This post is written to link with Five Minute Friday: write for five minutes on a one-word prompt. The prompt today is “time.”
“I’d like to, but I don’t have time…”
I hear people say it all the time, and sometimes I even say it myself, but when you stop and think about it, it’s not actually true.
We do have time. We all have time. We don’t know how much of it we have, but for each day we live on this planet, we each have 24 hours (or 1440 minutes, which somehow makes it sound like more.) The question is how we use it.
When we say we don’t have time, what we’re really saying is we are choosing to spend that time elsewhere.
And that’s ok. We have time, but it is limited, so there are decisions that have to be made. I certainly don’t have enough time to do everything I want to do, and each of us has specific responsibilities where our time is already committed – to a job, to caring for a child or a parent, to following through on important commitments we’ve already made.
It’s worth stopping to consider though how we are using our time – recognising that we have choices to make and seeking to choose well. If time is such a valuable commodity, doesn’t it make sense to try to spend it well?
Because time is spent. It’s not something we can hoard or save for a rainy day. Every day – all 24 hours, all 1440 minutes of it, is used up.
We can squander it on scrolling through social media for hours, or we can invest it wisely in activities that are going to build us up and encourage others – praying, reading God’s Word, taking time to talk with others and to listen, doing some exercise, cooking a healthy meal… so many options.
It’s a challenge to consider how we use our time, and it’s a challenge I want to take seriously this year.
When we finally emerge from the disruption to our daily activities that we’ve experienced over the last ten months, and we resume some kind of normal pattern of life, I’d like it to be a better normal, where I consider how I use my time and seek to use it well.
I may not have time for all I want to do, but I will have time for all God wants me to do if I don’t get distracted and waste it on other things.
Our choices may seem small, but they all add up – hopefully to a life well-lived.
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing.” (Annie Dillard)
CT Stuff used to say-
One little life, it will soon be past,
Only what’s done for Jesus will last!
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Great quote, and very true!
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This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot since the pandemic started. I have WAY more available hours on the clock since March and more since September because of having to stay home. But the choices I make with how to spend those hours have changed dramatically. I’m having to learn boundaries with my time where I didn’t have any before, and it’s required me to lean heavily on the love of God rather than worrying about what people will think of me if I change my priorities or say “no” to their requests.
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Thanks, Ellie! Yes, the change to our routine has really altered things for a lot of us in terms of how much we have and how we use it. I love your point about looking God for how we use our time rather than worrying what others think or just automatically doing what they want or expect.
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Yes! Very similar thoughts and praying that our values will have shifted and changed for the better following this ‘unprecedented’ time 🙂
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Yes, it would be encouraging to see some good come out of all of this!
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I loved this statement “Our choices may seem small, but they all add up – hopefully to a life well-lived.” Truly it consists of making the best choices with our time. Loved your thoughts on today’s FMF!
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Thanks for reading! I’m planning to catch up on people’s posts tomorrow so I look forward to reading yours!
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“We can squander it on scrolling through social media for hours, or we can invest it wisely…” This. Just this. What a well-written post. I really loved it. God bless you. So much. FMF#28
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Thanks, Susan. Glad you liked it. I’m planning some time to read people’s posts tomorrow so I’ll pay you a visit!
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“It’s worth stopping to consider though how we are using our time” – I’ve been doing this a lot lately, mostly because I find most of my time is out of my control because of all the restrictions. “I may not have time for all I want to do, but I will have time for all God wants me to do if I don’t get distracted and waste it on other things” – Amen. I pray the same; I’m trying to be more intentional with my time. Visiting from FMF#14
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Thanks, Wemi! Yes, I think being intentional is the key – otherwise the time just seems to disappear!
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This past year has definitely given us ‘time’ to reflect on how we use our time & what times are important to us.
Blessings,
Jennifer
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Yes, it has been a chance to break our routine and consider how to do things differently.
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I am guilty as charged at times for procrastinating. I am learning and trying to find ways to focus on God and make more time. It is like you say though a conscious effort from no one but myself. Right now I am having to make myself sit down and spend time reading wonderful posts from like minded people which are a blessing and I receive so much from but in reality thinking about all the jobs I need to start! God bless Loretta fmf #6
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It’s definitely a challenge to use our time well!
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I’m on the other end of the spectrum in a stage of life with fewer responsibilities but how I spend my time is still a challenge. It’s easy for a day to pass and I wonder what I have done, if anything? These crazy times haven’t helped. Like you, I pray that in our new normal and now, I put my time to use as God would have me do.
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Thanks, Cindy! Even when I’m busy I relate to that feeling of having a day pass by and wondering what I’ve actually achieved.
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I also am at a place in my life of fewer responsibilities. That being said, it is very crucial how I spend my time, my time in the word, my time spent quietly in God’s presence, my time serving him. I have social media, but I’ve never been big into it. the rest of my day falls into place as best it can. Thank yo for a wonderful post, so very well spoken. Blessings.
Visit from FMF#15
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Thanks, Paula! Yes, time with God is so important, and limiting social media time definitely helps.
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Thought provoking post!
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Thanks!
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Life really is the sum of our choices, isn’t it? You’ve given me much to think on here.
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Thanks, Marie!
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Yes, this is so true, Lesley: –> “I may not have time for all I want to do, but I will have time for all God wants me to do if I don’t get distracted and waste it on other things.”
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Thanks, Lisa! Yes, the challenge is working out what God is asking us to do and what are just our own ideas!
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