Time is Bald in the Back

God gives each of us 86,400 seconds in each day to use or abuse. Opportunity is a statue with hair in front, but bald in the back - you can't grab it once it's gone. Psalm 90 asks the Lord to teach us to number our days so that we may apply your hearts with wisdom. We are instructed to make the most of our opportunities. Before we were even born, God knew how many "seconds" we would be given. God also knew that those "seconds" would be plenty of time for us to complete (or chose not to complete) his will for our lives. We must make choices about how we choose to allot our time. Here are some simple steps you can use to begin seizing the day and doing what counts:

1. Make a "to do" list at the end of each day for tomorrow.
2. From the list, set your priorities. List each activity A, B, C based on its importance.
3. Question everything; Ask yourself: Is doing this really important?
4. Avoid clutter; Have a place to put everything. Keep it simple.
5. Do things with excellence but avoid perfection.
6. Use a calendar ; It will help you see the big picture of where you are going.
7. Think about your long term goals: How does doing each activity fit with your purpose?

When making your "to do" list, consider the following activities that may need to be scheduled in:

1. Time alone with God
2. Time with family
3. Sleep time
4. Planning time
5. Service to others

One last interesting thought. One very rich woman was boarding a life boat as the Titanic was sinking into the ocean. Suddenly, she begged the crew members who were helping passengers board those rafts for 3 extra minutes. She had to return to her room to get something. The crewman begrudgingly gave her the 3 minutes to get back to her room but said if she wasn't back in 3 minutes, they would give here seat to someone else. She scampered back down the hallways, passed all kinds of valuable statues, expensive furniture before she reached her room. She quickly passed a large handbag full of cash, and she passed her closet where she had placed thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. Instead she opened a drawer and retrieved 3 small oranges. She knew that she would need them for nourishment on the raft. Interesting. What had little worth just one hour before was now priceless. And, what was valuable just one hour before suddenly was of no value in that moment.

Time and events tend to dictate what is valuable; supply and demand tell us what is really important. So how do you determine what's important to you? How does your situation tell you how to invest your time? How do the opportunities in front of you teach you what to do?

Have a great day!