Choose the Important over Urgent!

I noticed after a conversation with a friend earlier this week that as we are relaxing all the Covid-19 restrictions and getting closer to normal life, the old rat-race is taking momentum. Everyone is busy and have so many urgent things that needs to get done. I was reminded about a word I got for 2018, choosing the “Important” over the “Urgent”, and I really felt I should share it as a reminder for us all. We all have all these urgent tasks that require so much of our time that we tend to forget about the important tasks. I just love the picture of the snail – to me it is the perfect picture to slow down and smell the flowers.

How often do you find yourself busy, rushing around taking care of all the urgent things that needs your immediate attention? Fighting fires left, right and center? Does your busy times / urgencies cause you to not enjoy your life or stealing precious moments that you may never get again?

When lockdown started, I was annoyed like most people for many reasons, but I soon appreciated the extra time I had to do things I never got time to do. I had more time on my hands to spend time with my family and play board games – something we hardly have time to do. I had time to spend in my journals, and was amazed with how much I actually enjoyed the extra quiet time with God. In a time where I could be binge watching series and movies, I chose to spend time with God and my family. I chose the Important over the obvious. But what happens now that we are back to almost normal. Do we fall victim to our old ways of always rushing around?

If Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy. We'll make time for what's important to us. We all have time for what we choose to have time for.

But here is the kicker… Some things are urgent, but not important!! This applies in all walks of our lives.

If you choose what is important, you won't deal with as many things that are urgent.

The perfect example of this is found in Luke, when Jesus visits Martha & Mary.

Are you Martha, that is always running around making sure everything is perfect for your guest, or are you Mary, seeing the important moment in your life and knowing that moment only comes once.

LUKE 10:38-42 TPT

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated by finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”

What important thing/s in your life have you been distracted form doing?

We have to be intentional about choosing the important or the every pressing urgent things. Here is how I choose the important – hope it can help you.

1. Be Selective in your "yesses"

"The barrier to a meaningful life is not a lack of commitment. It's over commitment."

We need a "to don't" list: things we need to stop doing.

"The best leaders do not do more; the best leaders do more of what matters most."

2. Do First what matters most. Prioritize.

Whatever matters most to Christ is what comes first

**Time with Jesus matters most**

The urgent leads to being tired, which crowds out Jesus every time.

MATTHEW 6:33 TPT

So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly’

• Above all pray for the kingdom realm of God.

3. I have a rule that I am not allowed to go on social media or play a game on my phone before I opened my bible app and spend time with God. I choose not to go on social media before bed time and make that time to complete one of my many inspirational plans on the bible app. This way I sleep so much better with my last thought being a positive one.

We can make excuses or progress, but we can't make both.

Paying attention to the urgent leads to burnout.

Nothing shows you the difference between the urgent and the important like a life-threatening moment. Don't wait until then to choose the important over the urgent.