April 2014, Time Management

Time Management

A wise person keenly observed:

“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.” Time is a fleeting thing that has a way of escaping our grasp in the blink of an eye … unless we learn to “make the most of it.”

My mother (whom I adored) had, as we all do, a particular area of weakness: Punctuality! Being on time was simply not my mother’s strength.

How well I remember the afternoon I went to my mother’s home to pick her up for a large event where I was scheduled to sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic. But when I arrived, she wasn’t ready … at all! As soon as she saw me, she began to hurry and scurry! Nevertheless, I knew we would definitely be leaving late. Of course, Mother was very apologetic and remorseful.

Then just as we were ready to walk out the door, the phone rang. Just as she turned to answer it, I yelled, “Stop!”

Mother froze mid-motion … arm fully extended, hand an inch from the receiver. Then I spoke slow … and low … “If we had left on time, you wouldn’t be here to answer the phone. Let the phone ring … let’s walk out the door.”

Yes, frozen like a statue, she stood there trying to figure out what was really right. I could see her mind processing, “But what if someone needs me to do something?”

Ever so slowly she lowered her arm, and we headed downstairs toward the door. As she walked to the car, she was thinking aloud, “Well, that’s true. If we’d left on time, I wouldn’t be here. So I don’t have to answer the phone!”

Everything moved in slow motion until I got behind the wheel and began driving … then we picked up speed!

What is good time management?

In reality, good time management is not marching to some rigorous beat of a drum to merely become more productive. It’s becoming a wiser steward of time … to be all God created you to be. This wisdom is poetically expressed in Ecclesiastes chapter 3 where Solomon advises us to live in harmony with all the activities God orchestrates for us. He begins with, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Years ago, I heard a statement I’ve never forgotten:

“The good in life is the enemy of the best in life.” Ultimately, your responsibility is to listen to the leading of the Lord and then prioritize His purposes for your life. Therefore, wise time management is vital.

• It’s having, not a method just to accomplish more, but a means of fulfilling God’s priorities for your life.
• It’s knowing how to weed out what God wants eliminated so you will have time to do His will.
• It’s living so closely dependent on the Lord that you will unmistakably choose wisely between the good versus the best in life.

The Apostle Paul gives us this counsel: “Be careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

If you sincerely want to “make the most of your time” then make these three practices a priority in your life:

1. Make a list of what is most important, then don’t major on the minors – major on the majors!
   Recognize that God has given you sufficient time each day to fulfill His perfect plan – including the interruptions. Too often we become bogged down with activities that keep us from pursuing the very best. Charles Hummel in his profound little book, Tyranny of the Urgent!, said it this way: “Our greatest danger in life is permitting the urgent things to crowd out the important.”
2. Make a conscious effort every day to be in God’s will, then you will cultivate His vision and accomplish His mission – the unique mission He designed for you. As such, your time will be well spent.
3. Make sure you have the right target in sight.
   Are you uncertain about your life’s direction? Realize, the Lord made your life like an arrow. Therefore, if you’re aiming at nothing . . . you’re bound to hit it!

Likewise, if you take on more than God intended – even if your target is right –you will become splintered and will ultimately fall short of the target. However, when you have the right priorities to fulfill your goals, and have the right goals to fulfill your purpose, you cannot live a more fulfilled life!

So straighten your aim, streamline your life, and start enjoying your freedom in flight!

Yours in the Lord’s hope,

June Hunt

Dear Friend,

Do you manage your time well? We have a responsibility regarding time – to listen to God’s Spirit and to live in harmony with God’s purpose for our lives.

Time management is not just a method by which to accomplish more, but it is also a means of establishing God’s priorities. Do you have the discipline it takes to prioritize and stay focused on God? Or, are you easily distracted and struggle to weed out those things that God wants eliminated from your life in order to have time to focus on Him?

Each time God uses Hope For The Heart to touch a life we know a ministry partner … like you … helped make it financially possible. Your generous gift is vital in helping to restore hope and transform lives. Thank you for your part in helping reach more people with God’s truth for today’s problems. Your financial support allows us to guide others to walk in God’s purpose for their life.

Yours in Christ,
Denise Henry
Director of Donor Relations

If you’re on Facebook, I invite you to connect with me at Facebook.com/June.Hunt.Hope. And if you’re not, take it from me: You’re never too old to start! See you there!

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