Springing Back Into the Future
If you were like me for the first part of the week, everything was just off. It seems there are never enough hours in the day, but losing one, especially one usually spent sleeping, throws you for a few days. Though I posted on Friday, I meant to still write another blog on Sunday but I ran out of time – or did I?
I once heard someone say that God gives us enough time to do His will, but we usually spend our time fulfilling our will instead of His. I confess that I find myself cramming the day full of errands and chores that ‘need’ to get done, while neglecting the other things that ‘can wait’: taking time to play with my son, complimenting my husband, calling up an old friend, spending time with my Savior. Too often these more important tasks get my left-overs. And we all know the only thing good left over is Chinese food. Suddenly, it’s 10 pm and I get a moment to myself: I should read the Bible, but I’m so tired. After all, God doesn’t want me spending time with Him out of obligation. I’ll do it tomorrow.
“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control” (Prov 25:28). If we can’t control ourselves and how we spend our time, we invite self-destruction. Those who put too much on their plates are just as guilty as those who don’t put enough on them: both lack self-control.
But, what’s the key to time management? Driving at 88 miles an hour? Thankfully, there are alternatives. A few months ago I read Craig Groeschel’s “Weird.” While the whole book is worth reading, his perspective on time struck me as particularly insightful. He said that instead of asking ourselves if we want to do something, we should be asking if it is wise to do it. Scripture seems to back this up:
“So be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish. Make the best use of your time. These are sinful days. Do not be foolish. Understand what the Lord wants you to do” (Eph 5:15-17).
“Teach us to understand how many days we have. Then we will have a heart of wisdom to give You” (Psalms 90:12)
Simply shifting from want to wise can really free up your schedule. I always wished I had more time to read, but gave myself the excuse that I had a small child to look after, which prohibited me from expanding my knowledge. Realizing 2-3 hours of television scattered throughout the day wasn’t ‘wise’ time management provided me with that time I needed to read a book or two a month. How much time could you free up if you limited checking your email and Facebook once a day? What about limiting Internet surfing time to 20 minutes? What if you spent half as much time playing video games as you do now?
I know I’m knocking the “brain candy,” but only because we’re all guilty of wasting too much time on it. Yet, as I said earlier, spending too much time on a good/noble thing isn’t so wise either (Prov 25:16). Is work consuming so much of your time and focus that your relationships or health are suffering? I think Christian women in particular fall into the trap of ‘helping’ others so much that they wear themselves down to the point of having nothing left of offer (if you’re in 8 small groups, volunteer at the soup kitchen, and are president of the PTA, it may not ‘wise’ to sign up as a soccer coach.)
Instead waiting for the DeLorean to finally prove it’s worth or wishing you lived in Arizona or Hawaii , knock out some of the time-fluff currently occupying your days. Re-evaluate if the important tasks are draining too much out of you. Dedicate some time gaining wisdom on what God’s will for you is rather than what you wish it was.
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the renewed way 