Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. Psalm 90:12

It’s easy, in this season of hard-nosed political and cultural warfare, to detect different party and group agendas.  In the midst of this obvious reality, may we focus on what is far more subtle and personal in nature.  Even if it’s hidden or hard to detect, we all have an agenda or a life plan.  Whatever we believe and think way down in the boiler room of our heart determines what we value and ultimately the way we think, plan and act. The question then arises… What is my agenda?

In today’s message we will use the Bible as our authoritative and balanced resource. As we do that, let’s get a sense of personal focus.  Let’s zoom in on three different scenarios using an imaginary friend, named Tim.

1. Tim is in a stadium with his wife and two children. They’re all dressed up as pirates, jumping up and down and rooting fanatically for their favorite baseball team, the Pittsburg Pirates.
2. This same Tim is in a building called a casino. He’s alone, drunk, waging family money he can’t afford, using foul language and batting his eyes at some strange woman who isn’t his wife.
3. Now our friend Tim is with his family. They are in a building called a church. His and their hands are raised, singing away in reverence and sincerely worshipping God.

The first situation is a great example of a normal, yet uniquely family-spirited agenda.  Tim, as the head of his household, has a life strategy that vitally includes his family. His “wholesome activity” and safe excitement adds to a good family-album-type memory. His family is what’s most important to Tim; it’s deep inside the generator of his heart and the authority of his thoughts, plans and actions.

In the second situation, we find Tim hijacked from his family.  He’s in a swamp of poor judgment and discipline, high action temptation, sin, and despair.  The family of unholy evil is at play in him because the devil’s agenda is to steal, kill, and destroy him. (John 10:10).  Tim is literally a puppet of the enemy; totally separated from his God-graced potential.

In our final scene, Tim falls under God’s agenda.  As head of household, His united (not perfect) family is under a Holy God, which means God is over them in spirit, soul, and body.  The power of God, not self, or the devil is now the actuality.

May these examples awaken us to the truth. People have an agenda, and so does the devil and God Almighty. One is either submitted to self glorification, to destruction, or to experiencing life Himself. God’s agenda is for welfare and peace, not calamity or distortion. The light of Psalm 90:12 clears the fog and distractions for Tim, you, and me.  Encouraging us to appreciate God’s blueprint and to function in His successful agenda for each of us makes eternal sense.

Family and friends, when we seriously appreciate God’s gift of life and the time we have on a daily basis, and when we behave in godly skillfulness, our journey will be as good as it gets. Not only does His Scriptural Word help us to prioritize wisely, they are hopeful, strengthening and the inspiration necessary in answering the question:  What is my agenda?

 Jer 29:11; 1 Cor 10:31; Josh 24:15