iShineInMinistry

Psalm 90:12 (HCSB)

Teach us to number our days carefully

so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.

Happy New Year – and welcome to 2017! This is the year to take the time that we have more seriously. We can’t have #greatexpectations if we are letting our lives slip away in the mundane, useless and quite honestly boring occurrences that we allow to overtake the minutes and hours of each day. This year, I think that we all need to evaluate how we spend our time and make a genuine effort to do what is best for our lives. Here are some things to consider as we use our time more wisely:

Am I saying yes to certain events/outings/gatherings just to say that I have something to do?

Do you find yourself at events or other types of venues and just think to yourself, “Why am I even here?” or “This is three hours of my life I will never get back” or “I feel more drained/frustrated/lonely than I would if I would have done something else right now.”? If any of these thoughts or flickers of doubt come to mind as you pray about what you say yes to…chances are, you need to learn how to say “no thank you” and move on to things that are better suited for what God wants for you.

This may be harder to do than you think. Sometimes, we may just stay in our comfortable funk because at least we know how it will end (usually in lack-luster disappointment, but at least there are no surprises); however, this is the year to have great expectations. So, go…get a life!

Am I saying no to things that are actually worthwhile to do something unhealthy/unproductive, sit around watching television or scrolling through social media for hours on end?

Are there things that may actually help you grow closer to the Lord or assist you in becoming more responsible, consistent and godlier in character that you are avoiding? Are you skipping out on things that could potentially expose areas in your life that need help because if you don’t search your heart, you don’t have to surrender? This is a disservice to your life and to the God who sent His only begotten Son to die for your sins and set you free from a life of destruction and deception. Now you are just deceiving yourself and basically backsliding.

Once again, pray, go…and get a life! This life will be one that truly reflects Christ instead of a façade of shallow that no one knows deeply (because you don’t want them to see who you truly are). Go serve, go fellowship, go get discipled by someone that is further along that you are, go live life more abundantly!

Are the things that fill my time beneficial to me in the long run or eternally speaking?

Are you just doing fun things with Christians that really have no value whatsoever and calling it fellowship? This seems to be something we are all guilty of at some point, yet none of us will admit it. Are you getting lost in a fantasy world and not living in reality? Are you slaving away at work, basically merely existing and receiving a paycheck every two weeks? Are you volunteering for everything, whether or not you feel called to it so that you can be a “good Christian girl”? Are you going forth into all nations to make disciples when the Lord specifically called you to minister to your unsaved family?

There are so many things that could look good on the outside that leave us empty and/or lacking on the inside.

Let’s make sure that we are listening to the voice of the Lord and not just talking at Him all the time with a list of suggestions masked as prayer. Also, we need to pray more; what could possibly be a better use of our time than that? Let’s make the most of this New Year and do what truly matters. Can we all commit to making efficient use of our time and doing what is pleasing to the Lord and our well-being so that we can sparkle for Him this year? Let’s do this together…I will pray for you and you can pray for me!

Ephesians 5:14-16 (NKJV) 

Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light.”

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Psalm 31:15 (NIV)

My times are in your hands…

Think about five things that take up most of your time. Now think about a few things you would like to incorporate into your life this year. Ask the Lord to help you balance and help you say, “no thank you” when necessary. Then, pay attention to anything He may reveal to you.