Today I really failed with a precious sister of mine.  I have apologized and asked her forgiveness, but still have felt quite awful for my words, and my attitude.  In going to the Lord for answers the following root is what He seems to be showing me.

In my western mind "getting it done" is huge! Yes, I and many others in our society are extremely task oriented. It so often feels like a great day when we achieve all the activities on our to do list.

And then of course, we  value and greatly admire the people who are so 'outwardly' highly functional.No...it's definitely not a bad thing to accomplish our tasks BUT...the Lord is impressing me again in a fresh way that one who follows HIM is not firstly identified by what they accomplish BUT by who they truly are in HIM. AND...when we see this true identity in HIM...the outward healing will follow.  "Seeing" and "declaring" Biblical truth over ourselves and our loved ones is the most important thing to be exercised in!  And oh, how we neglect so very, very often to do it. We may never even have realized how necessary it is.

Even this morning several verses came to my attention. (How easy to completely disconnect how they relate to my daily life!)  I noticed in Luke 1:46, 47 that Mary said, "My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior (defender/helper/ deliverer) and my soul magnifies the Lord."

I saw how she FIRST used her spirit (the reality of HIM in her inner being ) to rejoice in, to declare the complete truth of Who He is.

AFTER THAT her soul...thoughts, feelings, and choices magnified Him.  I was reminded again of the proper order for us...to see and declare these truths over our own lives and over those of believers He brings to us.

In Him each of us as believers are already seen by Him as perfectly functional. This is our inheritance as a new creation, with "all things new!"  

The problem (or disconnect) comes because we do not SEE the identity of ourselves or others this way...and our western mind sets the priorities where they do not belong...i.e. to the tasks accomplished.

I'm thinking that "seeking first the Kingdom" is a working out of this understanding.    

So "Lord, work in me to "keep the first things first"; and "the main thing, the main thing,"as You see it. Remind me to declare with my lips what You have declared us to be ...over myself and others."

Our destiny is to be like Him...and He is praying for us and working in us to bring this to pass.  And "with God all things are possible!" Now THAT is something to speak with my lips!