Gems of Knowledge

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: 1 Chronicles 1:1–2:17, Acts 23:11–35, Psalm 3:1–8, Proverbs 18:14–15

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Making God Your Greatest Priority

The business of life has a way of filling every corner of our days. Between family responsibilities, work demands, and holiday celebrations, our schedules can quickly become crowded. Before we realize it, we’re moving from one thing to the next, trying to keep up with everything that needs our attention.

In the middle of all that busyness, something subtle can begin to happen. Our closeness with God, our time in worship, our moments in His Word, and those quiet times spent with Him can slowly start to slip away.

As I thought about it later, though, I realized something.

When something is truly important to me, I usually find a way to make time for it.

If one of my children or grandchildren needed me, I’d rearrange my schedule. If there were an emergency, everything else would suddenly become less important. If I had an appointment I absolutely couldn’t miss, somehow I’d make it there.

The problem wasn’t really a lack of time.

It was a matter of priority.

As I prayed about that, the Lord gently spoke this Gem of Knowledge to my heart:

“You can always do better if it is important to you…if I am important to you.“

Those words weren’t spoken with condemnation. They were spoken with love. I could almost hear the Father’s heart behind them. He wasn’t trying to make me feel guilty. He was inviting me to honestly examine my priorities.

The truth is, we all make time for the things we value most. We schedule vacations months in advance. We make appointments, watch our favorite television shows, scroll social media, and find time for hobbies we enjoy. Yet somehow, spending time with God is often the first thing to disappear when life gets busy.

I’ve certainly been guilty of that.

In fact, just a few devotionals ago I shared how my evening worship had quietly disappeared without me even realizing it. It wasn’t because I loved God less. It wasn’t because I had stopped wanting to spend time with Him. I had simply allowed other things to crowd Him out.

That’s the danger of busyness. Rarely does it pull us away from God all at once. It happens one day at a time, one skipped prayer, one missed time in His Word, one evening when we’re simply too tired.

Before long, weeks or even months have passed, and we wonder why we don’t feel as close to Him as we once did.

Today’s reading reminded me that relationships aren’t built during occasional moments of crisis. They’re built through consistent time together.

When Paul found himself imprisoned in Acts 23, the Lord stood beside him and encouraged him. I couldn’t help but think how comforting that must have been. Paul recognized the Lord’s voice because he had spent years walking closely with Him. That relationship had been cultivated long before the prison cell.

David expressed that same confidence in Psalm 3. Even while surrounded by enemies, he was able to lie down and sleep because he knew the Lord was watching over him. That kind of trust isn’t developed overnight. It grows one day at a time as we continue choosing God’s presence over the distractions of life.

I think that’s what the Lord was really showing me through today’s Gem.

He isn’t asking us to perform better – He’s inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him

After all, every healthy relationship requires time. A marriage doesn’t flourish without conversation. Friendships don’t grow without spending time together. The same is true with God. The more time we spend with Him, the more we recognize His voice, trust His heart, and become like Him.

Maybe today is simply an opportunity to ask ourselves one honest question:

Does the way I spend my time reflect what I say is most important?

If the answer is no, don’t be discouraged.

His invitation is still the same.

Come closer. 💎

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Action (5 Minutes with God)

Who doesn’t have 5 minutes for the King? Take at least 5 minutes to be with the Lord today. Ask Him:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
  • Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Let today be a day of honest evaluation with the Lord and realign where needed, because we love Him and He loves us.

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Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for gently reminding me what truly matters. Forgive me for the times I’ve allowed busyness to crowd You out. Help me make You my greatest priority, not because I have to, but because I love You and want to know You more. Teach me to recognize Your voice as I spend time in Your presence each day. Draw me closer to You, and let my life reflect that You truly are what matters most. InYour beautiful name, I pray, Amen.

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