Prioritising God in the Busyness (A Bumper Crop)

So I'm going to start with T. Prophetic words that I believe the Lord has given me and I don't know if they saw people in the room that is watching online or listen to the podcast of to it. And but this is the first one I saw a picture of a console. And I believe the Lord is saying to you, you've worked hard and created a physically comfortable life but it's empty. The way to fill it with meaning is to invite me to share it with you. You know, about me but you've never known me. I'm saying, let's start this journey together. I already know you inside out like it says, in Psalm 139, I'm just going to read the relevant versus from the Amplified Bible, which expands and clarifies the meaning of the original Hebrew group, great Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic words say, Psalm 139 verse is 12 T and then 13 and 16 O. Lord, you have searched me, thoroughly unknown me. You know, when I sit down and when I Rise up my entire life, everything I day. You understand my thoughts from afar? Do you phoned my enemies Parts? You knit me together in my mother's womb. In your book, will written the days that were appointed for me. When is yet there was not one of them. I believe the Lord is saying before your first day, I knew what you would do. Well and I knew the mistakes that you'd make a my provided for that when I Jesus died for you on the cross. I died in your place to take the punishment for your sins. When I rose again, I defeated death, spiritual death. So Physical death is not something to be feared. you will experience physical death at some point, but if you invite me to live in your heart, if you surrender your life to me, I will give you the meaning in your life that you're seeking a dog to its you live at 10 today with me, I'm going to leave you with this verse in John 15, verse for pets. John 15 verse 49 reading from the classic. Amplified Bible dwelling May and I will dwell in yay. Live in me and I will live in you.

So the second prophetic word that lord gave me is for someone who's feeling quite lost. I believe the Lord is saying that your next steps in some respects, our office, but you're feeling lost in yourself, in terms of who you are, where you belong, and how to understand life in the bigger picture. What should your life look like? And how do you get the I believe the Lord is saying one step at a time. There is absolutely a time for thinking ahead and planning for your future but this isn't it?

You have enough on your plate right now. You've already stepped onto the boat. So to speak in times of your life right now. Stepping onto the boat, refers to an incident recorded in the Book of Matthew chapter 14. And I'm just going to sit there saying before I read from it. Jesus has directed his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. And he goes alone Upper Mountain to pray. The boat is now some distance from the land tossed and battered by the waves because that's a strong wind. Sometime between 3 and 6 in the morning, Jesus comes walking on the water and unsurprisingly, the disciples are terrified, and they cry out in fear.

Matthew 14 verses 27 to 33. W Matthew 14:27. 2:30 a.m. take courage. She's I don't be afraid. The old, if it's a day to reply to tell me to come to you on the water. Come. He said then Peter got down out to the boat walks on the water and came to a Cheese's, but when he saw the wind, he was afraid. I'm beginning to sink Cried Out. Lord, save me. Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him you of little faith. He said, why did you don't And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. To reiterate. I believe the Lord is saying to whoever this world is for, you've already sat down to the boat, so to speak and tons of your life right now, and it wasn't plain sailing even before then, excuse the pump. Life was challenging before anyway and now you're well outside your comfort zone with little that's familiar over. It feels stable to hold on t But it was right to step out to the boat anyway away from the relative safety of what was familiar. So don't doubt that you're doing the right thing. I'm saying to you, come. Keep your eyes. Fixed on me, a note on everything that's causing the storm. I won't let you drown. Just concentrate on the next step.

So, moving, Auntie, today's message the title, the lord gave me is prioritizing God in the business. A new theme, this month is a bumper crop and we're looking at prioritizing called in the busyness. Harvest time is a busy time. Whenever I start music about how it, how am I feeling? The countryside Simon is quick to remind me of my oven routes. But even I know that Harvest time is a busy time. Then, of course, that's the post office processing of the crop. What's the new we have? At least one person here from a farming, backgrounds seasons of real busyness of something. I'm sure we've all had undergoing stray and I believe the Lord, one has to consider how we keep the main thing. The main thing, when there are a lot of distractions and ultramount on our time or energy and our Focus. I'm actually going to stop by looking briefly at the nature of our business. On the one hand we need to remember that. God will not ask us to take on every Challenge and problems that we come across. It would be overwhelming. As some of you have had me save more than once. There is only one savior of the world Jesus and he's not going to nominate you were I to take over the job. so, the first point to consider is if your agenda is too big for today, How much is actually for today? If you were genda is too big for today, how much is not today? Full today. It's important for us to look at our to-do list, be at a physical 101. We holding our heads and figure out what the Lord. What is actually ours to do today. If it's ours to do a towel. It's worth noting in the middle of private Jesus gave us in Matthew 6. It says, in verse 11, give us this day, our daily bread The Lord will enable us strengthen us and provide for us to do each day. What is hours today? But not, but not what. He's no tiles today or what can be left on needs to be left for another day. I remember once in my previous job in social work, I needed to call the particular lady to tell her why we couldn't provide some things that she lost full and she could be tricky. I feel too relationship with her but she could be tricky. Anyway, all I can say is that I failed to check in my spirit. Something with inmate prompt me, not today that day, which is a Friday but to leave it till the Monday. I was busy anyway. It wasn't going to change anything so that's what I did when I spoke to the lady on the Monday and to live with the message. She says unprompted. It's a good job. You didn't call me on Friday, Friday, fit in your head off. I don't recall why she said that it was nothing to do with me, but I remember being grateful to the to the Holy Spirit. I still have my, have my head attached to my body.

God is interested in the details of Our Lives. He wants us to do life in and with him. That's the invitation and privilege of a life surrender to the lord. It's not just a ticket to heaven and eternal life. However, amazing insignificant. So, if your agenda is too big for today, how much is actually for today? God will provide us with the bread, what we need for today, if we all scan for it by faith. This next statement may sound like a contradiction today but it isn't. Good usually asks us to do what is impossible so that we will rely on him. He can accomplish so much more in an through as they sway. Sweetheart agenda for the day, seems impossible. First, we need to check with the Lord, if it's allows today and whatever it's almost today is it hold for that day. Whatever is hours today. May still looking possible. I'm not slap. Rat comes in. God is the god of the impossible. Like it says, for example, and Luke 1:37, Luke 1:37 for with God, nothing is impossible. With God, nothing will be impossible. This first says it's explicitly, but the truth of it is made clear throughout the Bible. Play, sampa, I wanted to prepare in advance for today partly because it's my night trying not to do things last minute, if I can help it. So I sat down on bank holiday Monday to prepare and had absolutely nothing from the Lord. Theoretically I might have been able to do at least something the Wake but something else came up which was important. So I couldn't Say by Friday, I have the same, but Ciao Pasta. Dave, give well in advance, but no idea where I was going with it. Because of all the things I had today, I didn't manage to sit down till Friday off today. Finally, I make the Stalls and otherwise, the lord gave me rice to profess, it was but I still have no clear idea of what the message was going to be. I'm so grateful for praying friends and will Cipher Simon's encouragement as he puts it in in his own unique way, God, parted the Red Sea. How difficult do you think it is forgot to give you a summons? Good point. It help me to relax as else out of my comfort zone. But you have to say isn't the first time this may not seem like a big thing to some people, but I take my responsibility to preach seriously. It also illustrates the Lord's interest and involvement in what is cold as today. Whether it's something that way or other as would consider big or small. Philippians 4:13 is a well-known fast but thankfully we can apply to many different situations. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Is an Ethiopian proverb created in a brilliant biography of Rees Howells, a Welsh into Sessa that tonight. Mentioned a few weeks ago, it says the man who has only got to look at a can do all things. Another fail. Good. Isn't it? The man who has only Gods to look today? Can do all things? Another fail. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me the puzzle, pull, right? This place, who's in prison, on the contacts is about learning to be content, whether rich or poor hungry or full but basically being able to handle comfort and hardship through the anointing of Christ, which strengthens us The Message Bible is a paraphrase of the original text written with the intention of making the word of God is at 1 to stand. In my opinion, the messages help for her. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the one who makes me who I am. Get his neck, whatever. I have wherever I am, I can make it three anyting in the one who makes me who I am. Can't be content, regardless of circumstances, which is a good lesson to learn. Pop's return. More extensively to God in Trials. We will not slay cry out to God in those times. I'm not the right thing to do with clothes. We can only think one thought at a time and if we choose to think on this first or one like it or whatever the Holy Spirit directs us to, it will help us to stay focused on the tree on ghost despective. I'm not on how we feel or around viewpoints or limitations. I realize it's more difficult in busy times, but we all still, for example, need to make a drink shower etcetera. So any time when we have the mental space to think, we can choose what we think about, I'm focusing on a bus praying praising God. These are ways in which we can prioritize, God in busy times.

Like the puzzle poolside invest 12 which isn't on the screen. I know what it is to be an eighth and what it is to have plenty I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. We also need to learn to handle life in a Godly way and not lose sight of our need for God. When things are going well, whether the heck take or not, which brings me to my next point. We still need to prioritize God, when we're busy and happy. Busyness May utilize our time and energy in a way that we enjoy. But we still need God. We still need to stay grounded to uncross out on the truth of the word of God and the truth that we always need him. Regardless of physical and material come from because life is so much more than that. I'm currently reading and loving the John Lennox. His autobiography. My story don't lennox's amongst other things Emeritus, professor of mathematics at the University of Oaks said, which means he's retired. But still keeps his title as a mark of respect and distinction. He's lectured on religion and science at many prestigious institutions around the world, has written lots of books etcetera. And Hazel's Pokerface. He mentions a friend, an insurance executive Wewoka nice dinners in the city in London. So John could interact with other insurance Executives and give a Christian perspective on the various questions as they were mostly highly skeptical, known chetco is He says these dinners works really well on one occasion. I found myself seated beside a very senior executive, who all Smith very bluntly with liberal use of expletives. What on Earth is going on? I was intrigued. What do you mean? Well, he replied. I look around this room and I see all my everybody who is anybody and insurance in the city, what's the big drawer? I said, I'll think I think you'll find that people who have real questions. Many have reached the top of that profession that have all the toys and then I wonder whether that was hilarious because they find that empty the looking for deeper meaning in life, and the interested in hearing what Christianity has to say and also to that questions. He listens and even returned on the later occasion. to me, this is an example of why we need to know why we need Christ to strengthen us regardless of our circumstances, even when the positive or appear to be, It's so we learned to keep the main thing, the main thing to prioritize. God, I wasn't busy. We all or not. I wasn't much for enjoying life busy or not to reiterate my original Point houses. Today, what is impossible to us so that we will rely on him. Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ. Who strengthens me. This is this fuss is something we can hang our hat on, so to speak, but we can hold onto in the midst of visiting us. When facing what looks impossible. And thank God by faith before we say what we're believing for. As it says in Hebrews 11:1 now, Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not sane. The Amplified version defines Faith this way face comprehends. As fact, what kind of be experienced by the physical senses?

The Philippines 413 flat set together. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me? It's good to speak the truth to ourselves. It's important to speak the truth to ourselves and this is a totally true because God's word is eternal. As it says, for example, and Isaiah 40 verse 8, the grass withers, the flower Fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

So to summarize this part, if you are a genda is too big for today. How much is actually for today? Gold usually asks us to do what's impossible? So we'll rely on him. We still need to prioritize God when we busy and enjoying it of Philippians 413. I can do all things through Christ. Who strengthens me. So my next Point, how do we prepare our ties? Go out in the dizziness Jesus is our example of a role model in all aspects of Life, while seawalls is and always will be God, he chose to limit himself to living as a man as it says in Philippians 2, verses 6 to 7 flags on pole. He did this for number of reasons including so that we would have a role model to follow. Luke 5 verse 16 to Luke 5 verse. 16 says Jesus, often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. I believe this is a key starting point to prioritize and God. Noticed it says often, no tollways. In fact, it was often with insert it in a number of translations to make it explicit. What was inferred that Jesus had a bit today with Drew telling me places and pray. I think it's helpful to think of it as a habit rather than a legalistic person in terms of the time we did it and how long for It's helpful to be away from people to pray and read our Bibles so that we can focus on the Lord. But depending on outside consultant says, we may physically only got space away from people, for example, when commuting to work. So it's good to Presley think about how we spend that time. It's all the secrets, pray and read the Bible with all the people today and I'm not suggesting otherwise, but a personal relationship with the Lord is fundamental. We come piggyback of other people's faith that we can always learn from others including in a group situation. so we need to think about what's practical for us in terms of when we pray, Oh well that it's important that we need a overly harsh that with all cells know, my kicks cases out of laziness, hence the need to look at it privately with the Lord as I had one guy say if all will isn't surrender to Christ will use reason to get her own way. Maybe we need to review on habits in terms of how we use all time. Maybe we need to refuel with the Lord if we have any time robbers in our lives. That's the time that song and I picked up from somewhere and I think it's a useful one, they can be applied in different ways. But broadly speaking is that anything that we spend time doing that is unhelpful unhealthy, or maybe find some time, but we need to rethink. How often we do it on the old, how long for whatever it might be. This is simply a promise for us to consider wise use of our time so we can make time for what really matters and premises. We also need to think about what's practical for us in terms of where we pray. Quality time sitting down with the Lord away from people and where the Bible works best for me. But I appreciate that's what always possible for different reasons of. Thanks to a we can pray wherever we go. Sometimes people like to walk and pray. I also do that on the way to work. I was never meant to be for so many minutes, first thing in the morning, then off we go. If out all day. We have the invitation and privilege to interact with God throughout all day. One of his name is Emmanuel, God With Us. There are different types of prayer. And this includes both talking and listening to God, praising and worshipping him, sharing of problems with him, and letting go of them by faith to him. Resting silently in his presence is refreshing. And as valid as private involves what Luke 5:16 Jesus often wished to lonely places and prayed. Jesus was busy, the gospel accounts of his life, make it clear. But it still says in John 21 verse 25. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them was written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books, that would be written.

I'm going to make no apologies for quoting from a pasta de Foods book forged in Stillness. Is it's a really helpful results as we look at this. they said I realize that many of us and leadership in business education, Ministry or family life live dangerously, close to burn out because we've confused busyness with fruitfulness We leave from depression instead of overflow. The mall the world still wanted me to stay the more vital. It becomes to cultivate intentional rhythms of Stillness.

Are there any changes that we need to make? We're more likely to stick to changes if we take small steps rather than making radical changes, a particular. If we're busy. Might be the most practical way to make lost in changes. On a different note. I do want to say to explicitly that I'm not suggesting that anything we spend time doing that is not reading the Bible, or praying is not good use of time activities, don't have to be purely spiritual to have family. We can make wise use of all time. For example, resting resting is not doing nothing. It's vital self car with a Biblical basis, actually. Like it says for example, in Psalm 23, verses 2 to 3, Psalm 23 verses 2 to 3, he the Lord makes me lie down in Green Pastures. He leads me beside Quiet Waters, he refreshes my soul, he makes his lie down. Some people feel guilty when they rest and I'm saying that guilt doesn't belong to you. Firstly, Jesus took all our accounts as well as shame when he died on the cross. And secondly, Jesus, Our Shepherd makes his nightgown. Separate eyes in God in our business includes rest is about Presley, considering when, and where we pray, what's practical? Because it won't necessarily be the same each day. Depending on other commitments, dependents, Etc, but let's make sure we do it. Luke 5:16 Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed if Jesus needed to and he was clearly a busy man. We certainly day. Let's pray.

Lord, we need you, we depend on you. We love you because you first loved us. Please help us to prioritize you in the busyness of life and include you in all of it. Please teach us and help us to live life, surrender to you because we all scan in Jesus name. I'm with so grateful because you've promised you to hear us a we know that you'll answer is. Thank you. Lord. Amen.