It was a late night several years ago and I recall musing in my journal, " I am burning some late night oil tonight."

"It is quiet up here."

" am working on last minute things that need attention but also long term goals that often get swept aside."

In reality, we tend to decide what is long term and what is last minute based upon our values, our attitudes, and our sense of calling. We also, tend to decide without the guidance that is necessary to make the best choices.

Urgency is often about the squeakiest wheel that resounds in our ears of thinking. We sometimes act out of the anxiety of avoidance to take care of just what least little bit of nothing we can in order to be able to answer some nagging question or check off a box of arbitrary tasks that we are sure must be accomplished.

I don't sense that this evening.

I have asked God to help me live on purpose and on His purposeful timetable and most of the time, it works.

It works to the extent that I commit and keep committing to it.

There are some things that I believe God has called me to accomplish with us during the time we have together.

I sense those things coming together.

Yes, there is urgency.

Yes, there is a healthy and balanced amount of stress. 

Yes, there are times when the hours are long and the balances between church, association, personal ministry, family, and time with God need to be readjusted.

Normally, that happens when that which I have listed last is last instead of first.

Psalm 5:3 informs me as to my journey through the balances and stresses. It is the place where marching orders are given and where that which is urgent is underlined  and written across my heart in bold print daily:

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."

I look up. 

That is all that keeps me on track.

 Al day long, I have to recheck, rewrite, and rearrange my "to-do"list. I have to seek balance and reorientation. I have to check in with purpose, mission, and calling.

Where are you finding your balance, your time, your energy, and your drive? Where are you sensing fulfillment at the end of each day no matter how long or short. 

I would suggest that the shortest distance between your evening satisfaction and your morning awakening is moments you set aside at the beginning of the day to look up for guidance and to let God hear your voice.

I make no claim to coming up to the level of praying of these two men, but I resonate with their testimony:

"If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer." Martin Luther

"I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it." -John Wesley 

I am about to go home. I have had a long and fruitful day. I feel rested. I did not finish everything. I did not even tell you all that is on my heart. I trust you to read all the announcements and digest them prayerfully. I am out of time to highlight them. I leave them with God and you.

I have much to do tomorrow. So do you.

But woe be to me if I rush into the day without looking up too God through Jesus Christ and making my voice heard to Him, allowing me to speak to me through His Word.