Redeeming the Time
Another article -- this was written almost 5-6 years ago. I don't know that it all applies or is completely accurate since I am a wife and mother (especially now that I confessed I don't use my Day-Timer much anymore!), but there might be some encouragement here for someone.
Redeeming the Time: Practical Ideas and Encouragement
God is sovereign over the universe. He knows what is best. He has promised He will supply our every need and that includes providing enough time in each day to do His will. If we say we do not have adequate time, either we are not doing God’s will, or we are not wisely using the time He has given us. Instead of needing more hours, we need to stop misusing the hours God has given us.
“Life is what passes us by while we’re waiting for life to begin” (Rick Grubbs). This life is the only life we have. It is of vital importance that we use it wisely. We have been entrusted by God with sufficient time to do the will of God and to fulfill His plan for our lives. All of us have much more time than we are productively using. I am not an expert on this by any means, but I just wanted to share some practical encouragement with you.
I cannot stress how important it is to begin your day spending time with the Lord. Maybe you have an hour to spend in His Word, or maybe only five minutes, but devote the very first part of your morning to seeking the Lord. “Seek ye first the
Planning
It has been said, “One minute in planning saves three to five minutes in execution.” One of my most-used items is my planner. Every morning, after my time in the Word, I pull out this worthwhile asset and write down everything on the calendar page for the day which I feel God would have me to accomplish. Throughout the day, I am constantly referring back to this page and seeking God’s guidance as to what He would have me to do next.
It is wonderful to plan, but we also must have a flexible spirit. God often brings unexpected assignments into our day and we must drop our list and do His will. I heard the following quote many years ago and it has always served to be an encouragement to me: “To Jesus there was no such thing as interruptions in His God-planned life. There was always enough time for Him to accomplish all God intended for Him to do.”
We all need to be continually examining our lives and making sure that in all we are doing we are seeking first the
Time is life measured out for us for work. We will be eternally responsible for how we used our time. I don’t know about you, but it can be very easy for me to get caught up doing good things and in the process overlook the best things, the things God desires for me to be doing.
“To obey is better than sacrifice…” No matter how much we are sacrificing to meet the needs in other’s lives, if it is not God’s will we are not pleasing Him. If you are too busy to serve God, then you are obviously too busy.
Eliminate Time-Wasters
~Hobbies~
Take a close look at those things in your life which would be considered “hobbies.” How are these benefiting the lives of others? More importantly, how are they bringing glory to God? Are there things in your life which you are involved in at the expense of your relationship with the Lord and your family?
~Worrying~
“Why worry when you can pray?” The hymn states it so clearly. Some people are so anxious about tomorrow, they can do nothing today. Forget the fretting and follow Oswald Chamber’s life motto: “Trust God and do the next thing.”
Time is used in preparation for eternity, therefore, others should never have reason to accuse us of laziness. Time comes to us in segments all day long. A lot can be accomplished in five minutes. Time is a limited resource and we would be wise if we acted like we believed it. The sooner we get it into our head that life has a deadline, the wiser we will be.
Make the Most of Situations God Places You In
The world is continuously passing away. Our time is not recoverable. “Seize the day.” Our lives belong to God. If we misspend our time, we are misspending our lives. We would do well to follow Theodore Roosevelt’s motto: “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.”
posted by Crystal Paine at 5:20 PM
3 Comments:
Thanks for the great article. It was very timely. I am glad that you shared it.
I really enjoyed this entire article, but I especially heard the part about procrastination. This is a huge challenge for me. I will hold these things to my heart and ask God to help me in this area.
Crystal
Could you please be more specific on what hobbies to eliminate? Can't parents involve children in their hobbies? Good hobbies can promote critical thinking. Didn't you say in an earlier post your family plays musical instruments? Isn't music for many people a hobby. Please clarify this.
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