Biblical Answer

Prioritizing Your Own Needs: A Biblical Approach

When you're already overwhelmed, it can be challenging to prioritize your own needs. The Bible teaches us to put God first, and then prioritize our relationships with others, including our spouses. In order to prioritize our own needs, we must first recognize that our priorities must be God-centered. This means making time for Bible reading and prayer, and seeking to draw on God's strength in our daily lives. As the Bible says, "Your priorities must be God first, God second, and God third, until your life is continually face-to-face with God and no one else is taken into account whatsoever" (emphasis added).

In addition to prioritizing God, we must also examine our priorities to eliminate inefficiency and waste. This means taking a hard look at how we spend our time and energy, and cutting out things that are not essential or that distract us from our priorities. As the Bible says, "You don't do things that are important, true, and good rather than things that feel urgent but are ungodly" (emphasis added). This means being intentional about saying "no" to things that are not aligned with our values and priorities. It also means being willing to rework our schedules and priorities to make time for what is truly important.

Ultimately, prioritizing our own needs requires a combination of self-control, intentionality, and dependence on God. We must be willing to take the first step, even when it feels daunting or impossible. As the Bible says, "Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard-just do what needs to be done!" (emphasis added). By prioritizing God and our relationships with others, and by being intentional about how we spend our time and energy, we can find a sense of peace and purpose that comes from living a life that is truly aligned with our values and priorities.