Tyranny of the Urgent

While visiting another blog (at the moment escapes me which one) I was inspired to look Tyranny of the Urgent a book written by Charles E. Hummel. Tyranny of the Urgent seeks to answer this question, “Is there really enough time to do all that God requires of you?”. Click here to read an article that sums up much of this book. In this day and age when there is so much to do, so many places to go and so much life to live…urgent matters come up all the time and seem to take us away from the important things we should be doing.

I’m only forty five years old but one thing I’ve realized that in life there are always urgent things. So what constitutes urgent things – items that require our immediate attention. Urgent things may be good things and not necessarily bad, but I find that life lately is filled with urgent things. They require my immediate attention and sometimes suck the life out of me. I’m left feeling tired, frustration and with a sense that I’m not always doing what I should be. Don’t get me wrong. There are times I feel like I’ve accomplished something worth while.

So if Jesus is to be our example, how can he manage to say in John 17:4; “I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do.”

The point the article makes is that Jesus through prayer sought after only what the Father gave him to do. Wow. I so much want to stand before the Father one day and say, “I’ve finished all that You gave me to do.”

So what would I need to do in order to say that? Well maybe it would mean that I need to be more faithful in prayer to the Father. To seek after Him to guide me in my daily life and any project that I would undertake. I know that might sound a bit mundane but I believe that if can master seeking Him in all things, then the urgent things won’t overwhelm me. If I know that I’m doing exactly what He wants me to do at that moment, then peace would fill my heart.

As I reflect on this past week, I’ve learned a few things. It taught me that if God is calling me to do something He will not abandon me when I do it. I’ve learned that when faced with urgent things, He was faithful to meet my need. I’ve learned that I can trust Him with little things as well as the big things in life.

I thank You Lord for helping me make good choices this past week. I thank You Lord for helping me accomplish the important things You set before me. I thank You for stretching me in areas I was not comfortable in. I thank You for the love and support of Your people.

© Nadine Z. 2007