When I was young and having trouble making decisions, my mother used to say, "Get your priorities straight." She was right. Having overall priorities to guide our life makes day-to-day decisions easier. For example, if our priority is to keep our job, we will be more likely to complete our tasks and refrain from criticizing our colleagues. If our priority is to have a happy family life, we will make time for our children and refrain from relationships that could put our marriage in danger.

In our Scripture reading for today, Jesus set out the first priority for Christians: to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We are to reflect the Lord's kingdom of love and justice in our own lives and to extend it to others as we are able. We should try to make all of our other decisions in light of that priority.

This is hard to do, but God promises that obeying this priority will bring great reward. He promises that all things necessary for life will be added to those who follow that path.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the guidance that You provide in Your Word. Grant us the grace to seek Your kingdom and to make that the first priority in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

This beautiful verse was written in calligraphy and appeared in a frame on the wall of an old Anglican church in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For several years, I played the organ for Sunday evening services at that church. It was a small group, and an attitude of peace prevailed, except when the vibrations from the organ pipes disturbed one of the bats that made the church its home. The service made room for silent prayer, and I always left feeling closer to God than when I had arrived.

How hard it is to be still these days! We try to schedule every waking moment, and when we get a break, we use it to check our emails. But silence and stillness are important. The following passage tells how the Lord spoke to the prophet Elijah.

1 Kings 19:11b-12 – And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (KJV)

It was with this still, small voice that the Lord spoke to Elijah and speaks to us today. So let's take time every day to turn off our electronic devices and our television sets and spend time listening for the voice of the Lord. Let us pray as did John Greenleaf Whittier in his beautiful hymn:

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm.

Prayer: Dear Lord and Father of us all, thank You for gifts of silence, stillness, and peace. Speak to us when we come before You, and help us to draw ever closer to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

I recently retired from the Canadian public service after 35 years. What do I do to fill the hours? Since I play the organ and piano, providing music for the services that our church conducts in seniors' residences and nursing homes was a natural choice. The first thing that I learned is that residents don't want to hear fancy organ and piano solos. They want to hear their favourite hymns from the hymn book. The effect of this music is remarkable. People with dementia who have not spoken for days sometimes sing along. I have seen tears flow as a familiar hymn stirs the heart. It seems that music remains in the mind when other memories have vanished.

David was the king of Israel, a warrior mighty in battle. But he was first of all a musician, and his playing set Saul free from the power of an evil spirit. David's songs — the Psalms — continue to inspire people thousands of years after his kingship. They are his most enduring legacy.

The apostle Paul emphasized the importance of music in a Christian's life when he gave this counsel:

Ephesians 5:18b-19 – Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. (KJV)

Let us continue to sing the good Lord's praises with our voices and in our hearts. Then, when other thoughts and memories have faded, maybe with God's grace, we will still be able to sing these wonderful words penned by Charles Wesley:

Finish, then, Thy new creation,
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of music. Grant us grace to sing Your praise with our voices and in our hearts, and to show forth our faith in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

During this time, I happened to read this passage:

Matthew 6:34 – Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV)

Following its advice, I started every day by asking the question "What do I have to do today?" I found that if I concentrated on facing life one day at a time, problems became manageable.

I remember reading an interview with a person who was a recovering alcoholic. He said, "When I think about the past, I become resentful. When I think about the future, I get scared. Any day when I think about today is a good day." We can't change the past, and the future is very hard to predict. But if we concentrate on doing the best we can, day by day, there is much that we can accomplish with God's help. It is a wonderful way to decrease our anxiety.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of today. Help us to live this day the best that we can, releasing the past to You and trusting You for the future. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

During the recent Canadian federal election, several candidates were forced to withdraw after comments they had made on social media surfaced. These comments, which were thoughtless, ill-considered, and sometimes offensive and hateful, were probably dashed off quickly without any thought that they would be uncovered by journalists and political rivals. Careless words indeed! For these words, the candidates were roundly condemned.

These instances remind me of times when I have spoken or written careless words that I wish I could take back, words that have embarrassed or hurt others or reflected badly on my Christian faith. It is sobering to think that I will someday have to give account for these words and trust for the forgiveness of our Lord.

Before we speak or push the "Send" or "Enter" button on the computer, let's think carefully about what we are saying and how the words reflect on ourselves and others. Let's follow the counsel of the apostle Paul, who said:

Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let unwholesome talk come of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (NIV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of words and the ability to communicate with You and with those we love. Help us to speak and write carefully, not carelessly, so that our words may build others up and glorify Your name. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

A new pastor was settling into a new church. The toilet wouldn't work so he called the plumber. The next day he found a broken light switch so he called the electrician. On Sunday, the president of the church council said, "You know, the old pastor used to do the repairs herself." The new pastor replied, "I know. I called her and she said that she didn't want to do them anymore!"

The arrival of a new pastor is a time of joy for a congregation. But it can also be a time of stress when they find that the skills of the new pastor don't match those of the former pastor. But rather than be upset at such a time, let's follow the apostle Paul's advice and esteem the new pastor highly in love. And, above all, let there be peace.

In time, we will likely find that while the new pastor may lack abilities in some areas, he or she will have many strengths that will be of great blessing.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we hold up before You those congregations who are welcoming new pastors. We pray that Your peace will rule over both the pastors and the people as they become acquainted and form new partnerships for ministry. May all things be done for Your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

I was once asked to take a leadership position in the housing co-operative where I live. I was worried that it would be too much for me. A friend offered to share the job. Having someone to talk things over with and to share the work took away all the stress.

Isn't it interesting how the difficult journeys in life become easier when we have someone to go with us? It's easier to complete a challenging task when there is someone working with us. A scary visit to the hospital for a test is easier when there is someone to hold our hand. I think that's why Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, not all alone. They went with a companion.

So when we are asked to take on a heavy responsibility, either at work or in the church, why not look around for someone to share the load? It's also good to keep an eye open for a friend who needs a hand with a task, or needs someone to walk with them when they are facing a challenge in life.

Of course, in those times when there is no other person to go with us, we always have a friend and companion in our Lord and Saviour Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to be ready to help others, and to be a companion when their journeys are hard. Please bring people into our lives when we need a helping hand. Thank You for being a loving companion throughout our lives. Amen.