Are my priorities right?

The question confronted me several years ago on a beach vacation.  I had decided to use some precious moments of solitude to wade deeper into God’s Word.  It had been awhile since I’d done more than crack the cover of my study Bible, and I was desperately craving the only thing that has ever really satisfied me.  Opening to the Psalms, I found the perfect passage for some quiet meditation in number 104:

“How many are your works, O Lord!  In wisdom you made them all…There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number…”

Like a fresh ocean breeze, the words swept through my soul.  As I read the whole Psalm over and over, it seemed to take on a kind of rhythm, like the waves washing in and out on the shore.  My big, powerful God – who creates, orders and cares for all things – seemed right there before me, shrinking all other aspects of my life back into their proper perspective.

One little Psalm.  That’s all it took.  How is it that I had forgotten?

God’s certainly created me, and I could count blessings all day long to prove that He cares for me.  The problem is in the ordering of things.

How quickly I go from doing things with Him, to doing things for Him, to doing things despite Him.  Like the ocean rip current, the tide of life pulls at me and I drift away.

The first thing my daughters do on vacation mornings is look for me in the beach house.  I’d like to think this isn’t just because they want breakfast!  Finding me gives them a sense of security:  mom’s in charge, she remembers that breakfast comes first and she’s got the resources and the power to make it.

Jesus said we are to be like children.  The first thing I need to do every day is find Him, in His Word.  My days loom large.  I need Him to order them.  I need to remember that He’s greater, that He’s got the resources and power, that He is all I need.