Sunday, March 18, 2007

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

19 comments:

a woman who is said...

Mundane is not the word for that kind of prayer for me. It is vital. Thanks for sharing with me a reminder to let God plan my week.

palmtreefanatic said...

good post for all to read! Thanks!
Blessings to you!

Shionge said...

Hiya Nadine...I think as a woman...we always have 'urgent' things to look into and not just work alone but family and those around us.

You have an excellent faith in your Lord and that is good to plan your things ahead :D

Dedee said...

I loved this blog Nadine, as usual. You inspire me and help me to think a bit more. Thanks. I heard someone teach at church yesterday about making sure that we were doing what God wanted us to do. He told a story that a leader of our church told at a recent conference. This man had an hour of free time and, instead of trying to check another thing off his to do list, he prayed and asked God what he should do with this extra hour. He was inspired to visit a nursing home and found there a man who had been asking for him. The teacher's point with this story was that this man had first and fore-most in his thoughts, "What would God have me do with this time?" Not, "What should I do now." Thanks for the reminder!

Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph said...

Great post! And often I look at "time" in regards to "tithing" ... when we give our time first to the Lord, it seems there is plenty of time to do everything else...

Steph

P.S.
If you’d like, please join my Photo Tag going on and post about the shoes you can't live without!

Steph

Unknown said...

And yet, He teaches us through all of it...

I'm with you - Oh god let me learn my lessons well and early so I don't spend myself on behalf of that which is all for the burning anyway!

Grace,
LL

Knit-Wit said...

I enjoyed reading your post. I'll have to check out that book once life settles down a bit.

Thanks also for stopping by my blog and letting me know that you are praying for my daughter. It's enouraging to know that people are lifting her up in prayer.

Shawna said...

Good stuff, Nadine. I enjoyed your take on this.

Trina said...

This has been true of me as well. Many times I feel overwhelmed, especially lately as we are about to make huge life changes and feel that there isnt enough time to do it all. Although the other side of it is that I have spent more time in prayer and close to the Lord than I have in a very long time, and that feels amazing. I guess its all about perspective. Time is nothing to the Lord, but our thoughts are everything.

Demara said...

Yup I agree Nadine...

"I believe that if can master seeking Him in all things, then the urgent things won’t overwhelm me."

I too actually was struggling with this but realized that once I spent time with the Lord not even that much time but just that initial---hi I'm still here Lord---time, I didn't feel as overwhelmed with those huge crazy matters.

Such a neat post Nadine!

Elle*Bee said...

What a great post!

Kim said...

Great post, Nadine.
Have a wonderful week.

marykathryn said...

Well your words ring true and I too agree that the Lord requires obedience out of us. I get so caught up in my daily walk of life that I often forget what I was put on this earth to do and that is to serve The Lord. I am just thankful that I serve a god that is patience with my sometimes inadequent service and gives me the chance to redeem myself. Thanks for the reminder..again.

Heather Cady said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog awhile back. I've been enjoying your blog since then and have been trying to finally get around to letting people know I've been reading.

Thanks for sharing your heart.

Kim's Life said...

What a inspiring post. I really enjoyed reading it. Thankyou.

Amanda said...

Great thought provoking post. I think being a woman that there is so much taking us away from spending vital prayer time with God. I just recently confided to my husband that my spiritual life sucks. I feel like I don't have time to give to God as I am run ragged with my 3 kids. I know a lot of women who feel the same way but you are right we NEED to spend time in prayer with our father in order to know what we should be doing.
So many "urgent" things take me away from God but spending time with God should be my first priority of the day.
Thanks for the reminder.

david santos said...

Hello, Nadine!
Hall very good. Thank you
Good day

Art said...

Great post! Thanks.

Louise said...

Great Post!! Such a good reminder to me of what should come first in my life. My husband hates the word 'busy' because he feels that just because one is busy does not mean that one is productive, so that is now what I am trying to be...less busy, more productive and especially listening to the Holy Spirit for the promptings of what is really important and what I can put aside!!
Thanks for sharing that!