Upendo Ministries

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about priorities — not just the day-to-day to-do list, but the deeper choices I make about where my time, energy, and heart go. It’s easy to get caught up in things that aren’t wrong, but still may not be necessary. And that distinction has been stirring something in me.

We live in a world that praises busyness and constant achievement. We say yes to a million little things — projects, events, side hustles, even distractions disguised as productivity — and before we know it, our days are full, but our hearts feel strangely empty. That’s where I’ve found myself. Wondering if I’ve poured too much into things that don’t actually fill me up or move me closer to who God meant to be.

This reflection has led me back to a simple, grounding truth. God should be my first priority. Not in theory. Not just on Sunday. But practically, daily. In how I choose to spend my time, what I dwell on, and how I respond to others.

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He didn’t give a list of tasks. He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” and right after, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31)

There’s a beautiful simplicity in that. Love God. Love people. Everything else is secondary.

So why do I give so much of myself to what doesn’t last? Why do I stress over achievements, opinions, or goals that may have short-term value but little eternal significance? Maybe it’s because those things are easier to measure. Loving God and serving others takes intention — and often, a surrender of ego and comfort.

But I’m learning that when I put God first — truly first — everything else begins to find its rightful place. It’s not that responsibilities disappear, but they get reordered. I start to ask is this helping me grow closer to God? Is this helping me love others well? Is this necessary — or just noise?

When I begin the day with God in prayer, in Scripture, in quiet, I’m more grounded. I’m more aware of others’ needs. I’m less reactive and more present. And when I serve others — not out of obligation, but from a heart aligned with God — I feel the kind of fulfillment no checklist ever gives.

I’m not saying it’s easy. There’s always a pull to the urgent, the flashy, the “productive.” But I want to live a life that reflects what I actually value, not just what I say I do. That means some things will need to go. Not because they’re bad — but because they’re not best.

So here’s the question I’m asking myself, and maybe it’s one worth asking yourself too: Am I giving my best energy to what matters most?
Because at the end of the day, I want to look back and know I invested in things that had eternal impact — loving God deeply, serving others faithfully, and living a life aligned with His purpose.

Love and prayers,
Vanessa