We’ve had a lot of false springs this year, haven’t we? I get ready to till for my garden and look forward to the smell of a warm Spring rain and all I see is more snow. My eye is on the ten-day forecast and my thoughts are already invading next month’s schedule. It seems I just can’t wait for today to be over and tomorrow to get here. I need the snow to be gone so I can MOVE ON with my plans! When will my surroundings catch up to my ambitions?
Isn’t it interesting that we people often complain for lack of time but almost in the same breath can’t wait for tomorrow to come? The same teenagers that don’t have enough time to do their homework can’t wait until they can drive. The same college student that wishes for more time in between work and school can’t wait until he is married. The wife who doesn’t have time for so many things that pester her can’t wait until she has her first child. The man that has no time to balance all of his responsibilities can barely wait until his next promotion. How is it that we want tomorrow to hurry up and get here but seem not to have enough time today? So should we want more time or should we want time to pass more quickly?
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16
The solution is found in our attitude toward time. This verse is sandwiched between commands for God’s people to be wise. Wisdom, simply put, is the ability to look ahead and make proper course adjustments before “then” becomes “now.” Because the days are evil, we wisely choose to “rescue” the time. How, then, can we rescue time?
1. Learn from the past. Humans have a remarkable ability to remember. Being able to focus on our past doesn’t do us much good unless we are learning from it. Rescue today by remembering yesterday and choosing not to make the same mistakes again and by choosing to build upon the good habits you have in place.
2. Plan for tomorrow. Looking ahead often fills us with speculation and unbridled covetousness. Instead, plan for how you can rescue your time. If you know what you will do when you get there, then you have saved time that would have been wasted on inaction. How can you rescue moments from your day tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Plan your moments and then follow that plan to rescue your time.
3. Live in the present. This is the hardest. Our minds want to wander to past memories or future possibilities. Spend time wisely planning, but then live in TODAY. Don’t beat yourself up about what you didn’t do or fret about what you want to do. What can you do RIGHT NOW to rescue your time? Follow your plan and take steps toward being wisely productive for God’s greatest glory.
No, it’s not Spring yet… at least not in Wyoming. I can’t till the ground for my garden or go kayaking on my day off. But today is a gift from God. I choose to enjoy the wonders of His winter and strive to use each moment as a gift from Him to bring Him more glory. I’ll learn from my past, plan for my future, but live in my present.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31