Do you know someone who is always late, but who always has excuses why they can’t be on time? Maybe you are that person! Do you find yourself dragging the chain on things you know you should do, and then struggling to keep up? Do you look at the calendar, or the clock, and find yourself saying, “But I’m not ready yet!”
Personally, I like to be on time to events. I don’t like to be rushed while driving. I like to leave early, knowing that I’ll have time to find a park, and use the bathroom. But this doesn’t always happen. Lately I find that it’s so easy to be distracted; to do other things rather than get ready for what is coming. I’m finding it difficult to prioritize my time. It’s not that I’m doing nothing, just that I’m not doing what I know I should be doing to prepare. I’m finding it difficult to prioritize my time.
I just need a break
It’s so easy to get sucked into an interesting link on the internet, and then another, and another. Sometimes they are things in which I actually do have an interest. Other times, I just seem to get sucked into click bait. Then, many minutes later the time has gone, and I am rushing to do what needs to be done, or get to where I need to be.
Right now, I’m finding it hard to organise my time to get ready for these blog posts. I’ve got family coming to stay soon and there is a LOT to do in preparation for their visit. There are only 64 days left until Christmas, and also a lot of planning and preparation to be done. But I’m not ready yet!
It’s all so stressful, perhaps I just need to veg out and escape to the dopamine fix of endless scrolling. Many would tell me: Just slow down. You deserve it. You need a break. Just sit and scroll. Time isn’t important. You are more important than anything or anyone else. After all, it’s just self-care.
Bad habits
It’s so easy to slip into bad habits of wasting time, especially when it feels so good. It’s hard work to get motivated and organised to do what I should be doing, and so easy to just keep scrolling. Screen time gives instant gratification. Besides, surely I need to know what my friends have posted, and what is going on in the world. FOMO, meaning ‘fear of missing out,’ is real. Breaking your screen addiction
Life is short
Recently, we’ve attended several funerals. Funerals always make me wonder about how long I’ve got left in this life. But then, soon afterwards, I forget about eternity. I carry on wasting time, and living like I’ve got all the time in the world. Or, I recognize that my time is limited, so I’d better make a bucket list to do a whole lot of things to have a good time and make me feel good. I know I’ve got to die sometime, but I’m not ready yet!
Idols of pleasure and comfort
You’ve heard the saying, “We’re here for a good time, not a long time.” To be honest, I wonder if I’m making an idol of my own pleasure and comfort.
I do need sleep. I’ve written about it in a previous blog Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
But, in my case, I’ve got to be careful that I don’t excuse my laziness for self-care. There, I’ve said it, I can be lazy.
Is it laziness or procrastination?
“Laziness is defined as being unwilling to put forth the necessary effort to do a task. It is often associated with being undisciplined, unmotivated, and lacking self-control,” Procrastination vs laziness. The lazy person sees no value in completing or starting a task, so they just don’t bother.
What’s the important thing?
I think this is key for me. I need to prioritize what is important to me. Some years ago, I read about the Intentional Procrastination System: Time management for teachers Linda Kardamis Teach 4 the Heart . This system is deliberate procrastination. “The goal is to wisely choose the tasks you will complete today and intentionally procrastinate everything else.” In this system, you take the time to list all the things that need to be done, and then sort them out into categories: this week; this month; this year; someday/maybe. You’re not saying that you’ll never do some things, but that you can schedule them so that they get done at the right time. This system can also help me to sort out the urgent from the important, and organise a time for both.
The big question
Knowing that I’m not ready yet, raises one of the big questions: What is my purpose in life?
If my purpose is just to be the best, have the best, look the best, win the game, or just fill in time before I die, or just serve my own self, then that will affect the way I live each day.
What am I here for?
I can become so distracted with scrolling, and wasting time, that I don’t actually take the time to reflect and even ask the big questions. When I take the time to be still, and listen to what God says is my purpose, I find answers:
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
John 15:16
Me bear fruit? But I’m not a tree!
So, God chose me. I didn’t choose Him. I’ve been created to: declare God’s praises; do good works; and to bear fruit. What?!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Life is short
I have limited time here on earth. Spending my time wisely is important. It’s so tempting to become aimless, purposeless, pursing only my own pleasure and selfish desires. But we are warned against such temptations. When Jesus was asked about the end times, he said:
Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
Mark 13:33
Encouragement for you
If you, like me, are struggling with use of time, then I want to encourage you to listen to God’s purpose for you: to declare His praises; do good works; and bear fruit.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25
I want you to know that even though you may feel like you are wandering aimlessly, and hopelessly, through life, God has a plan for you:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Prayer:
Dear God,
Forgive me for not being ready yet. Forgive me for my laziness, and my procrastination.
Thank you that you do forgive me even though I don’t deserve it.
Please enable me to resist the temptation to prioritize my own selfish pleasure and comfort over the things that You have planned for me to do.
Remind me that your plans for me are all for your glory and my good.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may bear fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
I pray for wisdom and discernment to choose your good path rather than the easy path that leads to destruction.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.