This is part 3 in my Think • Write • Pray • Explore series focused on TIME. Read part 1 and part 2 here if you missed them, and if you don’t have the January prayer prompt calendar about time, you can download it for free here. 

So often, I make decisions about my schedule and life without thinking to consult God. Can I just be real for a moment? I often think God doesn’t want to be bothered with these types of decisions, or I doubt if God would actually deign to answer my questions, or (if I’m being REALLY real) I’m just busy and in a hurry and it’s a whole lot easier to just make the decision myself.

And yet, left to my own devices, I continually find myself overloaded, over-scheduled, and my whole calendar—and life—out of whack. A couple years ago, I had the privilege to serve on a leadership team for a lovely woman’s ministry, and she taught us a great way to approach this. She asked us to spend time praying about our schedule and ask God if we should remain part of the ministry or step away.

But first, I will confess even more of what actually goes on in my mind. When someone tells me to do something, I usually immediately decide I don’t want to. That rebellious side of me just rises up. I know this about myself, but I respect her so much I decided to at least go through the motions. However, I didn’t expect any real results. In fact, I already knew what my answers to that prayer would be.

Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend being like me. It’s obnoxious. I didn’t really hear anything from God that time. Imagine that—I wasn’t planning to listen anyway.

So six months later, when the time came around again, I was determined to do better. I sat down to pray and made a list of all the things to which I had made a commitment (some were choices I made, and some were things over which I didn’t have much control, such as household responsibilities). Then I prayed and asked God which of those were things HE wanted me to do. As I went down the list, the answers were clear. Yes to this, no to that. Then I asked Him what was not on my plate that should be—what things matter to me that I want to do but I’m not. Last, I asked God to show me how to make the changes I would need to make in order to shift my priorities.

And you know what? He did. There were some things I needed to step away from, but I had to do it slowly, over time, fulfilling my earlier commitments. There were some things I couldn’t really give up, even though they weren’t particularly fulfilling, and that’s okay. In the process, I discovered ways to incorporate some new things—tangible steps I could take towards goals and dreams I’d put on hold along the way that were now attainable.

Now it’s your turn. Sit down with a notebook and list all of your time commitments, then talk to God—and truly listen to what He will tell you. If you don’t get the answers you hope for, give it some time, and try again. Trust that God will lead you. I believe He will.