May 2025 - Redeeming the Time

"Nobody is too busy, it's just a matter of priorities." (unknown)

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:16)

How often do we waste hours on end, simply because we don't have our priorities straight? The Bible is very clear about prioritizing: Proverbs 27:23 says, "Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds." and 1Corinthians 14:40 says, "Let all things be done decently and in order." So how can we make better use of our days?

1. What are your priorities? Without a set destination, you can't have a set course. So make a list: what are your priorities and what order should you have them in? Get advice from wise leaders in your life: ask your boss, your parents or spouse, and God what they desire to have you prioritize in your relationships with them. While writing, make sure you mark down what needs to be deprioritized in order to fit in what is most important.

2. Start implementation: Put your list in a visible place. Set your environment: make the actions needed for good priorities, easy. Make actions needed for old priorities, hard. Share with someone who will keep you accountable. "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour ...and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9,12b) 

3. Review and update: Very rarely will you be 100% right the first time. So mark down how you feel at the end of a day, then figure out what made you feel that way. If you feel good about your day, what good habit caused that feeling? If you feel guilty, what do you need to eliminate? "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways." (Haggai 1:7) Consider, update, act, repeat.

Making the most of your time does not happen on accident. Be careful, be purposeful, and be action full. 

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:16)