How To Have a Priority Time
Focused Thinking:
Focused thinking is more than reading the passage; it is meditating upon the passage by asking the journalistic questions of who, what, where, when, why and how. I don’t have to answer every question; I just have to ask the right question. A quality priority time can’t be done quickly because it takes time to be a quality journalist. Don’t rush your priority time because it is impossible to meditate quickly.
Focused Thinking asks journalistic questions:
- Who, What, Where, When, Why and How?
Focused Thinking sees the big picture.
- The big picture emphasizes context.
- The big picture interprets Scripture with Scripture.
- The big picture understands that a verse has one interpretation but many applications.
Focused Thinking takes time.
- Focused thinking requires active reading.
- Focused thinking requires patient reading.
- Focused thinking requires repetitive reading.
Personal Application:
Focused thinking is the hearing of God’s Word. Personal application is the doing of God’s Word. It isn’t possible to truly know and understand Scripture apart from application. “The more you understand it, the more you use it; the more you use it, the more you want to understand it.” (Howard Hendricks)
Application asks the same journalistic questions as Focused Thinking and applies them to your life. Why do I need to apply this truth? Where do I need to apply this truth? When do I need to apply this truth? What other truths do I need to apply? How do I apply this truth? Who do I need to share truth with? Application is personal and practical when it is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and transferable.
Personal application is personal and practical.
- James 1:22
Personal application is a responsibility and reward.
- James 4:17
- 2 Timothy 3:16–17
- Teaching—What should I know?
- Reproof—What should I stop?
- Correction—What should I change?
- Training—What should I start?
Personal application turns information into transformation.
- Matthew 7:12
- Matthew 22:36–40
- John 13:34–35
- Matthew 28:19–20
- Information + Application = Transformation
Interactive Prayer:
Prayer isn’t about talking as much as it is about listening. Since prayer is a relationship, it must be a two-way conversation instead of a monologue. You improve your prayer life by improving your relationship, not your technique. Prayer is simple and straightforward; you enjoy listening to and responding to the people you love and respect.
A priority time apart from prayer isn’t a priority time; it’s simply a Bible study. Prayer takes me from an academic experience to a worship experience. It is the key to relational intimacy and life change. Revelation demands a response of confession, repentance and obedience.
Prayer invites the presence of God into your priority time. It is through prayer that I am strengthened with His Spirit, grounded in love, able to comprehend the love of Christ and filled up to all the fullness of God. Prayer changes me and changes others. The Spirit of God leads me to dream God’s dreams and accomplish His dreams through His power. Prayer is one of the primary ways that I experience intimacy with God.
Interactive prayer is personal.
- Matthew 6:5
Interactive prayer is private.
- Matthew 6:6
Interactive prayer is precise.
- Matthew 6:7–8
Pray Scripture
Pray specifically
Pray with right motives
Life Journaling:
Life journaling is more than a diary. I admit that I initially thought journaling was for girls. Nothing has improved my priority time more than the discipline of journaling. Journaling improved my priority time by helping me slow down enough to truly meditate. It helped me in the application phase by forcing me to answer the questions I want to leave unanswered. An unexpected blessing of journaling was learning to write out my prayers. It can be awkward at first, but it soon becomes a fluid expression of your heart. Lastly, my journal is the place I record my thoughts, evaluate my experiences and capture my memories.
The best way to learn about journaling is to follow my examples through Ephesians in My Priority Time: Addicted to God’s Word and adapt it to your style. Let me close this section by giving you four helpful questions to ask at the end of each priority time:
Focused Thinking—What is one truth I discovered today?
Personal Application—How can I apply that truth?
Interactive Prayer—What am I hearing from God?
Evaluated Experiences—What is God teaching me from these experiences?
