Managing Your Time Wisely

By David Batchelor

I would like to begin this article by asking you a question. Do you ever feel like life is passing you by in a blur? Does it seem as though you’re doing a lot of things, but you don’t know what you’re accomplishing? I have been there and still sometimes re-visit this issue in my own personal and business life.

This is the result of our time managing us instead of us managing our time. Over the years I have discovered some very helpful guidelines to show me how to make the most of my time. I believe these keys will be helpful to you as well.

One of the first things you and I need to learn is to live our lives on purpose and not off purpose – to stay focused. In the Bible it says in Ephesians 5:15, Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people).

I believe God has a specific call on each of our lives, and to carry out that call He has equipped us with unique gifts and talents. Once we know what we are called to do, we need to invest the majority of our time and energy into that thing. Now I don’t believe that we should be so focused on our plan that we are rude to others or that we won’t allow it to come before God or family. But we shouldn’t be living vague lives – going day-to-day just waiting to see what happens.

I believe that as we stay on purpose instead of off purpose, we will find both contentment and fulfillment in everything we do. It is also important for us to avoid getting entangled in things that we shouldn’t be involved in. I believe one of the easiest things to get entangled in is doing good things that we’re not
called to do. For example, I used to want to be good at a lot of things ‘Jack of all trades – master of none’. It wasn’t long before I became very discouraged and frustrated because I couldn’t do it.

Thankfully, God showed me that I was trying to do what I wasn’t called to do – I was trying to make something happen that I was never called to do. It’s very important that we don’t compare ourselves to others. That is one of the many great things about us human beings, we’re all unique and individually made.

Anytime you or I try to do something that we are not called to do, we’re going to lose time, energy, and end up miserable. Many people are entangled in things they shouldn’t be doing, and as a result, their creativity is shut down, and they are not doing the thing they are called to do. What we need to do is give ourselves to our gift.

Another major revelation I had is, we need to take time to enjoy our lives. In the Bible it says that… Jesus came… that [we] may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). I use to do a job I didn’t enjoy for the sake of job security.

I have learned to slow down and enjoy the things I am blessed with. Like my home, my family, and my finances. Taking time to enjoy life is like taking time to enjoy a good meal. When we eat too fast, we don’t get the food’s full value or receive the emotional satisfaction that we need from eating. The same thing
is true with life.

If we don’t take time to “chew” life, we won’t get the “full flavor” out of it. Life is not supposed to be bland and boring – it’s supposed to be flavorful, full and fun. I encourage you to be a person of purpose and give yourself to your gifting. And by all means, take time to enjoy your life and not just endure it.

‘Live life to the full’ (Jn10:10) – David

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