Rediscovering What Your Heart Values the Most – PLPC Devotional Series (2)

How we live each day and the decisions we make reflect the values and priorities we have. However, when we quiet ourselves to reflect, we may find that what we think we value may not necessarily be what our hearts truly value and delight in.

Often, the death of a loved one makes people miss the good things they did during their lifetime, and traces of their priorities in life are also revealed in the fragments that others will never forget.

My mother passed away several years ago. Due to a stroke, she was already in a semi-unconscious state when she was found and later left us without saying any words. In her notebook, I saw her writings. “Three things bring delight and joy in this life: contentment, self-enjoyment, and helping others,” she wrote. I believe this was the blueprint for her pursuit of a happy life.

Mom didn’t have a perfect personality. There were things she did not have wisdom with and pain she could not let go of. Yet what she left us was her persistent cheerfulness and enthusiasm. In fact, my mother’s personality has been influencing me subconsciously, and “joy” has become something I value a lot in life. I remember days could be difficult when I first became a mother many years ago. Later I decided to lead a happy life, believing that a happy mother is what my children truly need. I consider myself a person who loves to laugh and is relatively optimistic. Life will not always be smooth, and there will be hardships and moments of frustration. “Finding joy in sorrows” and “self-enjoyment” have become my methods of taking care of myself. Of course, I deeply understand that, behind joy, is God’s grace.

When I am faced with many of life’s choices, I tend to look for those things that make me feel satisfied and joyful. For example, I love nature very much. No matter how busy my life is, taking nature walks or even traveling is an indispensable part of my life. Nature does not only make me feel good, but it also calls me to draw close to God. I also enjoy spending time with friends. Even when my workload is heavy, I insist on connecting with my spiritual friends, to recharge my soul and allow God to shepherd me through fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Many of us rush through life. If you want to look back on days that passed you by and be full of thanksgiving rather than regret, then ask yourself this, “What is my greatest treasure in this life? What may make me feel like I have lived a full and meaningful life?” May we learn from Moses’ example of appealing to God:

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom… Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:12, 14)

Reflections:

What do you value the most in your life? Is your daily living aligned with these values?
What are your loved ones’ greatest impact on your life?
What impact do you want to leave for your beloved family?

Prayers:

Ask our Heavenly Father to open the eyes of your soul to see what is most important in life and to know how to set priorities.
Ask for wisdom and power to make choices and decisions that are pleasing to God.
If your life priorities need to be adjusted and changed, ask the Lord to give you enough courage to take this step.

Written by: Lily Ma

Presence Hong Kong Limited is a non-profit organization that has supported Christian and family values since 2012. We aim to raise up a new generation for the cultural mission — equip individuals and families to bridge the cultural and generational gaps and to live a unique life with wisdom. 

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PLPC (A): Connecting with God, Self and Others

Setting life priorities, building a healthy emotional and relational life