SEPTEMBER IS THE start of the year in our household. I am sure the same occurs with many whose children begin school in September. After Labor Day weekend ends, my mind can do a tilt on me. That’s because once summer break is over, a year packed full of projects and activities begins.
Have you ever awakened in the morning and dreaded getting up because of everything that lies ahead of you? Have you ever been tempted to stay in bed because you had too much to do and decided the best solution was doing nothing at all?
Do you sometimes go through the day in neutral, never quite getting into gear? Just thinking about the responsibilities and commitments of the day can fatigue me. Sometimes I get frustrated because I have said yes to something I should have said no to—but I didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings.
Often I’ve committed to something I thought I would have time to do. But when the time came for the job to be completed, my calendar became full of unexpected emergencies. I found myself burning the midnight oil to get the task accomplished.
And then I began grumbling to myself and my husband. I became cranky with everyone I came in contact with. Sometimes I think it would be great to have one day a week that nobody knew about. A day that I can get caught up, organized, and rested without any interruptions.
Regardless of your age or stage in life, time management is an essential element. One person said, “Time management? You must be crazy. I don’t need that. I have no time of my own to manage. Everybody’s got a piece, and there is not one single minute left for me!”
Sometimes I feel like a baseball player. The day delivers a hard, fast pitch. It curves into my life. I bunt and begin dashing from place to place. Out of breath, I skid between this and that. At the end of the day, nearly falling down, I slide into home.
Many times I don’t want to look at what I have to do tomorrow, much less the next week or month. Sometimes I feel literally breathless as I go from one project to another. Maybe you’ve felt as I have—if breathing took any time out of my day, it would have to be eliminated.
Many years ago, the above thoughts were constantly in my mind. I often consoled myself by saying, “Let’s get through this year. Next year will be slower.” I said that every year until finally I realized life was not getting slower. It was speeding up. I knew if I didn’t do something, I would live a stressful and miserable life.
God does not want us to live like that. He said in Matthew 11:28–30 (NLT), “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
The Lord is ready, willing, and able to get our lives under control. The tough news is that we must choose to implement the advice He gave us in His Word. God will not force us to organize our time according to His will. We have the power of choice.
I daily rely on Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT), “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” I also like the Passion Translation, which says, “Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make.”
My secret to managing my day is talking to God as I am getting ready for the day. I ask Him for wisdom in every decision I must make. I ask for divine favor in every situation I encounter. And I ask Him to redeem my time in every task that is necessary. I encourage you to do the same, and you will find that every day will be a day of peace. Trust God, and let Him direct your daily life.
Author
Lynnete Hagin
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