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While I thrive on organization, if the Lord had not permanently affixed my head to my neck, I’d have lost it years ago.

Given the hectic pace of the world—and the myriad of distractions I face on a daily basis—I have been forced to admit I cannot keep track of everything. And once the chaos settles, I am left holding only that upon which I am most focused. I partake of or lose opportunities based on my priorities.

Whatever we don’t prioritize tends to get buried in the haystack of people, issues, and things that we concern ourselves with. And being out of sight, it no longer delivers its intended benefits.

In the days of King Josiah, Israel lost the book of God’s Law under a pile of money in the Temple. Since our culture promotes money as the means to most ends, this probably sounds like suffering we would gladly endure “for the cause.”  But when the survival of Israel hinged upon the people following the terms of that Law, the situation was dire. Israel was not only stockpiling the money instead of using it to perform God’s work for which it was intended, they were also allowing this financial business to take precedence over God’s instruction for life.

Today, we live under God’s law of love—to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Yet this love often gets lost in the haystack of financial concerns. Focusing on the American dream, we sacrifice quality relationships to pursue more money for a house, college, and retirement. Or we judge the quality of our relationships on the basis of the financial gain or security they bring us. Perhaps we live and work to achieve our financial goals rather than aiming to achieve our purpose by sharing God’s love with others.

Lay all your dreams and worries at God’s feet, and recommit yourself to the lifestyle of love He intends for you.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)