By Alyssa Ruzicka
This year has gone by so fast for me. I can't believe graduation is in a month! This year has been wonderful and full of new experiences and things I never expected. I am thankful for things God is doing in my life, for ways He's growing me, and things He's given me. But I realized today as I was thinking about the topic for this article how the priorities in my life have changed.
Priorities are the things that people decide to put first in life. The things they worry about. The things they think about. The things they devote their time to. Priorities tell you something about what's really in your heart.
What do most people live their lives for? What do most people devote their time to? What do most people care about? The majority of people out there would say money, self-gratification, possessions, success, power, etc. These things can become idols on our lives. But here's what God says about those things.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. I Peter 1:18-19
Most people get their fulfillment from what makes them happy, gives them a rush, or makes them feel good about themselves. But God should really be the one who brings joy to our lives. He is the only one who truly can. Other things in life are just short-term things that are vain and empty after a while.
I have realized that to please God, I need to give my life to Him each and everyday, because life is so short-- God says it's a vapor. Hearing that always make me want to make things right with God, because He is what I want to live for in the end. A while back, someone who was telling me about her life said to me, "Alyssa, when your life isn't centered on God, it just leads to emptiness." I really listened because the way she said this to me was so serious that I knew she was telling me from her heart, and it impacted me. I really want to make the priorities in my life line up with what God wants. I want to learn to be generous no matter the cost, to die to self, to be driven towards serving the Lord. Basically the opposite of worldly pursuits. These are the things that are of true value and will lead to a joyful life.
It's really been a joy to write these articles for the past three years. It has been truly a blessing to my life, as well as being associated with DCHEA Homeschool Group during my school years. My hope is that you have been blessed as well. I will miss you all!! J Alyssa