Message Minute (Taking Back Control)

"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does." - John 5:19

Who's really in control of your schedule? If you're honest, it's probably everyone except you.

Your boss decided you need to work late. Your kid's school scheduled seventeen different events. Your extended family planned the reunion. Your social circle determined which activities you should join. And somewhere in all that external control, you lost track of what God is actually calling you to do with your life.

Here's what's wild: Jesus, with unlimited power and compassion, could have healed every sick person and taught every curious heart. But He chose to do only what He saw His Father doing. If Jesus needed to filter His activities through His relationship with the Father, how much more do we?

The problem isn't that bad things are getting into your life—it's that too many good things are crowding out the best things. Every "yes" to one thing is a "no" to something else. When you say yes to working late, you're saying no to dinner with family. When you say yes to another committee, you're saying no to margin in your schedule.

Warren Buffett has a strategy called the "25/5 Rule." Write down your top 25 goals, circle the top 5, and avoid the other 20 at all costs. Those 20 good goals will distract you from the 5 great ones God has for you.

It's time to take back control. Stop letting other people's emergencies become your priorities. For every new request this week, don't give an immediate answer. Say, "Let me pray about it and get back to you." Then actually pray about it.

Reflection Question: What good things in your life might be competing with the great things God has planned?

Prayer: Father, help me align my schedule with Your priorities, not everyone else's expectations. Give me wisdom to discern between good opportunities and Your best for my life. Amen.