Priorities

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1st Samuel 16:7 ESV

Did you make any New Year resolutions? The top two resolutions for last year were about making some sort of self improvement or losing weight. Three weeks later, how are you doing with those? What are your priorities? What are you looking for? What's most important to you?   

Maybe you decided this would be the year you would finally read the Bible all the way through but you're already 10 days behind... According to www.statisticbrain.com, 42.4% of "those who make resolutions never succeed and fail on their resolution each year." Before you get totally discouraged, statistics also show that "People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't explicitly make resolutions." Explicitly. Write it down. Remember that God told Habakkuk, (in 2:2 NKJV), Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.  (Not in context, but the concept is appropriate.) Keep it in front of you. Set attainable goals. 

Prioritize. You might never sit down to read all 10 days in one sitting, so you're tempted to just give up. However, you might accomplish two days' reading in one sitting in which case, you'd be back on track in 10 days (or 1½ days' reading and be caught up in the next three weeks). 

You may be asking, what does this have to do with priorities and our Promise for Today? In my mind, resolutions are about decisions to change and setting priorities. Making decisions for better health are good. You'll look better, feel better, live longer perhaps; but God doesn't look at our appearance. He looks at our heart. So are we setting priorities to please people or please God? 

Prayer:

Father,
            We pray as King David instructed his son, Solomon - to know You and serve You with a whole heart and a willing mind because You search all hearts and understand every plan and thought. Your Word promises that if we seek You, we will find You. Holy Spirit, guide us in our priorities. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen