“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Time is a valuable God-given resource and must be treated as such.
It is important that you have clear goals in life and plan accordingly. Paul made plans (see Romans 1:13, 2 Corinthians 1:15-16) but was open to them changing. Your goals can be daily, weekly, annual, or longer but you must plan as to how you are going to achieve them. The adage, “Failing to plan is planning to fail”, is true.
Making lists of your tasks, prioritising the important, will help enormously. Oftentimes “the good can be the enemy of the best”, meaning we can fill our time with good activities but then not allow time for the best. Prioritising the best activities, allocating appropriate time for them and fitting other things around them, will ensure we use time well.
It is instructive to see how often the phrase “early in the morning” is used positively in the Bible but you will search in vain for any phrase like “had a long lie in bed”. Although sleep is vital for our physical bodies the Bible portrays those who stay in slumber as sluggards.
“How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?” (Proverbs 6:9).
Being good stewards of our God-given time will mean exhibiting self-control and rising from our beds. The start of the day often dictates the tempo for the day.
Simple measures can help. A few decades ago, I placed my alarm clock on a cupboard a few metres from my bed and set it to wake me half an hour earlier. As I had to get out of bed to turn it off it helped me to commence reading the Bible and praying more promptly. The practice turned into a habit that endured for decades and ensured I had quality time at the start of the day in God’s Word. That plan might not work for you but make sure you find one that does.
