What I know, having been in the business world myself, is the reality that we simply don’t have enough time! Life is simply insane! We acknowledge the need to read God’s word, to pray, to spend time with family, but how do we fit it all in? We can’t, and sadly we don’t.

After my friend left the man at the next table turned to me and asked, “You’re a pastor, aren’t you? I was listening to your visit and…….”

He then proceeded to talked about how busy his life is, how hard it is to do the things I was talking about. I didn’t realize I was speaking to two men, but I was. I told him I understood, having been in his world for many years. He admitted that it’s hard to fit it all in and I know that is a reality.

I think the best victory of our enemy is to keep us so busy that we have no time for the truly important things.

Paul wrote these words, that fit best in the world we live in today, “make the most of your time, because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:16

The days dictate a different approach to time, a different way of dealing with a clock spinning so fast that we feel out of control. How do we slow this thing down? How do we recapture our lives, our time? We all have to work, but in those moments that are ours how do we live, how do we use the seconds that we claim as our own and use them well?

It demands clarity about what is most important to us. What do we want to invest our lives in? In twenty years will you be glad to say, “I am so glad I spent those hours watching The Bachelor.” It demands we decide what’s important to us and act like it!

I’m a chronic couch potato. When I get home from the day all I want is my chair, some ice tea and some time to do nothing, but is that how I want to be remembered? I think my grand kids will remember me best in my recliner. Without thinking I’ve used my moments and communicated what’s important to me. In the warp speed days we live in, at least for me, I think I need to be more intentional about how I use my moments. Might I invite you to join me in this different look at our use of time in these last days?

Visit Mike at Finishing Well.

The post Time first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.

A new year.

A fresh start.

Hope for better things.

Desire for change.

It was just another day. It wasn’t anything special in the grand scheme of things, but we have made calendars so for us it was the start of something new. Another year, a new beginning, fresh hopes. Maybe this year…..

A new year is a wonderful opportunity to make a new list of priorities for our lives. It’s often the case that as a year moves through its seasons we forget what is most important and find ourselves busy with the small urgencies of life. Let me suggest, let me encourage you to make a short list of what is most important to you this year, no more that 5 things, and make those things the filters through which you use your 365 days of the year ahead.

Here are a few suggestions- Pursue a relationship with God, read a book each month about something that will encourage or inspire you, commit to reading the bible each day this year, take time each day to dream, write a journal, write a book, do something fun each week, develop a new hobby or interest, learn something new, intentionally ask one person each week about their life (this could be a daily activity for many of us), and on the list goes. These are not necessarily resolutions, they are simply priorities. And yes, for some of you exercise is on the list isn’t it? But whatever you do with this new year do it intentionally. Don’t simply let the year fly by and not use every moment well for the glory of God.

Have a great year!

Visit Mike at Finishing Well.

The post A New Year first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.