Successful time-management consists
of so much more than who can get the most done in the least amount
of time--as Christians, we want to be sure we're about our Father's
business and fulfilling His plans for our lives. We need reminders
of this often--it's easy to get caught up in doing, doing, doing and
get ahead of the Lord so much that we end up asking Him to bless what
we've already decided to do instead of waiting for His wisdom and
timing. I have learned this the hard way by taking on tasks He never
intended just because they appeared to be needful! No wonder I fizzled
out--I'd been trying to do it all in my own power.
Jesus saw many needs
when He was performing His earthly ministry but even He didn't meet
them all--instead He did the work that His Father had given Him. That's
all anyone can do--seek the Lord for His will and do it, not becoming
side-tracked, even by seemingly worthwhile things. These side issues
can drain us or keep us so occupied that we aren't able to accomplish
what God has called us to do in the first place.
A.W. Tozer once wrote,"A great economizing of time and effort can be effected by learning
what we should do and then sticking to it, quietly refusing to be
turned aside from our task. Paul said, "But one thing I do," and by
paring his activities down to an important minimum he multiplied his
efficiency many times over. We must avoid the error of assuming that
because we are busy we are therefore getting a lot done. Much of our
current activity is in line with the old gentleman who got his peg
leg caught in a hole in the sidewalk and walked around it all night
trying to get home."
How much stress could be avoided each day by taking
time to seek the Lord first and ask Him for wisdom and help in establishing
priorities? Daily we see so many needs and have so many demands--it
can seem overwhelming at times. We need to use good judgement in how
much we take on in this busy season of our lives. God has called us
to be wives and mothers first of all, and this takes time. Too many
outside activities can rob us of the time we need for our family.
We must discern what is God's will and say no to everything that is
not, in spite of what others may think, staying focused on what we
KNOW God has called us to do.
Try making a list of how you spend your
days, writing down everything that takes at least thirty minutes.
Evaluate your day and prayerfully determine what is important and
what can be eliminated. If you find you're spending too much time
on things of little importance, and too little time on what really
matters, you will have a good starting point for change. Remember
though, don't try to change in your own power--turn to the Lord and
ask His help! "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and
to do of His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
We must also allow
plenty of time for refreshment and recharging. If we aren't filling
ourselves up with God's Word and praying and getting enough rest,
how can we expect our ministry to others to be effective? Jesus knew
the value of coming apart to rest for a time; in spite of the demands
and needs of the crowds, He took time to recharge.
We're all familiar
with the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10--Martha felt overwhelmed
with all the work and wanted Jesus to tell her sister Mary to help
her, but Mary was sitting at His feet, receiving His Word.
Ken Gire
gave a wonderful commentary on this passage in his book Windows of
the Soul :
"The words spoken to Martha are words spoken also to the
Martha in me. But what were those words correcting? It was her worry,
not her work. It was her being upset, not her being under pressure.
The issue wasn't her preparations; it was her distractions. It wasn't
the many things; it was that the many things didn't revolve around
the one thing that was needed.
There was no quiet center that Martha
was working from, no solitude of heart, no still axis around which
her activities revolved....
I don't want to live in the kitchen of
religious activity, distracted with all my preparations. I don't want
to live slumped over some steamed-up stove, worried and upset about
so many things. I want to live at the Savior's feet, gazing into His
eyes, listening to His words, and seeing as many windows as He'll
show me....when we're at His feet and our heart is still, we can hear
Him even when He whispers."
Offer up each day unto the Lord and ask
Him to guide you by His Holy Spirit! Ask Him to help you use your
time efficiently and to keep you from being so rushed that you neglect
to hear His Voice. Take time to appreciate and treasure the people
He brings across your path each day--especially your family. The Lord
has given us a gift of 24 hours, that's 86,400 seconds today. How
many of those seconds have been spent praising the Lord, encouraging
our children and family, speaking LIFE to others instead of death,
BLESSINGS instead of curses and grumbling? Let's make a positive difference
in someone's life today! Each day is a new beginning, a fresh start.
God wants to do beautiful things in and through us as we yield to
Him!
A Dozen Time Management Tips:
DON'T . . .
rush ahead of the Lord--His
timing and wisdom are crucial
try to meet all the needs, it's impossible!
get side-tracked, even by "worthwhile" things
allow too many outside
activities to rob you of family time
let the enemy rob you of your
joy--it's your strength
confuse the urgent with the important
DO .
. .
Pray for the Lord's guidance and help each day
Look to Jesus as
your example. Study His Word, His life as revealed in the Gospels.
Ask yourself, "What would Jesus do in this situation?"
Plan for interruptions
and needed breaks
Put on the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3) and do
your work as unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Take time to enjoy
your family.
Stay focused on what God has called you to do and seek
to view everything in light of Eternity.
© Copyright Tamara Eaton
1994-2000, all rights reserved.
Permission is given to reprint any
of Tamara's articles in non-profit publications as long as the article
is reprinted in full and contains the copyright information and website
address. Please send a copy of the publication to :Deeper Life Family
Ministries, P.O. Box 909, Killen, AL 35645.
