Purpose: To teach ladies in ministry (lay ministry or full-time ministry) some principles on priorities that will help them to have long-term ministries and not experience burnout or being put on the shelf.

I. One Priority: All other priorities must go through that one.

A. Jesus’ one priority—to do the will of His Father

In the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, “Not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).

He told His disciples, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me” (John 4:34).

He willed to do one thing: the will of His Father.

B. David’s one desire
Psalm 27:4—One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

C. Paul’s one goal
Philippians 3:13-14—This one thing I do . . . press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

D. My one priority—to do the will of my Father

II. Principles on Priorities

A. “There is no difference between the secular and the sacred.” –Dr. Bob Jones, Sr.

I Corinthians 10:31 says to “do all to the glory of God.” How do we know what brings glory to God? The verse does not give us a list of activities that bring glory to God; instead, it tells us that we should glorify God in all that we do. Often, we find ourselves in the conflict of thinking that we are more spiritual because of the activities in which we participate. We consider praying to be more spiritual than changing diapers, going to church to be more spiritual than cooking, and reading God’s Word to be more spiritual than washing dishes. We believe mentoring a teen to be more spiritual than mentoring our own child, or encouraging a senior saint to be more spiritual than encouraging our own husband. The issue is not which of these activities is more spiritual; the issue is determining what God wants us to do and then doing it.

B. Order is not the primary issue; obedience is.

We like to plan out our days and life in perfect order and place them in little neat packages—God first, husband second, children third. Now where does ministry fit in? And what about me? If I spend eight hours sleeping, does that mean I’m putting myself first above God with whom I’ve only spent an hour?

God is a God of order, but when we try to make tidy lists of priorities that define our spirituality—BEWARE. Order is not the primary issue; obedience is. We must find out from God’s Word what He expects of us in several important areas (family, work, government, church, world) and arrange our lives to do His commands according to His will. God is more concerned about our daily dependence upon Him and obedience to His Word than He is with tidy lists of priorities. Do we make plans? Yes, but only “as the Lord wills.”

C. “Q and A” times are okay.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:2-6).

James tells us to count (consider, not feel) it all joy (have a joyful attitude; be optimistic) when we are surrounded by trials (sometimes in how we are to use our time, energy, money, and other resources). Going through trials that “worketh patience” is a process. Asking questions and seeking answers is a good process; it is okay. “Is this how I should be spending my time?” “Is working outside the home a good idea for our family right now?” “Am I glorifying God in my actions?” “How do I know how involved in discipling the teens I can be right now with my other responsibilities?” We should not feel guilty just because we are questioning how to best align our lives with God’s ways.

Consider these four problems:

1. 1. No Questions. We do what is easiest or what everyone else says to do. We basically choose to skip the direction given in God’s Word.
   2. Questions and No Prayer. We ask questions; we seek God’s direction from His Word. Then we make a decision without a time of prayer and waiting on God. Patience was not given enough time to be “worked.”
   3. Unbiblical Answers. We ask questions of the wrong people and receive unbiblical answers.
   4. Answers and No Obedience. We ask questions; we get answers; but our faith wavers and we do not believe God enough to obey.

Many times as I have questioned the next step to take, this poem has been a tremendous encouragement to “do the next thing.”

Do the Next Thing

From an old English parsonage down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message for me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring,
Like a low inspiration: DO THE NEXT THING.

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here,
Moment by moment let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, Child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus. DO THE NEXT THING.

Do it immediately; do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command,
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all resultings. DO THE NEXT THING.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
(Working or suffering) be thy demeanor.
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm.
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing!
Then, as He beckons thee, DO THE NEXT THING.

Source unknown

D. God’s purpose for you and me is Christlikeness.

1. 1. God never intended for us to be able to handle the pressures of life on our own.

• • Matthew 4:4—Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
  • John 15:4-5—Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. . . For without me ye can do nothing.
  • 2 Corinthians 3:5—Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.
  • 2 Corinthians 4:7—. . . that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (We are just clay pots.)

2. God does intend for us to handle some pressures.

• • This is part of His plan (Romans 8:28-29).
  • Our plan would probably be different (Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 10:23).

E. Rehearsing God’s truths strengthens us in overwhelming times. GOD IS. . .

• • Too loving to ever reject me (Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 5:8, 8:35-39).
  • Too compassionate to ever be uncaring (Psalm 103:13-14; Isaiah 63:9; Lamentations 3:32-33).
  • Too faithful to ever leave me (Isaiah 41:10; Deuteronomy 31:8; 2 Timothy 2:13; Psalm 36:5; Genesis 28:15).
  • Too generous to ever withhold anything that I need (Philippians 4:19; Psalm 84:11, 103:5; 2 Corinthians 9:8).
  • Too powerful to ever fail (Ephesians 1:19-20, 3:20; Luke 1:37; Jeremiah 32:17).
  • Too knowledgeable to ever be caught by surprise (Matthew 6:8; Hebrews 4:13; Psalm 139:1-4).
  • Too near to ever be late in coming to my rescue (Psalm 46:1; Jeremiah 23:24; Psalm 139:7-10).
  • Too wise to ever make a mistake (Psalm 18:30, 147:5; Romans 11:33; Colossians 2:3, 1 Corinthians 1:25).
  • Too holy to associate with evil. (Habakkuk 1:13; Hebrews 7:26; Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 99:9; James 1:13)

Points under letter E taken from Berg, Pat, “Grace and Peace Series.” Women’s Retreat, Ironwood, April 1993, Newberry Springs, CA.