For This Moment

Hey there,

We all have this moment called life and time is something we can never get back. 

You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14

How do you choose to spend your time?  Or an even better question, what controls your time?

Even though we would all agree our top priorities are our relationship with Jesus, our marriages, and our relationships with our family and friends, so often we also experience the thought: “I don’t have time to…”. 

I don’t have time to get away and spend extended time to be with the Lord.

I don’t have time to experience quality time with my husband.

I don’t have time to invest in intentional conversations with my family.

I don’t have time to be intentional with my closest friends.

What do you feel you don’t have time for, even though it is a top priority for you?

I want to share something eye-opening that has made me think about how we prioritize our time.

The truth is, we all have 168 hours in our week. 168 hours sounds like a lot, right!?!

Let’s break it down into some things we don’t really have a choice about doing: 

56 hours for sleep

40 hours for work

24 hours for self care, cooking, cleaning, etc

7 hours for working out

That still leaves 41 hours unaccounted for.

When we say we don’t have time to do what is important to us, it’s not really about having the time—it’s about the priorities we set.

What we prioritize controls how we spend those 41 hours.

As 2 Peter 2:19 reminds us, “You are a slave to whatever controls you.”

So, what currently controls you? What controls your time? How can you align the way you spend your time to reflect your priorities? You set your priorities. You have the time; it’s just about choosing what matters most.

Here is my loving disclaimer: Let’s take a moment to recognize we are all in different seasons, and this message may not exactly reflect your current circumstances. You may have little ones running around you, or you are a caretaker for a loved one, or you have health issues to address, or you are in some other extenuating season of life. There is a grace for those seasons, and I pray for God’s strength to be upon you in navigating through the current season you are experiencing.

Maybe you find yourself binge-watching a show instead of getting away with the Lord. 

Maybe spend time surfing social media instead of experiencing quality time with your husband. Instead of strengthening your relationships with your loved ones, maybe you tend to isolate yourself, spending too much time away from them. While some time to yourself is important, your daily choices will create a cumulative effect that reflects your true priorities.

I don’t know exactly what keeps you from spending your precious time on what you value, but today is your day to recommit to taking back those extra 41 hours in your week and being intentional with what God has given you.

You can do this, but it probably won’t happen without effort! Plan ahead. Look at your calendar and proactively reclaim time to align with your priorities. Love and know God, and love others so they can love God too. 

P.S. As my friend edited this letter for me, she reminded me of the song DASH by Crowder. It is so appropriate to listen to as you contemplate this message. Enjoy listening!