"In our church seminar on “Redeeming the Time” I always conclude with what I call the real key to redeeming the time. It is a simple technique that, if consistently applied, has the power to radically transform the way we live. This technique is a question that we want to ask ourselves over and over again as we go throughout our day. That question is:
“What does God want me to do RIGHT NOW?”
For example, you are driving to work and you get caught in traffic. Instead of fuming over it you ask, “What does God want me to do right now?” Perhaps God would prompt you to pray for someone who needed help at that moment and your prayer could be the key to that situation.
If you would like a free reminder to ask this question, visit our website, LifeChangingSeminars.com and request a free fluorescent sticker with this question. Put it where you’ll see it often and be reminded to redeem the time.
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"For those of us who constantly strive to make the best use of our time, delays can be frustrating. Good time management can eliminate many unnecessary delays but in the end, despite our best efforts, God is the One in control of what delays will or won’t happen.
I recently read a collection of stories of people who narrowly escaped death on September 11, 2001 because of “unavoidable” delays. One man had to start his son in kindergarten that day. Another couldn’t get a taxi. One woman was late because her alarm clock didn’t go off on time. Another woman’s car wouldn’t start. And another had a child that was poking around that morning and making her late.
I would guess every one of these individuals became frustrated with whoever or whatever was causing their delay that day. I probably would have. But at the end of the day, hopefully they could realize God is ultimately in charge of our time. He has the final say in how we redeem the time.
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"I came across a little two line poem recently that gave a profound thought which could help some exhausted mothers of younger children. It read:
Cleaning the house while the kids are still growing,
Is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.
I like that little word picture because it captures what frustrates so many of us with young children. Even if we train them to be obedient, responsible and pick up after themselves, children are still children and part of being a child is making messes.
When we as parents put so much time and effort into creating a picture perfect house, that we no longer enjoy our children, we’ve taken on some misplaced priorities.
Let’s ask God today to give us the right focus. When the snow stops, there’ll be time for shoveling. Then we can get the sidewalk as clean as we like. But if still you have little ones at home, enjoy the snowfall. It will help you redeem the time.
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"Bill decided to water his garden. As he turned on the hose, he noticed the car needed washing. But as he started for the garage to get the car, the mailman came by. So he decided to go through the mail before washing the car.
He started to throw the junk mail away, but the trash was so full he decided to take it out first. Then he realized the mailbox was by the garbage so he decided to pay some bills and take them to the mail, along with the garbage, only to realize he had only one check left. When he went to his desk to get more, he noticed an open cola can he needed to put in the refrigerator. But on his way to the refrigerator he spotted flowers that needed watered. He was going to water them but decided he needed to check his email first.
At the end of the day, the garden still wasn’t watered, the trash wasn’t taken out, the car wasn’t washed, the bills weren’t paid, the flowers needed water, and the cola can was still sitting out. Remember, God honors those who remain focused long enough to redeem the time.
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