Take a minute to make your time really count
"So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12 (AMP)
Each year when we change our clocks, it is a reminder of how precious our time is. In the fall when we turn the clocks back, it is as though we've gained an hour, while in the spring, as we turn them ahead, we often think we've lost an hour. In reality, we know this isn't true, but it makes us more mindful of time.
Time is a precious God-given commodity. It is a priceless possession we should cherish. I was once asked by an employer to do a time study. To justify our need for overtime and more help, the nurses were asked to stop every 15 minutes and write down our tasks that filled this block of time. We all wondered, is this time study really a good use of our time?
Today, as I think about that study and each block of time, I ask myself, "Do I waste time doing worthless tasks? Will I squander away the valuable moments God has given me by focusing mostly on my difficulties or sulking in self-pity? Have I done anything today to show God I care about anyone besides myself?
One of the greatest ways we can show God we care about him and others is to utilize our time wisely. Starting out our daily schedule with a few short moments of prayer and reading a passage of scripture from the Bible can help us line up our will with God's and make a difference in how efficient our time flows. Asking God to give us wisdom in the use of our days, like the Psalmist did in Psalm 90:12, gives us some supernatural help.
Making a list of the activities for the day ahead can help us keep our priorities straight. As we check our list throughout the day and cross off completed tasks, it gives us a sense of accomplishment. Also, learning to say no to unnecessary tasks without a sense of guilt can help us utilize moments we have.
Setting limits on the amount of time we spend texting or on the computer can help us gain back a few moments of constructive time with the family God gave us.
Disciplining ourselves to stick to our agenda, whether it be work or time to relax, whenever possible, makes us feel wise with the use of time.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She is available to speak at your church or group, or coach you individually. She can be contacted at (847) 543-8413; P.O. Box 532 Grayslake, IL 60030; or Annetteebudzban@aol.com.