“Christ gives us courage to say no to the unnecessary and yes to the necessary.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 15, 2021
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is enough time to do God’s will, thus He desires your stewardship of time. Just as money can be overspent, so can time. The twenty-four hours in a day, the seven days in a week and the fifty-two weeks in a year need budget restraints. Some days may go by slowly, but years seem to fly by quickly. A life well spent and prayerfully invested pays dividends for a lifetime and into eternity. But, a chronically reactive life wakes up one day, weary, wondering what have I done.
We are wise to lay out a life plan and adjust it over time. We prayerfully modify our calendar regularly so overcommitment does not overcome us. It is much better to have fewer obligations than to find ourselves emotionally and physically spent—unable and unwilling to follow through. Time is a treasure from heaven that needs close attention and protection. We number our days so at the end of each day, we are satisfied that we were successful for God.
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
Time can torture us or reward us. It can be a blessing of margin or a curse of busyness. Our life can feel like a boring treadmill of monotony, or a focused life of fulfillment. How do you budget your time? Do you invest time with Christ each day to hear His voice? Prayer is a time saver. Intimacy with your Lord Jesus gives you courage to say no to the unnecessary and yes to the necessary. The Holy Spirit’s discernment fills your mind when you spend time in quiet reflection.
Create boundaries that protect you from yourself. The enemy of the best is good opportunities. Your flurry of activity can easily facilitate fatigue and broken promises. Perhaps you review your calendar each week with your spouse or accountability partner. Invite another objective eye to monitor your appointments. Perhaps you wait to look at email or answer calls until after lunch. Use your early mornings for creative thought, writing, reading and exercise.
Avoid going into spiritual, emotional and physical debt for lack of attention. You have to be whole before you can help others become whole. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. Like a crisis on a plane, place the oxygen on yourself first so that you can assist others. Your relational accounts may be overdrawn. If so, quickly pay the penalty of aloneness with honest and vulnerable conversations. Spend your time wisely with prayer and planning. By God’s grace manage your calendar or it will manage you. Trust the Lord to lead you along His timetable.
“I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly” (Isaiah 60:22).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, my desire is to steward well each day along Your timetable, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
How can I adjust my routines to care for my body and soul first, so I can care for others?
Related Reading
Job 14:5; Psalm 39:4; Luke 1:20; Acts 17:26
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