Teach us to use wisely all the time we have (Psalm 90:12 – Contemporary English Version).
Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16 – Amplified).
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you (Proverbs 3:1-2).
Time is life measured out. What I do with my time determines who I am and determines what I allow the Father to do in me and through me. All of us have 168 hours a week to accomplish what we value in life.
I must have time for ministry, for organizational and managerial tasks, and time for personal ministry and staff relations. I must also make time each day for my relationship with the Father and with Jesus through the Word and in prayer. I must also spend time with my wife and children, as well as have time for leisure and hobbies, relaxation and rest.
Time is a commodity that I can’t reclaim once it is wasted. I must take full advantage of each minute of each day. And I must do this in a way that honors God and doesn’t violate His kingdom principles of love, faith, trust, and rest.
To use wisely all the time I have, I start by tithing a portion of my day to the Father for time in the Word and in prayer. He’s promised me length of days if I’ll honor the Word! I can extract more out of each minute, each hour, and each day, and have time to spare if I’ll allow Him to be my wisdom through the Word.
Making a list of necessary priorities for the day keeps me focused on the important, so that the urgent doesn’t move it out of sight. Keeping that list before me is essential to keep my focus on what must be accomplished.
In doing this, I also make room for the providence of God to override any plans I make. That causes me to see interruptions to my plans as the plan of God for my life, and that keep my attitude joyful and expectant when what I planned doesn’t happen. Father knows best.
He will show us how to best use our minutes. Phone calls can often be returned in the car on the way to an event. I can listen to teaching of the Word in the car as I commute. Wonderful times of meditation and prayer can accompany a long commute to work or an appointment. A chapter in a book can be read during lunch. Ask the Father how you can seize each minute and extract blessing out of it!
Let’s give God our best efforts to work with today. Let’s make the most of our 168 hours this week. Let’s carve out of each day the purpose of God for our tomorrows.
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