WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:04.379 I don't know about you, but as the world seems 00:00:04.379 --> 00:00:07.960 to be going crazy, there are two things I desperately 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:11.400 want and I desperately need. Number one, the 00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:14.599 peace of God that everything's going to be okay. 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:18.239 And number two is I need God's power. I don't 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:19.600 know how I'm going to make it through some of 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:22.039 the things I'm facing, and I know a lot of people 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:25.260 have exactly that same feeling. If you need God's 00:00:25.260 --> 00:00:27.859 peace and God's power, we're going to talk about 00:00:27.859 --> 00:00:31.859 how to get it today. Thank you for being with 00:00:31.859 --> 00:00:34.820 us for this edition of Living on the Edge with 00:00:34.820 --> 00:00:37.399 Chip Ingram. Chip serves as our Bible teacher 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:39.820 for this global teaching and discipleship ministry, 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:42.899 helping Christians develop an authentic faith. 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:45.359 In this program, Chip picks up where he left 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:48.179 off in his series Balancing Life's Demands by 00:00:48.179 --> 00:00:51.079 providing us with two more tools to help us organize 00:00:51.079 --> 00:00:54.200 our lives around what matters most. And here's 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:56.539 some more practical advice on this topic. Stick 00:00:56.539 --> 00:00:58.719 around after this message for some additional 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:01.670 wisdom from Chip. All right, here now is Chip 00:01:01.670 --> 00:01:03.950 with the second half of his message, The Peace 00:01:03.950 --> 00:01:08.310 and Power of a Prioritized Life. Let me give 00:01:08.310 --> 00:01:11.049 you two tools. There's two things we have to 00:01:11.049 --> 00:01:14.989 do to get a hold of our priorities. Two ways. 00:01:15.870 --> 00:01:19.090 They hold the key to enjoying the peace and power 00:01:19.090 --> 00:01:21.709 of a prioritized life. And by the way, I think 00:01:21.709 --> 00:01:23.890 that's when your priorities in line, those are 00:01:23.890 --> 00:01:27.049 the two big characteristics. Personal peace and 00:01:27.049 --> 00:01:32.290 you experience God's power. Number one, in order 00:01:32.290 --> 00:01:34.769 to get a hold of your priorities, you must start 00:01:34.769 --> 00:01:41.170 with your time. T -I -M -E. I'll give you an 00:01:41.170 --> 00:01:43.810 Old and New Testament passage. First, it's the 00:01:43.810 --> 00:01:46.969 only psalm that Moses wrote. Toward the end, 00:01:46.989 --> 00:01:48.969 he says, the length of days is 70 years or 80 00:01:48.969 --> 00:01:52.629 if we have the strength. Yet their span is but 00:01:52.629 --> 00:01:55.590 trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass and 00:01:55.590 --> 00:01:59.060 we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger? 00:01:59.180 --> 00:02:01.459 For your wrath is as great as the fear that is 00:02:01.459 --> 00:02:04.359 due you. Application, teach us to number our 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:07.579 days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:10.580 If we were doing some quick Bible study, verse 00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:14.460 10, he says basically life's brevity. It's gonna 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:17.080 be short. Verse 11, there's coming judgment. 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:19.000 You're gonna give an account for what you do 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:22.680 in this life. Verse 12, therefore pray. God, 00:02:22.699 --> 00:02:26.539 give me wisdom. Show me how to live this life. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:30.159 I mean, this is written by Moses who did maybe, 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:33.120 I mean, I'm not sure how it all worked out, but 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:35.039 he probably did about a million or a million 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:39.080 and a half funerals. That's sobering. You get 00:02:39.080 --> 00:02:41.300 a little perspective on what matters, right? 00:02:42.659 --> 00:02:44.479 I mean, I don't know when the last time I've 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:46.740 done a lot of funerals. I've never done one to 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:50.060 date that I didn't just get a gut check about 00:02:50.060 --> 00:02:55.050 my own mortality. I have a friend I was doing 00:02:55.050 --> 00:02:57.530 a little mentoring with, and he's a very zealous 00:02:57.530 --> 00:02:59.530 guy, and his boss couldn't do something, so he 00:02:59.530 --> 00:03:02.090 got this project, and his project was to interview 00:03:02.090 --> 00:03:06.430 people that were 100 years old or older. And 00:03:06.430 --> 00:03:09.270 so I saw him later, and I said, well, how'd it 00:03:09.270 --> 00:03:11.629 go? He said, it was really amazing. They all 00:03:11.629 --> 00:03:14.150 had one thing in common. They said universally 00:03:14.150 --> 00:03:19.439 two things. Number one, We way overemphasized 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:21.719 our accomplishments and all the things that we 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:23.960 thought were such big accomplishments. You know, 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:26.039 after four or five or six decades, we realized 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:30.159 they weren't such a big deal. And we underestimated 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:32.159 the value of our families and relationships. 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:35.439 But we, I mean, you know, you're talking now, 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:39.900 former workaholic, driven. focused, disciplined. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:42.819 Why? Because I got to impact. I got to make a 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:45.520 difference. I got to prove to me probably, maybe 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:48.180 to God or to someone that I'm worthwhile, that 00:03:48.180 --> 00:03:50.180 I'm significant and you ought to like me and 00:03:50.180 --> 00:03:51.860 my life matters and I'm going to make a difference. 00:03:51.979 --> 00:03:55.500 And God wants us to make a difference. But he 00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:57.259 wants us to make a difference according to his 00:03:57.259 --> 00:04:01.419 calling. He wants us to use our time wisely. 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:05.479 He wants us to discern and to number our days. 00:04:06.569 --> 00:04:09.930 And you know, Moses is a guy too that for, at 00:04:09.930 --> 00:04:12.449 about 40 with a lot of zeal said, you know what? 00:04:12.509 --> 00:04:14.469 I think I know God's will. He wants me to deliver. 00:04:15.229 --> 00:04:18.290 And Moses and his great strength and his flesh 00:04:18.290 --> 00:04:21.350 killed one Egyptian and didn't have the wherewithal 00:04:21.350 --> 00:04:26.329 to even bury him well. Really? And so he went 00:04:26.329 --> 00:04:28.529 on, you know, sometimes we think, well, life's 00:04:28.529 --> 00:04:30.970 passing by. I'll never accomplish what God wants 00:04:30.970 --> 00:04:33.970 me to. 40 years of training about learning how 00:04:33.970 --> 00:04:36.800 to trust God and discover who he was. And then 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:40.240 out of trust, God says, Moses, watch this. I 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:43.480 can bury them all, the entire army, and no one 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:49.600 comes up afterwards. And a lot of us have to 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:52.259 discover, are you going to live your life and 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:54.759 seek to do? And by the way, with people like 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:58.259 us, it's not like we're usually out doing all 00:04:58.259 --> 00:05:00.740 these bad things. It's all these good things 00:05:00.740 --> 00:05:02.459 that are killing you, that you're doing good 00:05:02.459 --> 00:05:04.220 things for the wrong reason that aren't God's 00:05:04.220 --> 00:05:07.790 unique calling for you. And so you're multitasking 00:05:07.790 --> 00:05:09.550 and you're overloaded and you're overextended 00:05:09.550 --> 00:05:11.370 and you're all those meals in those cars and 00:05:11.370 --> 00:05:13.370 going to all those practices and doing all that 00:05:13.370 --> 00:05:15.389 stuff and attending stuff you don't even like 00:05:15.389 --> 00:05:17.670 that you just feel you ought should, ought should, 00:05:17.750 --> 00:05:19.670 ought should, expectation, visible where it's 00:05:19.670 --> 00:05:21.990 come from, I don't know. You just do it, just 00:05:21.990 --> 00:05:24.550 do it, just do it, just do it, you know? And 00:05:24.550 --> 00:05:26.550 then you crash and you're tired and so you put 00:05:26.550 --> 00:05:28.889 on the TV and you know, beep, beep, beep, beep, 00:05:28.990 --> 00:05:31.290 beep, beep, beep. My wife watched me watch TV 00:05:31.290 --> 00:05:36.600 one time. She goes, you make me dizzy. I said, 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:39.480 you know, this is before they had letters behind 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:40.939 your names and talked about what you were like. 00:05:41.100 --> 00:05:42.959 I said, you know, honey, what I realize is when 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:45.579 I get tired, when I lose focus, and when I don't 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:48.939 want to think, when a commercial comes, I'm bored. 00:05:49.060 --> 00:05:50.300 So I'll watch part of this, part of this, part 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:51.819 of this, part of this. You know what? It drains 00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:54.720 me. One of the disciplines I'm going into right 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:57.560 now is realizing, one, I have to limit even really 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:00.639 good media, and I have to realize, quit trying 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:02.879 to, I'm trying to control everything. Part of 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:04.560 quarter one of this, part of one of this, part 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:06.339 of an old movie. And in my brain, hey, I'm kind 00:06:06.339 --> 00:06:07.360 of watching them all. I wonder how that one's 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:09.500 coming over here. Now, the reason you're laughing 00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:11.420 is there's other people that are as wacko as 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:16.860 me. This is true in this room. He says, our time. 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:22.610 Notice what the Apostle Paul would say. He says, 00:06:22.689 --> 00:06:24.709 therefore, he's talked about who we are in Christ. 00:06:24.870 --> 00:06:26.389 He's talked about being different from the world. 00:06:26.550 --> 00:06:28.970 Verse 15 of Ephesians 5, therefore, be careful 00:06:28.970 --> 00:06:31.350 how you walk. It's that metaphor for the way 00:06:31.350 --> 00:06:34.170 you live or your whole life. Negatively, not 00:06:34.170 --> 00:06:36.810 as an unwise man, but as wise. You get that idea? 00:06:36.990 --> 00:06:40.189 Wisdom. Discerning God's will and doing it God's 00:06:40.189 --> 00:06:42.910 way. Making the most of your time. Circle the 00:06:42.910 --> 00:06:45.470 word time in your notes. Why? Because the days 00:06:45.470 --> 00:06:47.189 are evil. And he thought it was evil then. What 00:06:47.189 --> 00:06:51.009 do you think about now? So then, do not be foolish. 00:06:52.379 --> 00:06:55.060 When you have misplaced priorities and you're 00:06:55.060 --> 00:06:58.220 spending your life instead of investing it, it's 00:06:58.220 --> 00:07:01.860 foolish. Don't be foolish, but understand what 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:04.759 the will of the Lord is. And that word time, 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:06.019 in the New Testament, there's a couple different 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:08.939 words for it. One is we get our word chronology, 00:07:09.019 --> 00:07:10.600 chronos. You know, it's time, like 10 minutes, 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:13.060 15 minutes, 11 minutes. The other is a different 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:16.000 word called kairos, and it has the idea of a 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:19.379 window of opportunity. It's like during this 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:21.439 window of opportunity. You know what? There's 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:23.579 a window of opportunity when your kids are between 00:07:23.579 --> 00:07:26.560 about two and six or seven of unique spirituality 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:29.100 of training. I kind of text my boys. They all 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:31.759 have little kids. And I just, you know, just 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:34.379 try not to be too pushy, but it's like, hey guys, 00:07:34.540 --> 00:07:36.420 I just want you to know, whatever you do, keep 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:39.370 reading those Bible stories at night. Tuck your 00:07:39.370 --> 00:07:41.029 kids in. Don't let your wife have all the fun. 00:07:41.230 --> 00:07:43.449 Tell them stories about you. I mean, and then 00:07:43.449 --> 00:07:45.410 there's a window of time in preteens and teens. 00:07:45.629 --> 00:07:47.490 There's a window of time in early adulthood. 00:07:47.709 --> 00:07:50.569 There's a window in time in your life and you're 00:07:50.569 --> 00:07:53.529 in it. There's certain things that happen in 00:07:53.529 --> 00:07:56.569 this season. Some that are in the 20s, some in 00:07:56.569 --> 00:07:58.149 the 30s, some in the 40s, some in the 50s, some 00:07:58.149 --> 00:08:00.250 in the 60s, some in the 70s and beyond. But there's 00:08:00.250 --> 00:08:02.790 a window. There's a window for activity. There's 00:08:02.790 --> 00:08:04.410 a window for mentoring. There's a window for 00:08:04.410 --> 00:08:08.189 risk. There's a window of time. Buy up the opportunity. 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:11.500 And what we tend to do is have some success in 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:14.680 the last window and hang on to it. And God is 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:19.500 always asking us, take risk, trust me. So you've 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:23.800 got to get your time under control. I spoke on 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:26.019 a title called Good to Great in God's Eyes. And 00:08:26.019 --> 00:08:28.439 we were talking about, it was a group of people 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:31.779 that had been kind of successful in their endeavors. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:34.740 And I was encouraging them that the temptation 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:36.779 when you have done some things that have come 00:08:36.779 --> 00:08:39.610 out pretty well. is to rest on your laurels instead 00:08:39.610 --> 00:08:42.389 of look, you know, that your best days are out 00:08:42.389 --> 00:08:43.669 of your windshield instead of your rear view 00:08:43.669 --> 00:08:45.509 mirror. When you find yourself always talking 00:08:45.509 --> 00:08:47.129 about what you did, what you did, what you did, 00:08:47.190 --> 00:08:51.009 what you did, you know, pinch yourself. That 00:08:51.009 --> 00:08:55.549 ain't now. Faith is always futuristic. What are 00:08:55.549 --> 00:08:58.870 you trusting God for? You're here. What can you 00:08:58.870 --> 00:09:04.100 do today so that? And, you know, so I didn't 00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:05.600 mean it to be all that challenging, but it was 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:07.960 really fun. They were really warm. And I love 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:10.299 it. This couple came up and said, you know, man, 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:12.980 God really spoke to me. And I said, well, great. 00:09:13.100 --> 00:09:14.659 You know, and we talked a little bit, five, ten 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:16.740 minutes. And then the guy just looked at me and 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:19.399 goes, well, how? I said, well, what do you mean? 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:24.840 He said, well, how? He said, I mean. You know, 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:26.740 I own my own business. She's doing this. We got 00:09:26.740 --> 00:09:29.059 so much stuff, so many people, so many commitments, 00:09:29.179 --> 00:09:30.899 so many committees, so many stuff. You know, 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:33.460 I mean, they're just kind of pillar people. You 00:09:33.460 --> 00:09:34.600 know, they're on this committee and they're doing 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:36.980 this in the church, doing this, doing this. I 00:09:36.980 --> 00:09:40.100 said, you got to hear from God. Well, I don't 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:43.960 have time to hear from God. I said, did you hear 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:48.600 yourself? I'm going to give you a very brief, 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:52.129 and this may be elementary. The greatest single 00:09:52.129 --> 00:09:55.429 gift God gave me as an early Christian was a 00:09:55.429 --> 00:09:59.090 bricklayer with a high school education. More 00:09:59.090 --> 00:10:01.149 than anything I've learned in seminary, more 00:10:01.149 --> 00:10:03.649 than any travel I've had, any book that I've 00:10:03.649 --> 00:10:06.669 ever read, any mentor I've ever known, the single 00:10:06.669 --> 00:10:09.750 greatest gift God has ever given me was a bricklayer 00:10:09.750 --> 00:10:12.590 who came on Tuesday morning after I was a Christian 00:10:12.590 --> 00:10:15.090 for three months. I did not usually want to meet 00:10:15.090 --> 00:10:18.580 with him early on. And he knocked on my door, 00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:20.399 and he taught me how to have what he called a 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:22.340 quiet time. It sounded kind of weird to me, but 00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:24.559 nobody else was up at 7 in my dorm, so I guess 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:29.039 it was quiet. And I struggled, and I couldn't 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:31.519 get up, and finally my roommate set an alarm, 00:10:31.659 --> 00:10:34.919 and finally I got to where I could get up in 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:37.740 the morning, and unlike many people, I like breakfast. 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:40.779 And so I just made a rule, not legalistically, 00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:43.100 but just because I wanted to, but I was so undisciplined, 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:46.580 I just said, no Bible, no breakfast. And I developed 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:48.840 the habit. It was only like 10, 15 minutes early 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:51.639 on. And then like after a year or so, it was 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:54.259 like actual, you know, it was fun. And God was 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:56.519 speaking to me. And all of a sudden, I thought, 00:10:56.539 --> 00:10:58.259 he knows everything. And I could ask him about 00:10:58.259 --> 00:11:00.860 that test at 1 o 'clock. And I could ask him 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:02.879 about, you know, this relationship's not going 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.259 so well. I think I'll check in with him on that. 00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:06.659 And pretty soon, I started talking to him. And 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:08.299 no one told me, but I went and got, you know, 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:09.980 at the bookstore, like one of those little simple, 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:12.120 like, spiral notebook things, like 89 cents. 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:14.740 And then I started just writing stuff down. You 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:16.740 know, like, you know, I'd never read the Bible 00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:18.879 before. Hey, God, this is Chip. What do you think 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:20.639 about? And I would write these things down. And 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:22.679 would you help me with this? And then I would 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:24.320 go back and read. I started checking them off. 00:11:26.029 --> 00:11:28.950 I started doing that about 30 years ago. And 00:11:28.950 --> 00:11:33.649 it was hard at first. And then probably 15, maybe 00:11:33.649 --> 00:11:35.690 18 years ago or so, I just remember saying, God, 00:11:35.830 --> 00:11:38.529 I don't know how much time we need. I just love 00:11:38.529 --> 00:11:41.490 being with you now. It was diligence, diligence, 00:11:41.769 --> 00:11:43.629 duty, duty. I'm going to meet with you when I 00:11:43.629 --> 00:11:44.889 don't feel like it. I'll meet you when I do. 00:11:45.070 --> 00:11:46.649 And sometimes it's really good and sometimes 00:11:46.649 --> 00:11:50.470 it's okay. But God, and I remember just going 00:11:50.470 --> 00:11:52.450 to bed a little early. You wake me up. And he 00:11:52.450 --> 00:11:54.879 woke me up pretty early. And I got up, made a 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:58.100 pot of coffee, and I found a corner, and I just 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:02.059 said, thank you. What would make you happy today? 00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:03.840 Want me to sing to you? Want me to thank you? 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:06.440 You got something for me? All I can tell you 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:10.559 people is it just clears the junk away. It just, 00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:13.139 all those pressures, all those demands, all that 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:15.440 dysfunction, all that expectation, all that list 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:17.620 of got -tos, most of my got -tos, literally, 00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:19.500 in my journal, you know, I'll just think, you 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:20.960 know, and sometimes I can't pray because there's 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.679 all these things to do, and I'll just start writing 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:24.679 them up. And I put a little box, and so instead 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:26.480 of, I got to do, God, will you please help me 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:28.259 with the following this day and show me how to, 00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:30.399 dot, dot, dot. And then I list the 11 things 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:32.019 that come, at least that come to my mind, boom, 00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:34.360 boom, boom, boom, boom. And then I take those 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:37.990 and I give them to God. And then I pray. And 00:12:37.990 --> 00:12:40.570 then instead of the to -dos, God will bring to 00:12:40.570 --> 00:12:43.610 my mind some of the to -bes. How's Teresa being 00:12:43.610 --> 00:12:46.789 in this area? What about that guy that you met 00:12:46.789 --> 00:12:50.269 on that trip? How's he being? And here's all 00:12:50.269 --> 00:12:54.730 I want to say. If you will give the first portion 00:12:54.730 --> 00:13:01.909 of your time to God, he will clear away and show 00:13:01.909 --> 00:13:06.129 you what to do and what not to do. where to go 00:13:06.129 --> 00:13:09.690 and where not to go, what to say yes to and what 00:13:09.690 --> 00:13:12.049 to say no to, and give you the courage to say 00:13:12.049 --> 00:13:16.809 no to it. And so I put in here actually a little 00:13:16.809 --> 00:13:20.350 simple, simple way. I don't believe you need 00:13:20.350 --> 00:13:22.769 to meet with God in the morning first. I know 00:13:22.769 --> 00:13:24.789 some of you are night owls and you just really 00:13:24.789 --> 00:13:28.029 turn it on at midnight when I've been in bed 00:13:28.029 --> 00:13:30.309 for a while. So I don't mean this legalistically. 00:13:30.750 --> 00:13:33.129 But I will say, if you have a hard time and you're 00:13:33.129 --> 00:13:37.350 really inconsistent, my theory was do what matters 00:13:37.350 --> 00:13:42.169 most first. Do what matters most first. No matter 00:13:42.169 --> 00:13:44.169 what happens in the day, if I meet with the God 00:13:44.169 --> 00:13:45.889 of the universe, I've had a pretty good day. 00:13:45.990 --> 00:13:48.710 Get hit by a car later, okay, you know, I've 00:13:48.710 --> 00:13:52.429 had a good day. To me, when I stop, when I pray, 00:13:52.610 --> 00:13:55.110 when I discipline myself and say, God, I'm gonna 00:13:55.110 --> 00:13:59.129 be here and I wanna be with you first, what I'm 00:13:59.129 --> 00:14:03.080 saying is, I'm humble. I can't do it. I can't 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:05.940 make the decisions. Checking my email, checking 00:14:05.940 --> 00:14:08.320 the stock market, making sure this is done, making 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:11.039 sure that is done. Wait a second. What's that 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:15.519 about? I don't control the world. All that stuff 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:17.620 will be there an hour later or a half hour later. 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:24.980 Stop. Cease striving. Literally, my translation 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:28.059 of that one is knock it off. I mean, that's kind 00:14:28.059 --> 00:14:31.659 of, that's the chip Hebrew. Knock it off. Quit 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:34.360 trying to make so much happen and orchestrate 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:39.399 everything and know that I'm God. I'm in control. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.259 And by the way, I'm not only in control, I love 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:46.340 you. And I'm good. And I'm for you. And I miss 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:50.399 you. And so there's a lot of ways to study the 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:52.460 Bible, but one of the early ways that gets you 00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:55.259 in the text, because my fear in our day is we 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:58.240 have everybody eating pre -digested sort of Gerber's 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:00.840 spiritual food. That means someone else studied 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:02.620 real hard and you read what they say and there's 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:04.000 a little verse at the end and you say, praise 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:05.960 the Lord, amen. And you know what? It's like, 00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:08.919 and not that it's bad, it's a great appetizer. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:15.200 Strength. and convictions and power and courage 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:18.600 to do the will of God is when your nose gets 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:21.019 in the word for yourself and the spirit of God 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:22.980 takes it off that page and does something in 00:15:22.980 --> 00:15:25.159 your heart and gives you a strength to say, yes, 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:28.620 thus says the Lord for me. Not he said it through 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:30.740 some other person and God bless all the great 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:32.480 teachers and all the great ways, I love them 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:36.100 all. But there's no substitute. And so this little 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:39.529 too pro -apt, You know, I kind of put it here. 00:15:39.610 --> 00:15:41.370 If you're a newer Christian, I encourage you 00:15:41.370 --> 00:15:43.269 to start in the book of Mark. And if you're an 00:15:43.269 --> 00:15:44.870 older Christian, just because it's so application 00:15:44.870 --> 00:15:47.370 -oriented, James. So here, are you ready? I'll 00:15:47.370 --> 00:15:49.450 just go through it real quickly. You start and 00:15:49.450 --> 00:15:51.769 you pray, dear God, will you speak to me today? 00:15:52.250 --> 00:15:53.970 And then I don't want you to read a whole lot, 00:15:54.049 --> 00:15:57.169 maybe a couple paragraphs at the most. And then 00:15:57.169 --> 00:16:00.730 you read it slowly and preferably out loud. It's 00:16:00.730 --> 00:16:03.360 an amazing what happens the second time. And 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:06.480 then the next, the O is for observation. You 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:08.679 read it a third time. See, you don't take so 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:12.840 much. You slow it down and you dig into it. And 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:14.360 this time, if there's a word that's repeated, 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:16.419 you underlined it. Or if something sticks out 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:19.000 to you, you might circle it. And so you've previewed 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.240 it, then you've read it slowly out loud, and 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:23.340 then you read it real slowly, making some observations. 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:26.879 And then the A is for application. And it's only 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:29.559 a couple paragraphs, but you say, God, speak 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:32.179 to me. And then just think, well, let's see, 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:34.480 this is a letter of encouragement. Nothing really 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:37.620 struck out, but it was encouraging this guy. 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:39.679 Hold it. Do I know anybody that needs encouragement? 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:42.620 Before I go, I'm going to jot a note to Bob. 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:47.840 I haven't seen him. And do something. Spiritual 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:50.820 growth is not about getting more Bible knowledge 00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:53.320 in your head. It's about responding to the truth 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:55.580 and the light that he gives you. Didn't that's 00:16:55.580 --> 00:16:57.159 what Jesus said at the parable of the seed and 00:16:57.159 --> 00:17:00.590 the sowers? Here's how life works. You respond 00:17:00.590 --> 00:17:02.350 to the truth God gives you, he gives you more 00:17:02.350 --> 00:17:04.410 truth. You don't respond to the truth of the 00:17:04.410 --> 00:17:05.650 light that he gives you and even what you have 00:17:05.650 --> 00:17:08.470 will be taken away. We got a generation of people 00:17:08.470 --> 00:17:11.509 that know so much about God, but don't have a 00:17:11.509 --> 00:17:15.230 epigonosco, a intense personal relational knowledge 00:17:15.230 --> 00:17:17.230 of him because that doesn't come through the 00:17:17.230 --> 00:17:19.589 head. That comes through application in the heart. 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:22.400 At the end of the day, you want to hear God. 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:24.380 You want to hear his voice. What's he want to 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:27.440 say to you from the word? And then the T is you 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:30.160 tell somebody. Because there's just something. 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.900 I mean, you don't have to go, hey, everybody, 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:33.619 I want you to know I spent 15 minutes in God's 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:35.180 word today. I did the two pro -ep method. But 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:36.720 now I want you to know, here's what I want to 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:38.359 tell you. You know, they'll just run you off 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:41.119 the job. But, you know, kind of in a casual way 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:42.940 to people that you know. And it might be, you 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:44.539 know, there's some guys, a guy lives in Texas. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:46.420 He's a good buddy. We see a couple times a week. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.460 And we'll just say, hey, what'd you read? Where's 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:50.799 God speaking to you? And he'll share and I'll 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:53.480 share. Or, you know, often in the car, I'll say, 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:55.279 honey, what word did you read this morning? She'll 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:57.279 tell me and I'll tell her. And it's not like 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:58.640 I'm checking up on her. Are you kidding? She's 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:01.259 way farther down the road than me. But it's just, 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:04.700 I want to, when you tell, it kind of seals it. 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:07.759 So that's a little method that's been very helpful 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:10.299 for me. So tool number one, and this is just 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:13.660 to get you started. Tool number one, if you're 00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:17.660 going to get a hold of your time, I believe you've 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:20.869 got to start. by saying, God, I got all these 00:18:20.869 --> 00:18:23.329 pulls, all these demands. I'm going to give the 00:18:23.329 --> 00:18:26.210 first block or the best block of my time, whenever 00:18:26.210 --> 00:18:30.390 that is, for me, it's the morning, to you. And 00:18:30.390 --> 00:18:32.150 I'm going to ask you to start sorting out my 00:18:32.150 --> 00:18:35.450 life. And I will tell you, it'll be dramatic. 00:18:37.109 --> 00:18:39.730 You're listening to Living on the Edge. And before 00:18:39.730 --> 00:18:42.029 we continue today's program, let me ask you, 00:18:42.089 --> 00:18:45.009 are you in a small group? If so, are you looking 00:18:45.009 --> 00:18:47.920 for a new study to do together this year? Well, 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:50.220 join us after Chip's message to learn more about 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:52.940 our library of study guides, which are sure to 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:55.920 help you and your group grow in your faith. But 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:58.299 for now, let's get back to our series, Balancing 00:18:58.299 --> 00:19:03.160 Life's Demands. Second tool that will help you 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:05.559 get a hold of your priorities is your money. 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:08.859 Jesus spoke more about money than heaven and 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:11.200 hell combined, and I think he could actually 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:14.099 care less about your money. He needs none of 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:18.450 it. But your money reflects your values. Your 00:19:18.450 --> 00:19:21.509 money reflects your heart. Wherever your money 00:19:21.509 --> 00:19:24.509 goes, imagine just every time you put that credit 00:19:24.509 --> 00:19:26.349 card down, every time you write a check, every 00:19:26.349 --> 00:19:29.269 time you spend money, every time you invest money, 00:19:29.410 --> 00:19:31.589 what you're saying is, here's your heart, there's 00:19:31.589 --> 00:19:33.109 a little chain connected to it, and wherever 00:19:33.109 --> 00:19:35.970 your money goes, your treasure. That's where 00:19:35.970 --> 00:19:38.049 your heart goes. Your heart always follows the 00:19:38.049 --> 00:19:41.970 money. And that's why, sometimes when I've wanted 00:19:41.970 --> 00:19:43.950 God to change my heart, I've actually had like 00:19:43.950 --> 00:19:45.950 a problem with someone, you know, and kind of 00:19:45.950 --> 00:19:47.990 did something bad to me and didn't like them 00:19:47.990 --> 00:19:49.789 very well and having trouble forgiving them, 00:19:49.809 --> 00:19:51.630 and they were involved in ministry, I started 00:19:51.630 --> 00:19:54.769 giving a little to their ministry. You know what, 00:19:54.789 --> 00:19:56.549 I'll tell you what, your heart always has to 00:19:56.549 --> 00:20:00.819 follow your money. And so what he wants is he 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:03.559 wants your heart. Honor the Lord with your wealth, 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:05.819 with the first fruits of all your crops. Then 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:08.859 notice, this isn't a prohibitive. Then your barns 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:11.220 will be filled with overflowing and your vats 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:13.339 will brim over with new wine, Proverbs 3, 9 and 00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:16.180 10. I mean, you all know probably many, many 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:18.660 verses about, you know, and by the way, the giving 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:22.680 is not about just giving. God owns it all, correct? 00:20:23.349 --> 00:20:26.430 The earth and all thereof is the Lord. So he 00:20:26.430 --> 00:20:30.210 evaluates the 10 or 15 or 20 or 80 % that I give 00:20:30.210 --> 00:20:32.250 away wherever you're at in your life and all 00:20:32.250 --> 00:20:35.230 that I keep. I'm a steward of it. It's not, I'm 00:20:35.230 --> 00:20:40.089 just the manager. Your money will tell you, I 00:20:40.089 --> 00:20:41.849 will tell you this, if we didn't know each other 00:20:41.849 --> 00:20:44.369 at all, you give me your PDA for a half hour 00:20:44.369 --> 00:20:48.049 or your calendar. your canceled checks, however 00:20:48.049 --> 00:20:50.690 you work it. You let me see your time and see 00:20:50.690 --> 00:20:52.490 your money and I will give you a diagnosis of 00:20:52.490 --> 00:20:54.609 where you're at in your life that if you were 00:20:54.609 --> 00:20:57.250 honest, you'd say, oh my lands, that is so true. 00:20:58.990 --> 00:21:00.869 And that's why we're gonna talk a little bit 00:21:00.869 --> 00:21:03.849 later about the need to have relationships where 00:21:03.849 --> 00:21:06.369 people, it's amazing to me, where people can 00:21:06.369 --> 00:21:09.829 really talk about this with one another. I mean, 00:21:09.829 --> 00:21:11.349 I've done a couple of these big men movement 00:21:11.349 --> 00:21:15.049 things. Now we're secure men. We're talking about 00:21:15.049 --> 00:21:18.490 accountability like never before. Hey. Hey, Jim. 00:21:19.890 --> 00:21:21.430 Let's all get around here and be a real man. 00:21:21.549 --> 00:21:24.809 Let's do it. So how's your sex life? You been 00:21:24.809 --> 00:21:28.309 on the net? No? I mean, guys will talk about 00:21:28.309 --> 00:21:31.710 sex, struggles, all kind of things now. But you 00:21:31.710 --> 00:21:33.930 look at a guy and say, excuse me, we've been 00:21:33.930 --> 00:21:35.789 friends for quite a while. What percent of your 00:21:35.789 --> 00:21:38.769 income do you give? And where do you give it? 00:21:40.150 --> 00:21:41.769 You know what? Next year, you know what would 00:21:41.769 --> 00:21:43.769 be helpful in our Bible study? Let's do this. 00:21:43.829 --> 00:21:46.059 Let's all bring our tax statements. And we'll 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:50.160 pass them. I'm dead serious. I'm dead serious. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:53.380 Let's pass them to the left and let the other 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:57.700 person give an evaluation of how. You tell me 00:21:57.700 --> 00:22:01.359 why that is off limits. It's because it reveals 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:04.200 the very heart and the very values of who we 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:07.539 really are. One of the biggest steps for me is 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:10.480 there's a guy in California that just, he kind 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:13.259 of has this picture of how things might develop. 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:16.140 So he says, Chip, this is what's going to happen 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:17.859 to you. He says, someday if that happens, some 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:19.220 books are going to sell and you might get some 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:22.140 money. And he said, okay, I'm helping you start 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:23.759 this radio ministry. He was the first guy and 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.940 one other guy, and I really believe in it. But 00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:28.099 here's part of the deal. I want you to tell me, 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:30.900 so what are you doing with your money? And he 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.640 talks to me like this. So you're not thinking 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:34.240 you're some big shot now, are you, and all this 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:36.500 jazz, right? Right? I mean. You're not believing 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:38.720 that press, okay? Us chickens here. He said, 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:41.039 so, so how much you make last year? I mean, include 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:43.059 if there's any book sales. Now, remember, you 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:45.099 pre -decided to give away, you know, that big 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.559 chunk of anything that ever comes in. Are you 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:49.220 still doing that? So how much total? Now, where 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:51.319 are you giving it? I mean, but he's direct with 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:55.700 me. And you know how safe it is to open up my 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:59.480 finances to someone? You know what? It's a good 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:03.619 thing. I want to have a good report. But the 00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:09.039 heart is what? Deceitful. And that is where a 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:11.380 lot of us, you have to get a hold of your time. 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:14.380 You have to get a hold of your money. And this 00:23:14.380 --> 00:23:17.000 is not a legalistic, I'm now giving X percent. 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:19.900 No, I'm talking about your money as it relates 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:22.369 to your heart. You know, it'd be interesting. 00:23:22.589 --> 00:23:24.890 Some of you, you know, you got your nice black 00:23:24.890 --> 00:23:27.750 American Express or your Platinum Express, your 00:23:27.750 --> 00:23:29.990 Gold Express, your Elite or your Mileage. And 00:23:29.990 --> 00:23:31.390 then at the end of the year, they give you that 00:23:31.390 --> 00:23:34.470 list of, okay, here's your end of the year credit 00:23:34.470 --> 00:23:37.170 card statement, unless you have sworn them off 00:23:37.170 --> 00:23:38.990 and are free and liberated and debt -free and 00:23:38.990 --> 00:23:40.410 figured out other ways to do it, which is a good 00:23:40.410 --> 00:23:43.390 idea too. But have you ever seen where they have 00:23:43.390 --> 00:23:46.289 the categories? So much in food, so much in travel, 00:23:46.430 --> 00:23:48.769 so much in, you know, if you just looked at that 00:23:48.769 --> 00:23:54.019 and said, Wow, exactly right. Can you eat that 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:56.460 much in one year? I mean, you know, can you shop 00:23:56.460 --> 00:24:00.980 that much? I mean, how much? And all I'm saying 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:03.880 is, let's get off of being down on ourselves. 00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:07.480 Let's try just getting real with ourselves, getting 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:12.319 honest with God. He loves you so much that he 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:14.799 wants you to learn to give so that he can give. 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:16.299 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, 00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:19.380 running over back into your lap. He wants you 00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:21.900 to learn to budget and say, this is yours and 00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:24.259 I want to be a good steward. He wants you not 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:26.140 to fix your hope on the uncertainty of riches, 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:29.039 but are you ready? He wants you to richly enjoy 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:32.019 every good thing he gives you. He wants you to 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:34.519 take a great vacation and have a great steak 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:37.660 and have some real fun and have your priorities 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:39.259 in order. So instead of going, I feel guilty 00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:42.259 about this, where you enjoy it because you know, 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:45.619 it's the blessed hand of God upon your life. 00:24:46.210 --> 00:24:49.069 And you're not making excuses. I'm just so tired 00:24:49.069 --> 00:24:50.789 of someone saying, oh, well, you know, I got 00:24:50.789 --> 00:24:54.549 it on sale. Or, you know, the only reason we 00:24:54.549 --> 00:24:56.410 got that swimming pool, that swimming pool is 00:24:56.410 --> 00:25:00.000 for baptisms. It's baptisms. You know? And you 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:02.339 know, that house in the mountains, our pastor, 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:04.759 our pastor's really tired. The house in the mountain, 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:06.700 it has nothing to do with, you know, it's a good 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:08.420 real estate investment and I like to get away 00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:10.980 and God's blessed me. I'm giving a ton of money 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:13.039 away and I love the mountains. My family's there 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.579 and it's really wonderful. And I just have a 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:17.819 blast there. No, it's a pastoral staff. We felt 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:19.180 that they needed a place to get away a couple 00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:24.759 of times a year. By the way, let them go there 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:27.859 though, okay? I have benefited greatly from some 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:33.420 of you doing that. God loves you guys. He wants 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:35.039 you to look at those six areas and be honest. 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:42.000 How you doing? So how do you get your money under 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:45.819 control? Four steps. Number one, give the first 00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:50.059 portion of each paycheck to the Lord. And for 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.279 some of you, you've got to have a really hard 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:53.200 talk, and you're going to say, oh, my, how can 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:56.099 we do this? It's a faith step. Give the first 00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:59.980 portion to the Lord. Second, Pay your bills next. 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:03.019 Don't take a vacation. Don't spend your money. 00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:05.720 Don't go to Costco. Don't buy something on sale. 00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:11.019 Okay? Money comes in. Here's all your bills in 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:15.579 one spot. Give to God the first. Pay all your 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:22.799 bills next. Novel idea. Live on the rest. You 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:25.319 don't have it, don't spend it. I mean, we can 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:28.130 well afford it now. But we have a blue folder 00:26:28.130 --> 00:26:29.970 that Teresa and I, we do the bills together because 00:26:29.970 --> 00:26:33.029 we both don't like it to do it. And every two 00:26:33.029 --> 00:26:35.910 weeks, I get a paycheck. We open a blue folder. 00:26:36.170 --> 00:26:38.069 In one pocket is all the bills that have come 00:26:38.069 --> 00:26:40.609 in. We pull them out and put them in the middle. 00:26:40.750 --> 00:26:42.569 We have a wonderful cup of coffee to make it 00:26:42.569 --> 00:26:46.089 fun. I write out all the checks. She puts them 00:26:46.089 --> 00:26:48.609 in the envelope and she does the little ledger 00:26:48.609 --> 00:26:51.670 so that it's accurate because I sort of, not 00:26:51.670 --> 00:26:57.519 as accurate. And then we give first. We pay all 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:59.940 of our bills, and then we talk how much is left. 00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:04.440 And then I write a check that has our gas money, 00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:07.880 our recreation, and two or three other things. 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:11.420 And she goes to the bank later, and we put that 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:15.579 money in an envelope that says budget. And we 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:17.500 put it under the duck. So if you ever want to 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:21.200 rob my house, it's under the duck, all right? 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:25.950 And you know what? When there's no money in the 00:27:25.950 --> 00:27:28.529 envelope, you don't go out to eat. Now, can I 00:27:28.529 --> 00:27:30.049 still afford to go out to eat? Of course I can 00:27:30.049 --> 00:27:34.930 at this stage of my life. But do you understand 00:27:34.930 --> 00:27:37.069 that the average person in America is spending 00:27:37.069 --> 00:27:41.089 about 17 % more than they bring in every month? 00:27:41.589 --> 00:27:45.150 Do you understand last year, more college students, 00:27:45.269 --> 00:27:47.430 I heard this on the radio, so don't ask me to 00:27:47.430 --> 00:27:49.140 quote it. I mean, if it's on the radio, you know 00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:51.140 it's true. I mean, it's almost as reliable as 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:52.180 the internet. I mean, if it's on the internet, 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:54.640 it's gotta be true. But seriously, I mean, you 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:56.660 know, it was one of those Dave Ramsey programs. 00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:59.920 More college students went bankrupt than graduated 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:04.119 from college last year. So give to the Lord first, 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:07.019 pay your bills, live on the rest, and then get 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:11.880 out of debt. The very busiest day of Jesus' life 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:16.619 is recorded in Mark 1. 35, and he has healed, 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:19.420 and there's demands, and there's pressures, and 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:21.380 you think you've got a tough life. He's pulled 00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:24.420 on from everyone, and it says a great while before 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:27.319 dawn, he went out and found a solitary place, 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:32.559 and there he prayed. I believe Jesus is modeling 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:36.220 for us the demands to keep your life in focus, 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.900 and I believe I think I know what he prayed. 00:28:38.730 --> 00:28:40.890 I think he prayed, Lord, I'm being pulled and 00:28:40.890 --> 00:28:42.250 everybody wants me to do everything. They want 00:28:42.250 --> 00:28:43.609 me to go to these towns and everyone is sick 00:28:43.609 --> 00:28:44.890 and they have these mans and they're pulling 00:28:44.890 --> 00:28:45.990 on me. They want me to heal them. They want me 00:28:45.990 --> 00:28:46.970 to feed them. They want me to do everything. 00:28:47.150 --> 00:28:50.569 Will you please remind me while I'm here? You 00:28:50.569 --> 00:28:52.329 know how I know that? Because the disciples came 00:28:52.329 --> 00:28:54.009 and said, Jesus, you were hit last night. That 00:28:54.009 --> 00:28:56.490 was awesome. All those healings. It's going crazy. 00:28:56.529 --> 00:28:59.630 There's a big crowd. I mean, we are big time 00:28:59.630 --> 00:29:02.529 and we're glad to be on your team. And remember 00:29:02.529 --> 00:29:05.269 what he said to him? I must. In the Greek, it's 00:29:05.269 --> 00:29:08.269 a must of day. It's a divine necessity. I must 00:29:08.269 --> 00:29:11.730 preach the gospel and we must go to other villages. 00:29:11.970 --> 00:29:13.849 For the son of man, Luke will tell us later, 00:29:13.950 --> 00:29:16.910 came to seek and to save that which is lost. 00:29:17.269 --> 00:29:20.950 Jesus prayed to remember, why am I here? What 00:29:20.950 --> 00:29:23.769 am I supposed to do? I need to hear the father's 00:29:23.769 --> 00:29:27.470 voice in the midst of all the noise. That's God's 00:29:27.470 --> 00:29:29.809 will for you and me. And we're on a journey and 00:29:29.809 --> 00:29:31.789 a process. It's not gonna happen all at once. 00:29:33.109 --> 00:29:38.210 Six symptoms, two tools, time, money, and open 00:29:38.210 --> 00:29:44.130 heart. Let's go there together, okay? You're 00:29:44.130 --> 00:29:46.750 listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram, 00:29:46.789 --> 00:29:49.309 and the message you just heard, the peace and 00:29:49.309 --> 00:29:52.369 power of a prioritized life, is from our series, 00:29:52.569 --> 00:29:55.509 Balancing Life's Demands. Chip will join us in 00:29:55.509 --> 00:29:57.910 studio to share some insights from today's talk 00:29:57.910 --> 00:30:00.890 in just a minute. Are you exhausted juggling 00:30:00.890 --> 00:30:03.730 your job, kids, marriage, and everything else 00:30:03.730 --> 00:30:06.029 you're responsible for? Do you wish there was 00:30:06.029 --> 00:30:08.970 a way to relieve that stress and live with a 00:30:08.970 --> 00:30:11.690 little more joy? Well, in this series, Chip reveals 00:30:11.690 --> 00:30:14.750 what a balanced life looks like and how you can 00:30:14.750 --> 00:30:17.029 rearrange your priorities around what matters 00:30:17.029 --> 00:30:19.970 most. Hear how to experience the joy -filled 00:30:19.970 --> 00:30:22.930 and satisfying life God desires for you to have. 00:30:23.269 --> 00:30:25.490 Now, if you've missed any part of Chip's teaching, 00:30:25.589 --> 00:30:28.670 catch up anytime on the Chip Ingram app. Well, 00:30:28.670 --> 00:30:30.849 Chips, join me in studio now with a quick word 00:30:30.849 --> 00:30:33.869 for all of you. Thanks, Dave. As summer draws 00:30:33.869 --> 00:30:36.809 to close and vacations wrap up, you're likely 00:30:36.809 --> 00:30:39.190 getting ready to jump back into your fall routine. 00:30:39.630 --> 00:30:41.769 Whether you're starting a new school year or 00:30:41.769 --> 00:30:44.650 a small group starting back up a church, we want 00:30:44.650 --> 00:30:46.849 to put resources in your hand that will help 00:30:46.849 --> 00:30:50.029 grow your faith. We have a growing catalog of 00:30:50.029 --> 00:30:52.910 studies and curriculum on topics like how to 00:30:52.910 --> 00:30:55.440 understand who God is. how to grow your faith. 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:57.799 Maybe you want to strengthen your marriage or 00:30:57.799 --> 00:31:00.759 become more intentional as a parent. I'm confident 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:03.140 that our small group materials will help you 00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:06.259 and your community learn, share, and support 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:08.980 each other. It's about doing life together and 00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:10.799 living with purpose, and we want to help you. 00:31:11.069 --> 00:31:13.329 Well, to learn more about the studies Chip mentioned 00:31:13.329 --> 00:31:16.970 or any of our other small groups, go to livingontheedge 00:31:16.970 --> 00:31:22.569 .org or call 888 -333 -6003. And let me tell 00:31:22.569 --> 00:31:25.509 you, these materials are so easy to use. Chip 00:31:25.509 --> 00:31:27.569 provides the teaching. Then you'll have time 00:31:27.569 --> 00:31:30.049 to discuss what you've heard alongside our helpful 00:31:30.049 --> 00:31:32.589 study guides. So if you're not in a small group 00:31:32.589 --> 00:31:34.769 yet or are looking for something new to study, 00:31:34.930 --> 00:31:37.630 check out our resources. And for a limited time, 00:31:37.690 --> 00:31:40.910 we've discounted all our small group tools. Visit 00:31:40.910 --> 00:31:46.549 livingontheedge .org or call 888 -333 -6003 to 00:31:46.549 --> 00:31:49.269 learn more. Atlas Nurse Taps special offers. 00:31:49.630 --> 00:31:52.309 We'll hear again as Chip with a few final thoughts. 00:31:52.919 --> 00:31:56.220 Today, we talked about two specific tools, two 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:59.380 things that have to happen if your priorities 00:31:59.380 --> 00:32:01.799 are going to get in order. And number one is 00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:04.140 you have to get a hold of your time. And number 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:06.680 two, you have to get a hold of your money. Now, 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:09.480 those two things can feel extraordinarily overwhelming. 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:11.960 And what I will tell you is here's where to start. 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:15.259 Let's start with your time. And I'm going to 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:17.589 ask you to make a commitment with me today. All 00:32:17.589 --> 00:32:19.609 right. I mean, right now, just you and me, I 00:32:19.609 --> 00:32:21.730 wish you could sit in the room with me and I'd 00:32:21.730 --> 00:32:23.730 look you right in the eye. And I've had people 00:32:23.730 --> 00:32:26.109 do this with me and it changed my life. I would 00:32:26.109 --> 00:32:28.630 look you dead in the eye and I would say, will 00:32:28.630 --> 00:32:31.609 you for the next two weeks commit to set your 00:32:31.609 --> 00:32:34.630 alarm 20 minutes earlier and meet with God for 00:32:34.630 --> 00:32:37.369 20 minutes before you do anything else? And don't 00:32:37.369 --> 00:32:39.190 give me all that stuff about, you know, you're 00:32:39.190 --> 00:32:41.349 a night owl and it's hard to get up. And hey, 00:32:41.430 --> 00:32:44.630 we all have our issues. I'm asking you to start 00:32:44.630 --> 00:32:48.289 your day. give God the first 20 minutes. Now, 00:32:48.329 --> 00:32:50.529 here's how. You know, you're going to be groggy, 00:32:50.529 --> 00:32:52.150 and if you're a coffee drinker, you better, you 00:32:52.150 --> 00:32:54.170 know, make it the night before so you can just 00:32:54.170 --> 00:32:56.970 push the button and take your little alarm clock 00:32:56.970 --> 00:32:59.029 and put it across the room so you have to get 00:32:59.029 --> 00:33:02.210 up out of bed. But I'm telling you, if you will 00:33:02.210 --> 00:33:04.549 give God the first 20 minutes, you'll begin to 00:33:04.549 --> 00:33:07.549 see things happen. Now, we went over how to do 00:33:07.549 --> 00:33:09.960 it, the two pro -apt, and I walked... you know, 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:12.920 pretty briefly through exactly how to do it. 00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:14.859 You can do it in 20 minutes where you, you know, 00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:17.160 you pray and then you do a preview of the passage 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:19.440 and then you read it slowly and then you read 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:21.539 it a third time where you make observations and 00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:24.660 then you apply something specific and then you 00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:26.900 pray at the end and ask for God's help and strength 00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:30.000 and then you tell someone. 2PROAP, that little 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:33.140 acronym that we gave. And I want you to use that 00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:36.960 2PROAP method for the next two weeks. Do this 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:39.380 with me, will you? And you say, well, where do 00:33:39.380 --> 00:33:41.740 I begin? If you're a new Christian or a newer 00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:43.539 Christian, I want you to start with the book 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:46.440 of Mark. If you're an older Christian, I want 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:48.599 you to start with the book of James. It'll be 00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:51.059 hard. It'll be difficult. It may not be really 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:53.200 great the first three or four or five days. I 00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:56.380 will tell you, if you hang with me on this, God 00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:59.880 will begin to order the rest of your life as 00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:02.579 you say to him, Lord, I need you. I want to meet 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:06.180 with you first. Will you do that? I'm going to 00:34:06.180 --> 00:34:08.920 pray for you. Lord, give them grace. Give them 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:12.059 courage. Give them discipline to meet with you 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:15.599 first. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Thanks, Chip. 00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:18.480 And as we close, would you pray for those feeling 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:21.139 challenged to respond to Chip's words right now? 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:24.000 There's always a spiritual battle when we feel 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:26.659 prompted to draw near to God. Thanks for taking 00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:28.800 a minute to do that. And if there's a way we 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:32.300 can pray for you, let us know. Call 888 -333 00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:37.840 -6003 or email chip at livingontheedge .org. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:40.800 We'd love to hear from you. For Chip and the 00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:43.239 entire team here, this is Dave Drewy, thanking 00:34:43.239 --> 00:34:45.519 you for listening to this edition of Living on 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:48.000 the Edge, and I hope you'll join us again next 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.340 time.