How to Focus on What’s Important, Not Urgent

[How to Focus on What’s Important, Not Urgent]( Current Teaching Series [How God Turns Setbacks Into Comebacks]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [How to Focus on What’s Important, Not Urgent]( By Rick Warren — 11/21/2023 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Ephesians 5:16 (NLT) It may feel like the 365 days you’re given each year aren’t enough time to do everything you want to do. In fact, you probably feel like there aren’t enough minutes in this day to accomplish what you think you need to do! But here’s the good news: God doesn’t expect you to do everything. He has given you just enough time to do everything he wants you to do—everything he planned and purposed for you to do. That’s why it’s important for you to set goals. Goals help you focus your life. Paul models this when he says, “I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something — not just the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26 NCV). Paul knew his purpose, and all his plans and goals were focused on it. You need to have that same kind of focus. Too many of us focus our lives on unimportant causes. Trivial Pursuit isn’t just a game; it’s a description of our culture. Most of what’s going on in our world today won’t matter in a week—much less for eternity. Many people can’t tell the difference between “urgent” and “important.” What seems urgent is almost never what is important. ­­We put aside our family time, our time with God, and our time with friends for the urgent matters that rarely matter for long. Goals are how you focus and create the kind of life that chases the important rather than what feels urgent. Goals focus your energy and help bring health and balance to your life. For example, if you made it your goal to get healthy in some specific way this year, then that decision will focus your energy on that task. Anytime you’re tempted to eat junk food or skip a workout for extra sleep, your goal will help you stay on track. It will remind you of what’s important. The Bible says, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:16 NLT). Make the most of your life by setting some goals. Don’t waste another year on the urgent rather than the important. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - What are some urgent but unimportant tasks that have filled your time lately? - What changes can you make in your life to maximize the important and minimize the urgent? - Why is it important to make your goals specific? In what ways should they be specific? The post [How to Focus on What’s Important, Not Urgent]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= [Get The Purpose Driven Life: 100 Illustrated Devotions for Children when you give a gift to support Daily Hope!]( It’s vitally important for children to understand that even before the universe was created, God had them in mind, and he has a special plan and purpose for their life. That’s why Pastor Rick created The Purpose Driven Life: 100 Illustrated Devotions for Children. This inspirational resource presents the principles found in Pastor Rick’s life-changing bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life in 100 devotions that speak directly to the daily challenges kids face. Powerful Scripture passages and engaging illustrations provide real-world applications to help children discover their purpose. [LEARN MORE]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 8 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series How God Turns Setbacks Into Comebacks. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: When You've Had a Business Setback Message 2: When Your Setback Seems Irreversible Message 3: When a Setback Isn't Your Fault Message 4: When a Setback Leaves You Emotionally Empty Message 5: When You Feel Like Giving Up Message 6: When Others Keep Setting You Back Message 7: When a Setback Fills You with Fear Message 8: When No One Understands Your Goal [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com]( Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.]( Rick Warren is the founding pastor of [Saddleback Church]( one of America’s largest and most influential churches. Pastor Rick is the author of the New York Times bestseller [The Purpose Driven Life](. His book [The Purpose Driven Church]( was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. Pastor Rick created [The PEACE Plan]( to address the five global giants—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. His Daily Hope broadcast and daily devotionals are offered around the world. You can listen to the broadcast or sign up for the free devotionals at [PastorRick.com](. © 2023 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, PO Box 80448, Rancho Santa Margarita, California 92688, United States