YOU ARE GOD'S PRIORITY

"Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option."  

That was a Facebook status of Sara Richart, one of our college students earlier this week.  
My first reaction was YES, that is great.  

Working with youth, I often see them totally giving themselves to someone who simply just does not return the attention.  They do anything they can to fit into a group that simply just does not want them around.  They focus totally on someone of the opposite sex that simply just does not feel the same way.

Often, I feel like I do that same thing myself.  I feel like I give an awful lot of time to folks that simply just are not interested.  
You make phone calls, send emails, send facebook messages, go to sporting events and band concerts...and yet, some youth just are not interested in coming to the youth program.  Its frustrating.  It feels like a waste of time sometimes. 


For many of us, this may feel like our lives.  
Our priority is our children, and we are our children's option.
Our priority is our boss, and we are our bosses option.
Our priority is our teachers, and we feel we are just their option.
Our priority is our friends, and yet, often we are just our friends option.
Our priority is our boyfriend or girlfriend, and still sometimes, we are just their option.


We give and give and give...just to feel taken advantage of and forgotten.


"Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option."  
That really just resonated with me.


And then, I guess as I sat there and thought about it longer, the Holy Spirit wanted me to learn a little something.  (I think the Holy Spirit always wants me to learn something, I just fail to listen sometimes)


The thought that went through my head... "God does that for me all the time."
Ouch.  
How often do I simply make God an option in my life, when I am always God's priority.  


I have a shirt that reads "God Loves You, But I'm His Favorite".
When people give me the "but God doesn't have favorites," I usually reply, "But God's so amazing that He loves us ALL like we are His favorite."
We are always God's priority.


Yesterday I talked about the many ways we clearly do not make God our priority.  
I stepped on a lot of toes...I've heard from quite a few folks who I guess felt the need to defend themselves. 
I heard from several folks thanking me for stepping on their toes.  


Regardless of which category you fall into, I just keep thinking about the phrase "I am God's priority."


I'm not usually one for cheesy things, but say that out loud to yourself... "I am God's priority."


Do you believe that?  Do you REALLY believe that?


I know several of my posts have not necessarily been overly positive.  Many of them are intended to "Call folks out."  Many are intended to push us each to go deeper in our relationship with God.  Many are intended to push us to make "Church" a verb instead of a "Noun".


Despite those blogs that may seem negative, I hope you hear the over arching theme that is really what Christmas is all about...Redemption.  Grace.  A 2nd Chance.


Jesus came in human form so that we would not be defined by our mistakes.  Jesus came in human form so we would have a chance to be more than our mistakes, more than our sins.  


Jesus came to offer grace.


No matter what you have done, no matter what mistakes you have made, no matter how many times you have unintentionally told Jesus there was no room in your heart for Him; you get a second chance.


Grace is extended.  


Ultimately, that is the Christmas message.

Are you going to continue to make God an option in your life or are you going to begin to make God a priority.


I can promise you, you are already God's priority!