priorities, based only on what they had seen, what do you think they would say? If they looked back through your Facebook timeline, what would they come away thinking mattered most in your life.

The way we spend our time reflects our priorities. People act according to what they believe. Or as Jesus put it, "the good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."

But what do you do if you don't like what is coming out of you? If you realize that what you think want your priorities to be and what you are actually spending your time doing are not lining up? Or as I like to think of it, what do you do when you want to loose weight, but your love of whoopie pies is getting in the way?

Maybe that is a bit silly, but spiritually speaking we all have an unhealthy craving or two (or ten) that takes up more of our time, money or energy than it should.

This week at 24/7 we looked at Matthew 6:19-24. We discussed the idea that we need to be putting good things in, if we want to be able to bring good things out later. We've all been in situations where we wished we had the right thing to say, or we wish we had been able to just keep our mouths shut, or that we could take back a careless deed. If we want to be ready to do good, we need to be storing it up, so that it will be there when the time comes. If we are filling up on junk, then junk is all we will have to offer.

So, what do your actions say about your priorities? Are you living like the person you want to be? More important, are you living like the person God wants you to be? If not here are some real steps being taken by real 24/7 students that might help you.

Abby is taking K-love's 30 day challenge to listen to only Christian music for 30 days. Through this she has found her attitude is changing and her friends are noticing. Many think she is crazy, but some are finding a new respect for her, and are starting to see God in a whole new light.

Michelle set a reminder on her IPad to help her remember to spend time reading her Bible. The first week she mostly ignored the reminder, but after asking friends to keep her accountable she followed through all week last week.

Marissa committed to memorizing a chapter of the Bible. In doing so she inspired Braden to do the same thing, and he is using his competitive nature as motivation to write God's word on his heart.

Please comment and share your ideas for moving God up your priority list.