Are You Focused On What Matters Most Today?

“Take a deep breath. Get present in the moment and ask yourself what is important this very second.”  ~Greg McKeown, Essentialism.

There are moments in life when time seems to stand still. Moving the tassel across the top of your graduation cap will make you forget the drama of the past few years and relish your dreams instead. The past and future meld together when you stand at the altar with your bouquet and his ring in hand. The first time you hold your baby, nothing else in the whole world matters. Standing beside the coffin of someone you love makes life simultaneously pale and vivid.

These hallmark moments lend themselves to introspection. These are the times in our lives when we hone in on what is truly important. We pledge to make every day count. We vow to love with our whole hearts, holding nothing back. We say we will live each day as if it is our last.

What about an ordinary Saturday? Is it possible to live this day as if it were one of those red letter days? Most days my eyes land on the empty checkboxes of my to-do list. I run in the direction of my goals. Interruptions are a nuisance, even if they share my last name and call me “Mama.” Unlike those life-altering moments when I savor every little thing, I spend my ordinary days wishing for more. Tomorrow usually seems like a better place to be than today.

I wonder if time stood still for Jesus on his last night as a free man. Instead of rushing around to heal more sick people or giving a last-minute sermon, we find Jesus sharing a meal with his disciples. He set the stress and rush of ministry aside for the most important thing.

“When it was evening, he reclined at the table with the twelve” (Matt. 26:20 ESV).

Jesus spent his last hours of freedom with his best friends, teaching them how to remember him and sharing the foundations of the gospel with them. He prayed for them (John 17) and then prayed for the strength to walk the difficult journey to the cross (Mark 14:32-36). When it came down to it, the most important thing to Jesus on his last night was doing the will of the Father and serving his closest friends.

Jesus spent his whole life choosing to do the most important thing at any given moment. He stopped to heal the sick when they crossed his path. He sat on a mountainside to speak life to a waiting crowd. He prayed for children, even as his disciples scolded the people for bringing them to him. He looked a bleeding woman, a blind man, and a beggar in the eyes and gave them personalized hope.

It is difficult to stop the drive to do more in exchange for savoring the beautiful moments of my ordinary days. I don’t want my last day to be filled with regret for all the times I skimmed over the significant to pursue the petty.

Today is its own special day. I am here with you, meditating on the word of God. I will cheer my daughter on at a basketball game. My family will pile up on the sofa to enjoy a movie together. My husband and I may share a quiet moment before bed. Despite the nagging of the to-do list in my mind, I hope to make time stand still as I seek to savor what is truly meaningful.

Father, we are so easily distracted by the drive to be more and do more. Help us to notice what we have neglected. Give us the courage to set aside the nonessential in order to savor the essential.

Scripture for Reflection

“But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:40-42 ESV)

Reach for More

Perhaps you made a list of goals or resolutions for the New Year–plans for all you want to accomplish this year. It is time to make a list of what is most important today. Relationships, dreams, neglected commitments. Take a deep breath and write down at least one important thing. Determine to spend some time focusing on that one thing today.

Please, come back and leave a comment telling us how God spoke to you this week, or share your progress on social media using the hashtag #tgtreachformore. We would love to hear from you.

Kelly Smith is a small town girl who married a small town man 17 years ago. She has three energetic blessings, ages 1 to 11. Her favorite indulgences are coffee, reading, writing, and running. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.