Invest Your Time Wisely

Do you ever wish there was more time in the day to do all the things you need to do? How many of you have asked the question "Where has the time gone?"

Lets face it. There are 24 hours in a day. That's 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds! I mean, how much more time do you need than that? I am sure that you have heard that the body needs only 8 hours of sleep. That's 16 hours or 320 minutes or 19,200 seconds of awake time. So you see why they say every second counts. So what are you doing with your time?

Every minute of every day counts. And when that time has past it cannot be recovered. We need to use our time wisely if we are to get ahead and be productive. How do we do this? By setting priorities.

We need to set priorities. Without doing this we will be going round and round being very busy but ineffective. Then at the end of the day we will be asking ourselves "What have I done today?"

Time is the currency of life. Imagine that 86,400 seconds as $86,400 you deposited into the bank. When next you check your account you realize it's all gone. What will you do? Of course you can demand of the bank they refund you your money. But suppose that's not possible for whatever reason? Would you not wished you spent your money? or better again invested it some other way? Of Course! When time has gone, it cannot be recovered. Think about time in this respect. Try investing your 86,400 seconds wisely, so you can get good value for your time.

Think about it. With the technology we have now our time is taken up by: surfing the internet, sitting in front the television checking out the hundreds of channels now available to us, trying out new software. And there's the cell phone, where anyone can contact us at any time wherever we are. People demand our time and attention constantly. Of course there are times when these things and certain people are important and worthwhile. But a lot of times they are not.

One of the most effective ways to make maximum use of our time is to plan ahead the day before all the things that need to get done. When you do this you will be surprised how many things you will accomplish in the day.

What I would like to do now is to tell you what are some of the more important activities you should include in your schedule.

1. First thing in the morning - Pray.

Psalm 63:1 says "O God, You are my God; Early I will seek you". This should be our very first priority as we start the day. We must thank God our provider for waking us up in the morning and for our sustenance. If you read Daniel 9:3-19 and Ezra 9:5-15 what do you notice? One, the prayers are lengthy and two, they pray for their sins and others. Jesus' prayer in John 17 was for his disciples. We should pray genuine prayers not hurried repetitive ones. And we must pray for others.

2. Read the Bible.

Make time to study the Bible everyday. But don't just read, meditate on the text. This will help you to understand what you have read and effectively apply it in your life. The Bible is our instruction manual for life. When we follow it's instructions our life will operate and function the way it was meant to.

3. Spend Quality time with your Family.

In this fast paced world we live in, everyone has their own thing to do at their own time. But in order for the family to function properly they need to spend quality time together. Make time on evenings to have a meal together. This will encourage communication which is surely lacking today. On weekends go to the beach or the zoo or the park and have a picnic. When was the last time you did something like this with your family?. Families need to start having fun together again. This will preserve the family life.

4. Spend time with yourself.

Some of us are so busy we actually neglect ourselves. But sometimes we need to ignore the phone, forget the e-mail for a while. Let someone trustworthy keep the kids for a few hours. We need to unwind and recharge our energies for the next round of activities we need to tend to. When you spend some quiet time with yourself you will be surprised how many great ideas you will come up with for your next project. Try it. You will be completely rejuvenated.

I have something I want to share with you. It was one of those pass it along e-mails. When I clear my inbox I usually keep the really nice and inspirational ones. This is one of them.

PRAY THIS EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT!! IT WILL ONLY TAKE A MINUTE.

You never know when God is going to bless you!! Good things happen when you least expect them to !!!!!!!!

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.

I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.

And It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak... Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those that don't believe.

But I thank you that I believe. I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.

Just repeat this phrase and see how God moves!!

God I love you and I need you, come into my heart, please. Don't ignore and God will bless you.