Former procrastinators are you, like me, still pondering the concept of an ordered life?
Oswald Chambers wrote: “May my ordered life confess the beauty of Your peace.”
I long for an ordered life. I’d like to have priority accomplishment and margin in the same day. I want to long for an ordered life not for itself but for being in tune with God and reflecting His glory. Can someone watching me see God’s peace?
It is possible to have a very regimented life that is unbending in its order – no room for interruptions (or interrupters), no room for surprise or delight or extra minutes spent on something fun or abandonment to an unexpected opportunity. I’m not actually interested in that kind of ordered life.
For me an ordered life uses routine to focus regular, appropriate attention on God-given priorities. Priorities are the focus. Routine is a tool to help me carry out the priorities and honor the Lord. Then I experience less frustration and more peace. (Always our greatest peace is found in our relationship with Jesus.)
My friend Megan says, “It’s not HOW MUCH gets done but WHAT gets done.” That’s it.
I tend to run hard and fast doing lots of things so I can cross them off my do list. I can really “produce” – and at the end of the day I have not touched the priorities God has given me. That’s not an ordered life.
My friend Ana says, “We tend to base our routines on activities – not priorities.” So true.
Sports, extracurriculars, school, church, errands, etc., etc., etc. press into our lives with demands we allow to shape our days. Some of that can be appropriate because some activities fit into priorities. But not all. Have activities shoved out priorities and taken over? Have we lost control of what is our responsibility?
Remembering that 1) it’s not HOW MUCH gets done but WHAT gets done (the priorities) and 2) basing our routines on those priorities can truly help us enjoy ordered lives that confess the beauty of His peace.
The fifth verse of “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind” also states this desire. (Whittier and Horder)
“Drop thy still dews of quietness till all our strivings cease.
Take from our souls the strain and stress
and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace.”
What priority do you have that you realize you do not do anything about?
[* Shield plugin marked this comment as “spam”. Reason: Human SPAM filter found “port” in “comment_content” *]
I am struggling with this post this morning, as I am realizing that the order and routine of our lives are sometimes NOT what our priorities should be. For example, my 89 year old father, who lives in another state, just had a fall and needed knee surgery. I feel called to the work I do at home, but also believe I need to break the routine in my work to go help him. People at home are depending on me to complete the work that I have promised to do. But my dad will need help when he can go home. How do I do both? I think you posted once on the importance of being available, and I really struggle to find the balance between accomplishing work I love and that people depend upon, and interrupting that routine to care for someone in crisis.
Karen, you have prompted a post – coming soon. This is a dilemma we all face in some form. Thanks for putting it out on the table for us!