The 7 ResolutionsSample

Redeem Time

If you documented how you spend your time for a week, accounting for every half hour, what do you think you would find? Most books and experts on time management focus on not “wasting” any time and being as efficient and productive as possible. But that’s not how redeeming time is presented in the Bible. Redeeming time is not about worshiping work or becoming consumed with minutes of the day; it’s a way of honoring God. It’s to work hard, play hard, and learn to recharge without the shame of a wasted life.

Squandered time is more than lost time; it’s the loss of a precious commodity to help us live in certain victory and wisdom, as we’ll see clearly in God’s Word. This may be hard to hear, but it’s the truth—wasted time diminishes the potential impact that comes from your life.

Our approach to time is all wrong. We enter a day and find ourselves getting beat by the clock. Either we don’t work hard and aren’t as productive as we’d like, or we don’t seem to find the time to relax and truly wind down. I like to call this living in the mushy middle.

The mushy middle is how Laodicea lived (Rev. 3:14–22)—neither hot nor cold, just lukewarm. Jesus was appealing to the church, dripping with modern prosperity, to get out of the mushy middle. No one likes mushy anything and certainly not the mushy middle. Redeeming time is not about being busy. You can take a nap to the glory of God. You can sit and cuddle with your kid and honor God big-time. The goal is to take the initiative on time so we can live redemptive, shame-free lives. Instead of letting time pass you by, resolve to learn how to redeem it for your good and God’s glory.

HOW TO REDEEM TIME

• Take an honest look at your life. Are you redeeming your time well? Are you squandering time on less-than-productive activities? Are you overworking with no time to rest or spend with your family?
• Pray and ask God to reveal His will for how you should spend your time.

This study is adapted from the bookThe 7 Resolutions: Where Self-Help Ends and God’s Power Beginsby Karl Clauson. You can overthrow old patterns, create new life systems, and take hold of God’s promises. The time is now for humble dependence on God and a plan to walk in His power.Take The 7 Resolutions assessment to get started.