Make The Most of Your Time

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I was thinking about my recent reading from the classic time management booklet, Tyranny of the Urgent, and this verse came to mind.  "...be careful how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of your time for the days are evil."  Then Paul quickly adds the how to: "So then don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is" Eph. 5:15-16 (NASB).  This is the key making any wise investment of time - understanding God's will.  That's how Jesus knew it was not time to heal every illness or cast out every demon.  That's how he knew when it was time to head to Jerusalem.  He understood what the will of the Lord is. 

If we hope to avoid using our time foolishly in this life - in our home, our church, our work, and our community we will have to make time daily to understand the will of the Lord.  I thought about this - the only person who can best tell you how to use your time is you.  And the only way you can know how is to give the first part of our time back to God and spend time alone with Him.  

This is my prayer: Father, as we each make decisions with how to use our time I pray we are found faithfully seeking your will.  And with that understanding we will say and do or don't say and do as you would have us to.  Amen.

Charles Hummel outline for making wise decisions regarding the use of our time:

1. Make a plan through meditation and prayer before you start the day.
2. Resist making on the spot commitments.
3. Evalute regularly - one hour weekly and one day monthly

"The only alternative to frustration is to be sure that we are doing what God wants." 

                                                                                        - Charles E. Hummel -

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

I was just thinking this morning about God's command to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything pray, giving thanks..." God's blessings have been falling like rain in my life and ministry lately increasing my work load dramatically. I was feeling more than a little anxious until I thought about God's command. I realized with greater clarity why God said, don't be anxious for anything, but pray with thanksgiving for everything. When I am anxious it is because I am feeling the pressure of what I must do and fearing (anxiety is a form of fear) I'm not enough for the task. But when I stop and pray, with thanksgiving, I put the burden back where it belongs, on God. Then the most amazing thing happens. Peace returns. In fact, the peace Jesus gives actually forms a guard protecting my heart and mind. Who would'a thunk it?! God, you are amazing! Thank you. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV2011)

My Morning Prayer

My morning prayer...

God, this new day, I freshly commit myself to the role you have invited me to play as you are building your church in this world. I am awestruck today that you include me in this life-saving, life-giving, world-transforming endeavor. So today I joyfully offer you my love, my heart, my energy, my talents, my creativity, my faithfulness, my resources, and my gratitude. I commit all of myself to the role that you have assigned me in the building of your church that it may thrive in this world. And I will BRING IT today! I will bring my best. You deserve it. Your church deserves it. It is the hope of the world. And I pray that you will call out many more workers into your service because the harvest is waiting to be reached.

THE PEOPLE WHO INFLUENCED ME FOR CHRIST AND THE THINGS THEY DID AND DIDN’T DO

Below is a list of things to consider as you prayerfully seek to discern next steps in helping friends move toward Christ.  This list was generated from a question we asked the people of Lifeway, "What did people do for you that helped you warm incrementally to the idea of submitting your life to Christ?" From this question we also discovered what people did not do and who were the most influential people in the lives of those who became Christ-followers.  This is what we learned:

Things people did to help others warm incrementally to the idea of submitting their life to Christ:

·      Took time to get to know me/showed interest in me/listed to me/noticed me*

·      Loved me unconditionally while providing a Christ like example*

·      Invited me to church/took me to church/offered to pick me up for church*

·      Invited me to church outings

·      Invited me to a Bible study

·      A friend answered my questions with Scripture

·      Told me they were praying for me/prayed for me on the spot

·      Asked questions/asked about my day/asked about what was happening in my life

·      Let me disagree with them without getting angry or defensive

·      Spent time with me

·      Believed in me/Believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself

·      Gave me a book to read

·      Shared their story with me/shared their testimony

·      Taught me about forgiveness/helped me forgive myself

·      Cared for me in a crisis/gave support

·      Included me

·      Encouraged me

·      Confronted/challenged my behavior

·      Shared the gospel with me/ shared Jesus with me

Things people did not do that helped others warm incrementally to the idea of submitting their life to Christ:

·      Didn’t judge me

·      Didn’t force or push me

·      Didn’t give up on me*

·      Didn’t turn away because of my mistakes/bad behavior

·      Didn’t treat me like a project

·      Didn’t throw God in my face

·      Didn’t try to change me/make me be good/act like a Christian

People who helped others warm incrementally to the idea of submitting their life to Christ:

·      Parents

·      Pastor

·      Friend*

·      Friend’s parents

·      A relative: grandparents/aunt/cousin

·      Coworkers

·      A Stranger

* Most mentioned response(s) in a category.