The 7 Most Important Things In Life

There are many things that compete for our attention, but only a few truly determine the direction of our life.

If you do not establish what is most important, life will decide for you. And when life decides, it rarely chooses correctly.

In a staff meeting years ago, I taught on what I believe are the seven most important things in life. These are not suggestions. They are foundations. When these are in order, everything else begins to align.

1. The Word of God

The greatest thing you can do is absorb the Word of God.

Not visit it occasionally. Not reference it when you are in trouble. Absorb it.

The Word renews your mind. It corrects your direction. It stabilizes your emotions. If you do not build your life on the Word, you will build it on opinions. Opinions shift. Truth does not.

2. Prayer

Show up for prayer.

Have a place. Have a time. Create the right climate.

Prayer is not an emergency tool. It is a daily discipline. If you want strength in public, you must have consistency in private.

Pray for a spirit of prayer. Not only for yourself, but for your church, your family, and your leadership.

3. Your Assignment

You were created for something specific.

If you do not discover your assignment, you will spend your life distracted. When you know what you are called to do, decisions become clearer.

God not only has a purpose for your life. He has a timing for your life.

Stay aligned with both.

4. Planning

Drift is natural. Growth is intentional.

If you do not plan, you will react. Planning keeps you moving toward your assignment instead of away from it.

Goals keep you walking in the direction of your dream. Many people have dreams. Few have structure.

5. Health

Your body is not a woodshed. It is a temple.

Your mind is to be renewed. Your body is to be disciplined. Your health affects your clarity, your energy, and your longevity.

If you cannot govern yourself, you will struggle to lead others.

6. Finances

You are paid in life for the value you bring, not the time you spend.

To increase financially, you must increase personally. To have more, you must become more.

Money magnifies who you are. It does not change you. Learn stewardship. Learn value creation. Learn discipline.

7. Relationships

Relationships shape your life more than you realize.

How your friends spend their money is how you will eventually spend yours. What they read, you will read. What they talk about, you will talk about. How they think, you will think.

The people around you are either keeping you on course or pushing you off course.

Some relationships need to be evaluated. Some need to be eliminated. Some need to be expanded.

Invest intentionally in future relationships that align with where you are going, not just where you are.

Bring value to your mentors. Do not just take from the table. Add to it.

Take risks in relationships that move you toward growth.

How To Increase Value In Your Position

It is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens.

You attract who you are, not what you want. What you are speaks louder than what you say.

If you change, everything will begin to change.

Develop a growing relationship with Christ. Stay teachable. Be flexible. God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

Walk without offense. Develop loyalty beyond personal feelings. Show respect to everyone.

Do not try to be impressive. Be valuable.

Be committed whether you feel like it or not. Professionals do what is required. Amateurs do what is convenient.

Do not pray for things to get easier. Pray to become stronger.

Stay until the assignment is complete. Be a finisher.

Be dependable. Be diligent. Be faithful where you are.

Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.

Know that God is your source. If you look to people as your source, you will eventually be disappointed.

Understanding The Seasons Of Life

Genesis teaches us there are four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Every life has seasons. Every relationship has seasons. Your family, your marriage, your career all move through cycles.

Winter is struggle and discomfort.

Spring is opportunity and planting.

Summer is cultivation. It is where you fight weeds and protect what is growing. It requires prayer and vigilance.

Fall is harvest. Success can be dangerous if you allow pride to enter.

You must learn how to respond correctly in each season.

God set seasons into motion in every life. When you understand them, you bring greater value into your own life and into the lives of others.

Order these seven areas. Increase your value. Learn your seasons.

When these are in alignment, you will not drift. You will advance.