“I don’t care” is a powerful phrase I’ve learned works wonders with my kids. I’m sure it’s not popular in today’s world, probably even frowned upon in most circles. But it works great to end conversations about things like who gets the last Oreo, which braincell killing device is too loud and distracting from another braincell killing device, or which NBA team they should play on one day (sorry Gabe, I’ll answer that when you put down the Play Station and start actually practicing basketball).

Please understand, I love my kids more than I could ever describe. But no, I don’t care about those things, and I really wish they wouldn’t. I have more important things to worry about. Like money, checking my email, and figuring out why all these people on the news & social media have lost their minds. Oh wait……

It isn’t that God doesn’t want us to have money, or that He wants us to be rich. He doesn’t care how much money we have. It isn’t that God doesn’t want us to read our emails and do our job. He just doesn’t want our work to come before Him. And it isn’t that God doesn’t care about the sins of others. He just doesn’t care about our opinion of the sins of others.

Now, if my kids come to me with a serious problem, I’m all ears. And so is God. Want to pray for others to come to Him? You have His full attention. Looking for ways to help somebody? He has some suggestions. Want to get to know Him better? Ask, and you shall receive.

I don’t know how Biblical this is, but I’ve started to notice how selfish my prayers are. I’m always asking for what I want or think I need. But when I try to fill my time praying for others, well for one, I never run out of things to say, and also, I don’t have as much time to worry about myself. That also has the huge benefit of keeping me out of His way so He can take care of my needs. It’s almost like the more I do what He asks, the more He takes care of what I need.

Why do I feel like I’ve read that somewhere before?