Backstory

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what truly matters—the things we value most (value systems). How do these values show up in our everyday routines? Have you ever pondered your values and how they weave into your daily routines? I haven’t arrived in perfecting this skill but I am so glad I have finally left! Here’s where it all started.

Once again, I found myself in the role of a passenger princess, riding alongside my husband on the journey to Bible college—a drive that spans approximately two and a half hours. This time has transformed into a sacred ritual for me. It’s remarkable to think that the distance almost dissuaded me from attending this Bible college, were it not for my mentor’s gentle reminder that sometimes sacrifices are necessary. Recalling the words of David, who declared that if a field didn’t cost him something, he didn’t desire it to sacrifice to His God.

I now cherish this drive as a blessing. It serves as a time for reflection, planning, and reconnection with my husband. As the car glides forward, I find myself swaying to the rhythm of music—a dance that transcends the physical journey. The list of its benefits is endless, and it’s heartwarming to know that everyone in our family eagerly anticipates this trip.

Indeed, these hours on the road have woven themselves into the fabric of our lives,  and my concern become a big blessing.

Back to the Point: A Journey of Priorities

God, in His gentle way, reminded me of a lesson He had imparted months earlier—a lesson about value systems. You see, when I left my job, I needed a blank canvas—a fresh start. This canvas held the potential for my priorities to regain their position in my life. The cares of life had multiplied, and everything seemed both urgent and important. My task was to place my metaphorical golf balls—the essential priorities—into the jar of my days. But there was a prerequisite: the jar had to be empty.

So, with determination, I bid farewell to the thing that took up most of my time —the job that had consumed my waking hours. I quit, creating space for the work God wanted to perform.

In theory, my value system was clear: God first, family second, and career third. It sounded righteous on paper, but reality often diverges from theory. My day-to-day routine betrayed this order. Mornings were a frantic race to get my two boys dressed, fed, and out the door. If I achieved this with precision, it felt like a victory. If I ate breakfast? That earned extra points. But my morning prayers were often hurried whispers as I juggled school drop-offs and my own work commitments.

After work, I attempted to spend time with Him—the One who should come first—but exhaustion often claimed victory, and I’d drift into sleep. Throughout the day, my attention wavered between work tasks, meal planning, my son’s health, stress levels, and the desperate need for rest. Amid this chaos, meditation and heartfelt conversations with God became rare occurrences.

My daily actions—the mundane tasks that stitched my hours together—didn’t align with the lofty value system I had penned. The golf balls—the crucial aspects of life—had somehow morphed into grains of sand, while the sand itself had become mere pebbles. This was not the abundant life I sought.

Balancing Priorities: The Tale of Golf Balls, Pebbles, and Sand

My day-to-day, the things I did every day, the things that held my day together weren’t reflective of the value systems I had on paper. The golf balls had become the sand and sand had become the pebbles. This was definitely not an abundant life.

And then, like a whispered revelation, the story of Jesus unfolded in my mind. Joseph and Mary, frantically searching for their missing son, Jesus—a journey that spanned three days. A friend once comforted me, saying, “Mama, you’re doing great. And when overwhelmed, remember that even Mary and Joseph lost the Messiah. They travelled a whole day before realizing it. Give yourself grace.”

Finally, they found the boy, and His response echoed through time: “Do you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”.

God’s voice resonated within me: “If you went missing, where would we seek you? Where would we find you?”

I pondered this. If I were late returning home, my children would assume work or errands. Perhaps, on Sundays, they’d guess I was at church. The truth emerged: We are found where our business lies. The challenge echoed: Are you about your Father’s business?

At that moment, I grappled with commitment. Matthew 6:33 urged me to seek first His kingdom, promising that all other things would follow. But what were these “all other things”? Everything else—the pebbles and sand—crowded my days.

The analogy of the jar crystallized my understanding. Imagine our life as that jar: the golf balls—our core priorities—must find their place first. Pebbles represent other significant matters, while sand symbolizes the trivial. Even if we lost the pebbles and sand, life would remain full. But the golf balls—the essentials—deserve our utmost care. Place them first, and there’ll still be room for the pebbles and sand. Begin with the sand, and there’s no space for anything else.

So, once more, I resolve to seek first the kingdom of God. In that pursuit, all things—golf balls, pebbles, and even the finest grains of sand—will find their rightful place.

Living Out My Values

At this juncture, I yearned for my value systems to manifest in my everyday life. Before waking up my children to begin the day, I intentionally seek God. His Word, I realized, holds paramount importance. Proverbs 4:20 instructs us to put His Word first. So, every day, I immerse myself in its pages.

God’s command to Joshua echoes through time: Meditate on it day and night; do all that is written in it. The promise? Prosperity and good success. I craved not only success but, more profoundly, a relationship with God. Thus, I committed to daily reading.

Initially, it felt like discipline—a habit I was constructing. Yet, over time, it transformed into a craving. One day, as I delved into Leviticus, I thought, This is rather dull, Lord. His response resonated: “Someone in the Bible loved My Word so much that they described it as sweeter than honey.” Intrigued, I turned to Psalm 119.

And there it was—the revelation. Boredom stemmed from failing to grasp the value of God’s Word. David, in his psalms, repeatedly extolled its precepts. He knew that without delighting in them, he would have perished. Verses 97-105 became my meditation:

“Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”

In these verses, I discovered the essence of God’s Word: life, wisdom, and sweetness. It’s not merely ink on paper; it’s the very breath of God, alive and transformative. As I read, I am not merely informed; I am ignited. The more I learn about God, the deeper my love for Him. And as that love grows, I become a living epistle—a tangible expression of His love to the world.

The Transformative Power of God’s Word

How beautiful it is—to grow wiser, to illuminate our path, to surpass our teachers. The possibilities seem endless.

Imagine someone handing you a book and saying, “Read this, and you’ll know how to navigate your day.” Wouldn’t you devour its pages before dawn? That’s how I approached Psalm 119. I meditated on it until its truth seeped into my soul. And oh, how sweet the Word of God became—sweeter than any earthly treat!

John Maxwell wisely asserts that to change our lives, we must alter our daily habits. So, what fills your hours? Your routines reveal your value systems. Is your day aligned with what you hold dear? If not, it’s time for recalibration.

For me, each day unfurls with God. I’m learning the art of continuous meditation on His Word. I envision the truths it reveals about my identity. Amid the hustle, I pause—seeking wisdom for tasks, seeking grace for parenting. At the door, my children and I speak blessings over the day. God permeates every corner of my existence—a lifelong pursuit, aided by the Holy Spirit’s gentle nudges.

But this wasn’t my sole adjustment. It was the one that carried the most weight, the one that echoed through my life. God’s Word isn’t mere ink on paper; it’s a living force. It makes me wiser, guides my steps, and never fails. It was settled in heaven long before my existence. It brings health to my soul, and as I seek Him, it adds the pebbles and sand—the intricate details of life. It’s the ultimate golf ball—the core of existence, the pivot upon which everything else rests.

Remember, as you continue this journey, the Word of God isn’t just a manual; it’s an invitation to intimacy with the Creator. May it illuminate your days and transform your heart.

To wholeness, Spirit, Soul and Body