Summer's here! Kids are out of school and neighborhood pools are open. Temperatures are climbing and thoughts are turning to up-coming vacations. It's easy to shift into neutral and coast through the lazy days of this season. But time is a precious commodity no matter what season of the year!
When I think of stewardship, I often limit my thoughts to
finances. The truth is, I'm just as accountable for my use of time as I am for
my money. All of us have been given 24 hours in a day. It's up to us to be wise
stewards of this all-important resource. Moses, the leader of the Israelites,
shares some sound advice, "So teach us to number our days, that we may
apply our hearts unto wisdom," (Psalm 90:12; KJV).
So how do you spend your time? We all make time for what's
important to us. What are your priorities? Do you balance your day to include
time for the following: your walk with God, your family, work, and relaxation? Or
do you rush about throughout the day, concentrating on the urgent, but never
getting to the essential?
God's Word gives the proper perspective, "See then that
ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because
the days are evil," (Ephesians 5:15-16). Applying wisdom from God's Word
allows us to make the very best use of our time.
Staying connected to the Lord is the key. Jesus spells it
out for us, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing," (John 15:4-5).
By putting God first and spending time with Him daily, He
will give you the wisdom and ability to manage the remainder of your time.
You'll discover time for relationships, tasks, and yes, even for fun! How will you use your time today?
Prayer: Heavenly Father,
thank You for the gift of time. Help me to be a wise steward of it. I choose to
put You first in my life so You can guide me in the best use of the time You've
given. In Jesus' name, Amen.
*I'm hosting over at Living by Grace today. Come join in the discussion!
I also tend to think of stewardship in regards to money. But time is valuable. And God first in all things.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you, Lynn! It's definitely important to remember we're stewards of the time God's given us. And putting Him first is most important. Have a blessed week. Hugs!
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ReplyDeleteHi, Maria:
ReplyDeleteWhen I make time for the essential, everything else flows more smoothly throughout the day. Scheduling time for God in our daily routine is so important because it nourishes us to better address the tasks of the day with renewed peace, focus, and sense of purpose. Thank you for the reminder to be mindful of what we allot our time to!
Blessings to you and yours.
Great to see you, Janette! When we remember that everything belongs to God - including our time, it makes sense to go to Him to help us determine the day's agenda. Have a truly blessed week!
DeletePersonally time is more precious to me than money Maria. There never seems to be enough time to get everything done, I struggle with all my tasks sometimes and find it hard to make decisions on what to skip or let go. God is not part of my day, He is in everything I do and I talk with Him all the time :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful reminder, Marja! God shouldn't be 'scheduled into' our day - He is the reason we live and move and have our being. Love the way you put it, "He is in everything I do and I talk with Him all the time." True words of wisdom! Hugs and blessings!
DeleteHi Maria,
ReplyDeleteTime is a non-renewable resource for all of us. We can't get the years back, and they do go fast.
Years ago, there was a saying: "I'm killing time." Now, it makes me cringe. Every moment we have is a gift from God.
Blessings,
Susan :)
My husband and I were just discussing the importance of redeeming the time, so I would say that this post is timely. :) Thank you, Maria. I appreciate the challenge and encouragement.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week,
Karen