Important vs. Urgent

Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting

Jean Sophia Pigott

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,

And Thy beauty fills my soul,

For by Thy transforming power,

Thou hast made me whole.

Refrain

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,

Vaster, broader than the sea!

O, how marvelous Thy goodness,

Lavished all on me!

Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,

Know what wealth of grace is Thine,

Know Thy certainty of promise,

And have made it mine.

Refrain

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

Satisfies my heart;

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessings:

Thine is love indeed!

Refrain

Ever lift Thy face upon me

As I work and wait for Thee;

Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,

Earth’s dark shadows flee.

Brightness of my Father’s glory,

Sunshine of my Father’s face,

Keep me ever trusting, resting,

Fill me with Thy grace.

Refrain

I was reminded today of one of my favorite hymns (lyrics above).  The reminder came while I was reading a podcast about PRIORITIES (DeMoss).  How the urgent isn't always the important.  I am notorious for being distracted by the URGENT and never getting to the IMPORTANT.  I've teased my middle sister for years about being DISTRACTED.  She was even given the "Spice Girl" name of "Distracted Spice", however I think roles have turned and I'm about to be given the title.

On this December 31st, I'm reviewing 2010 and wondering if I accomplished the IMPORTANT things, or I've stayed distracted by the URGENT.  Then  I look at my PRIORITIES: wife, mom, business owner, speech pathologist, Sunday School teacher, children's helper, friend, sister, daughter, etc., etc.  Your list probably looks much the same.  Those priorities are my IMPORTANTS, then the URGENT DISTRACTORS come: house work, bills, things I loose, things I over commit to, television, naps, music searches, Internet, etc, etc.  So the verdict is.. I have been more distracted with the URGENT than focused on the IMPORTANT.

I don't do New Year's Resolutions so, my commitment to 2011 is...
-to try to daily focus on the IMPORTANTS and pray that God will steer me from the DISTRACTORS when needed, some DISTRACTORS are in His timing
-to be FULLY present in whatever task I'm doing, if I'm working then FULLY working, if I'm playing with kids-FULLY present with them (cell phone off), when studying God's Word-FULLY thinking and listening, when my husband is home-FULLY present with him
-to keep the clutter removed from the house (this is the BIG one)
-Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord and not man, Colossians 3:23
-So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God, 1 Corinthians 10:31

So, back to the hymn lyrics I shared in the beginning, staying focused on the priority of the IMPORTANT task of resting daily in Christ will keep me on track to my 2011 commitment.  "Keep me ever trusting, resting, fill me with Thy grace"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!