“What is truly important?”

I’m preaching on this topic for the Watford and Dublin congregations this weekend. The reason it’s on my mind is because of two incidents.

Firstly, on Monday I had my usual extended prayer walk. Part way through, in the woods, I was stopped by God. I don’t often ‘hear’ the voice of God, but on Monday I felt a compulsion to stop my walk and listen to this question, “What is important to you, Malcolm?” I stood still for a while, thinking about this question. What is important to me? Why is it important? Is what is important to me in theory actually being revealed by the way I live? By the choices I make? But what I say “yes” to and what I say “no” to? 

The second incident was the death of Kirstie Birr. I’ve known Kirstie and her husband Adam for many years. Kirsty was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, and it is astonishing she has well outlasted the predictions of the medical community. She died this week, faithful to God. The outpouring of love towards her and her family has been deeply moving. So many people so grateful for so much that she gave them.

I know we’re not at the end of the year yet, but it seems that now might be a good time to begin preparing to consider how well I have lived my life according to what’s most important this year, and how I might think through how to orient my life towards what is important in 2021.

The key scripture for the sermon is what David wrote:

“One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4 NIV11)

My quiet time coaching episode this week is focused on contemplation. Meditative contemplation on God, his word, his truths, his nature help us with prioritising. If our relationship with him is our top priority, then surely our choices of what matters most to us and what we act on it life will be better informed.

My hope is that this week, and for the weeks to come that I will ensure that my connection with my heavenly father is the most important thing to me. That being the case, I believe I will be able to assess 2020 accurately, and be better prepared to plan for 2021.

Take time to consider what is most important to you, and how that shows up in your life.
God bless, Malcolm

The week ahead

If you’d like to pray for me I’d be very grateful. Here are some of my plans that you could include.

  • A sermon for the Watford and Dublin Churches on Sunday 22nd November. We’re having a joint online service. The topic will be how we decide what is most important.
  • A new Tuesday teaching tip series – “How to connect with your audience”.
  • The next “What we are reading episode” 
  • The ninth quiet time coaching episode from the series based on Pete Greig’s book, “How to pray”. We will be looking at listening prayer.
  • Working on a teaching series for January and February 2021 on the character of Abraham and those connected with him in the Scriptures. 
  • Developing the Christmas services for the Watford and Thames Valley congregations.

Until the next time, 

God bless, Malcolm