Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.
- Eph 5: 16
Time management is a very essential part of Christian life. Although saying that, its a very bustling life we lead nowadays, with additional responsibilities and with multiple duties to handle, its easy to scoff off this verse saying, "yeah, right...people in the olden times didn’t have to handle mortgages, 3 kids going to school, quarterly reports, almost impossible deadlines, vitamin supplements to pop, doc visits, book reports and what not!!" Yes, it’s a busy life we lead but why is it different for some than others who are able to rope in prayer, family, friends, job and leisure all into one single day? We can hardly excuse ourselves when we realize that it is the same 24 hours for everybody. The same time slot applies for everybody with or without conveniences. God has not been partial when it came to either of us, neither has he allotted 48 hours to some and 24 to another for each particular day. So how is it possible?
The first thing we need to do is to sleep early and rise early. If you can't sleep early, then it would be better to make it a habit to
1. Clean out the clutter in your bedroom. A place of rest is meant for just that - rest. Not work
2. Not watch late-evening TV: Yeah, I hear you.."all the good shows are past 8 p.m!" I know. It is much required that you stay afar from temptation (yes it is, if it keeps you from doing what is good and makes you sleep late) and for that, you should spend some time reading the Word before bedtime. Engage your time in making some good conversation with your loved ones about the Word. Speak out the Word. Do something relaxing and by that, I don't mean fixing your eyes onto an LED/Plasma screen (mobile, TV, PC) which surely will deprive you of sleep. Take a pleasant late evening walk which will calm you to sleep. It’s a habit that has to be cultivated.
3: Not go to bed with burdens or emotions pent up in your heart. Whether you are angry, frustrated, annoyed, sad, depressed, empty, bored..whatever it is, give them to the Lord believing in faith that He is capable and will take care of them for you.
- 1 Peter 5:8
There are many verses that enlighten us about the days being evil but here is a very simple and thorough explanation as to why we must 'make the most every opportunity’. The opportunity here mentioned is not just about utilizing time but it is about having an effective prayerful life. It not only includes our early morning commitment to God but also our continual commitment to God throughout the day, watching the way we walk and in which path we tread on. The devil is always on the lookout to devour us like a roaring lion. There are various ways that he tries to distract us or make us go off-track..mostly by sensual worldly pleasures - money, porn, power etc. And in ways we hardly see it coming like a TV ad that tells us to buy a jumbo-sized burger (promoting gluttony) or a lady wearing skimpy clothes or a rock-star who promotes offensive language or even the most famous sitcom on TV that gives you the tickles and also lures you to worldly pleasures like adultery, fornication, slander, verbal and physical abuse etc. But if we commit and stay in the Lord Who is the real Lion (of Judah), then the devil is defeated.
Therefore, as Christians, we must not only strive at glorifying God with our mouth and behaviour but also with our time. Praise be to God and May God Bless You.
- Eph 5: 16
Time management is a very essential part of Christian life. Although saying that, its a very bustling life we lead nowadays, with additional responsibilities and with multiple duties to handle, its easy to scoff off this verse saying, "yeah, right...people in the olden times didn’t have to handle mortgages, 3 kids going to school, quarterly reports, almost impossible deadlines, vitamin supplements to pop, doc visits, book reports and what not!!" Yes, it’s a busy life we lead but why is it different for some than others who are able to rope in prayer, family, friends, job and leisure all into one single day? We can hardly excuse ourselves when we realize that it is the same 24 hours for everybody. The same time slot applies for everybody with or without conveniences. God has not been partial when it came to either of us, neither has he allotted 48 hours to some and 24 to another for each particular day. So how is it possible?
The first thing we need to do is to sleep early and rise early. If you can't sleep early, then it would be better to make it a habit to
1. Clean out the clutter in your bedroom. A place of rest is meant for just that - rest. Not work
2. Not watch late-evening TV: Yeah, I hear you.."all the good shows are past 8 p.m!" I know. It is much required that you stay afar from temptation (yes it is, if it keeps you from doing what is good and makes you sleep late) and for that, you should spend some time reading the Word before bedtime. Engage your time in making some good conversation with your loved ones about the Word. Speak out the Word. Do something relaxing and by that, I don't mean fixing your eyes onto an LED/Plasma screen (mobile, TV, PC) which surely will deprive you of sleep. Take a pleasant late evening walk which will calm you to sleep. It’s a habit that has to be cultivated.
3: Not go to bed with burdens or emotions pent up in your heart. Whether you are angry, frustrated, annoyed, sad, depressed, empty, bored..whatever it is, give them to the Lord believing in faith that He is capable and will take care of them for you.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11:28
4. Make a note of all that you do the entire day. There are some things that can be cut out like going to the neighbourhood cafe every single evening. Or watching too much TV and also, cutting afternoon nap-time to less than 3 hrs. Asking the family to pitch in to do at least a couple of their individual chores like picking up their own laundry and keeping their rooms neat are some things that can cut out time for you. At work, you can ask your colleagues to pitch in and also try not to procrastinate. Cutting your task down into mini tasks will make it more interesting and encouraging for you to engage yourself in your chores. Isn't it easier and more efficient to eat bite sizes than gulping down an entire pancake at once? The same thing applies here. Simplifying is the key.
5. Set your priorities for the day after your morning prayer which makes you think with a clearer mind and a stress-free heart.
As Ephesians 5:16 says, every second counts. But making every second count doesn't mean that we just slog the whole day working, but to each thing give its due attention, even rest and leisure so as to provide yourself a well balanced life.
The verse also mentions "..because the days are evil". The broader explanation of this can be found in what is said in 1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 5. Set your priorities for the day after your morning prayer which makes you think with a clearer mind and a stress-free heart.
As Ephesians 5:16 says, every second counts. But making every second count doesn't mean that we just slog the whole day working, but to each thing give its due attention, even rest and leisure so as to provide yourself a well balanced life.
The verse also mentions "..because the days are evil". The broader explanation of this can be found in what is said in 1 Peter 5:8
- 1 Peter 5:8
There are many verses that enlighten us about the days being evil but here is a very simple and thorough explanation as to why we must 'make the most every opportunity’. The opportunity here mentioned is not just about utilizing time but it is about having an effective prayerful life. It not only includes our early morning commitment to God but also our continual commitment to God throughout the day, watching the way we walk and in which path we tread on. The devil is always on the lookout to devour us like a roaring lion. There are various ways that he tries to distract us or make us go off-track..mostly by sensual worldly pleasures - money, porn, power etc. And in ways we hardly see it coming like a TV ad that tells us to buy a jumbo-sized burger (promoting gluttony) or a lady wearing skimpy clothes or a rock-star who promotes offensive language or even the most famous sitcom on TV that gives you the tickles and also lures you to worldly pleasures like adultery, fornication, slander, verbal and physical abuse etc. But if we commit and stay in the Lord Who is the real Lion (of Judah), then the devil is defeated.
Therefore, as Christians, we must not only strive at glorifying God with our mouth and behaviour but also with our time. Praise be to God and May God Bless You.
Have a blessed day!
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