The students arriving at school that day did know that some of them would not leave the building. Some of the staff had great plans for the rest of the day. Parents were looking forward to birthday celebrations and end-of-the-school-year activities. Whether Uvalde, Sandy Hook, or Columbine, we know that as humans, we have no certain idea about how much time we have on this earth.
Life, even if not “cut short” is short already as it is. Like the sand falling in board game minute timers, time flies.
365 days a year.
12 months.
24 hours a day.
7 days a week.
1440 minutes in a day.
How do you manage your time? What plans do you have for each day? We have the same amount of time each day, but we do not all know how much time each of us has living on earth. How can I make the most of the time God gives to me?
I make a list of things I would like to accomplish on a scrap piece of paper each week. I make a list each day. Some days, the daily list is not on paper, but out of routine, it is in my head! By God’s grace, I make plans for family, work, school, church, and play. I have learned and also found in the Bible that planning should account for being flexible. Sometimes God adjusts our expectations – and we should adjust our expectations when things come up that “throw off” our plans.
James the half-brother of Jesus writes about the brevity and uncertainty of life. He says, ” Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:13-17
If you sleep 8 hours a night, 480 minutes are spent sleeping. Around 90 minutes are spent eating and drinking. With work, school, family time, rest, entertainment, and more to consider, how well are you making the most of your time? Can you find a healthy balance for the time God gives to you? What guidelines do you follow?
Here are 4 Every Day Time Management Thriving Skills as relayed to us from James 4:
Make Flexible Plans. What if the grain is sold out? What if the store’s shelves are empty? What would you do if the tire of your car below out while driving into the shopping area of your town? What if the business deal falls through or the check handed you bounces?
God tells us to be flexible in our planning. Not everything will work out the way that we plan, but it will work out the way that God has designed! Rest and trust the Lord when your plans are changed due to circumstances. We do not fully know what will happen in a day – but God knows!
Know Life is Short. The air you exhale on a cold day when you can see a mist coming from your mouth is a vapor. It is visible for a moment and then it disappears. Why worry about our plans not happening the way that we planned when we can trust that God has better plans? Since life is so short, avoid wasting time about “what is not” and live in the moment of “what is.” Many headaches, heartaches, and sleepless nights may be caused by not accepting the fact that life is short.
A sickness could take your life. A crazy gunman or a drunk driver could kill you. An unhealthy entertainment/coping choice (drugs) can take your life. We don’t know when or how we will die, but we will all die. This is why the best decision you could ever make is to believe the Gospel of Jesus. Salvation by grace through faith is the only way to be ready to die and to be ready for eternity. Please follow the link here for info about Salvation.
Plan for God’s Will. Just like making flexible plans, we should plan for God to change our plans. God has better plans for us. He knows how much time we really have. And God desires for us to submit to his better plans with grace and humility in our hearts. Asking God for His will to be done is a terrific daily prayer to start the day. Jesus also prayed “Not My will but Thine be done” in Luke 22:42.
Choose to Do Good. With flexible plans, an understanding that life is short, and while adjusting to God’s will, we can and should choose to do what is right. Doing what is right becomes easier when we understand God’s will, time is short, and we can be flexible! It is easier to do what is right in God’s eyes when we are thinking right about life in general. You are able to choose to do good!
Set the vaping stuff down and do something good.
Go to bed at a decent time and wake up earlier looking for people to help.
Turn off the device and spend some time with a senior in need of a friend.
Work hard at work and make a good testimony of the Christian work ethic.
Get off the couch and help in a ministry at church.
Kneel more often while lifting up other people in prayer.
If you really want to manage your time well and to make a difference in life and eternity, then adopt these 4 principles and apply them to your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly life! Be an Everyday Carry Christian who practices healthy and balanced time management.
EDC Christian 