Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.
Make Today Count
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV).
Time is a precious commodity. It is a gift from God, and we should be good stewards of our time as with any other gift. Certainly, the devil is interested in misuse of your time. If he can cheat you of your time, he can cheat you of your heavenly treasure. Perhaps the last thing that he is loath to let go is time. His game is to cheat you of today and the next day by whatever means necessary. For some it is procrastination – let’s do that tomorrow. For others, it may be to conjure up past mistakes and keep your focus on past problems and rob you of the joy of today and the forgiveness and grace that comes from Jesus.
Our focus must be on the present if we are to be good stewards of our time. This was the message of Paul in Hebrews 3:13, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,”
so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” We should be intentional in using our time to honor God. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).
Each day we decide whom we will serve as we are taught in Joshua 24:15. “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
To make the most of your time, you must discern what’s most important. Yes, it is impossible for one person to “do it all.” God does not expect you to do everything. He does expect you to use your gifts and talents to make wise decisions that will have a meaningful impact on His kingdom. The greatest gift that God has given you is salvation by Jesus Christ. The second greatest gift you were given in life is the freedom to choose.
When you haven’t clarified what you want out of life, you’re indecisive all the time because you can’t do what’s good until you decide what’s good. You can’t do what’s important until you decide what’s important. Pray and talk to your pastor about how you can use your time to honor God. Maybe your pastor has been praying for somebody with a heart for evangelism to join the evangelism committee, and you have such a heart. When you use your time wisely, you are honoring God, and He will certainly bless your efforts.
Prayer: Dear God, We live in a world with so many distractions that take our focus away from you. Help us to honor you with all that we do. Amen.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
We welcome your comments below.
Liked this post?
Read more below or search for more topics...
-
The Unforgivable Sin?
The Unforgivable Sin? “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:22-24 NIV). Years ago a dear friend, let’s call him John, confided in me that he had made the “unforgivable sin.” I was expecting him to tell me about how he had committed blasphemy against the Holy... -
What Is The Meaning Of “Iron Sharpens Iron”?
What Is The Meaning of "Iron Sharpens Iron"? I am a volunteer with a national men’s ministry known as “Iron Sharpens Iron.” The name of our group is based on Proverb 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Iron Sharpens Iron is a Conference Network made up of individual ministries that are working interdependently to most effectively offer local church resources for men.This group is accomplishing this by mobilizing ministries to resource local churches with a first-class one-day equipping conference that is designed for men age 13 and older. These one-day conferences bring in world-class speakers to address... -
Trusting In The Valley and the Mountaintop
Trusting In The Valley and the Mountaintop "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4 KJV). Jesus warned us that we’d have problems in life. No one is immune from pain or insulated from suffering, and no one gets to skate through life problem-free. You may have heard the old saying “nobody is an atheist in a fox hole.” Many of us turn to God during the difficult times in our lives but then go back to living...