"In his book, “A Minute of Margin,” Richard Swenson compares life to a transmission, in that we need four gears to best manage our time.
The first gear is park. It’s for battery charging, prayer, and Scripture reading. It’s for when the Lord says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
The second is low gear. This is when we slow down to be with other people. It’s when your child asks a question about God or wants to show you their latest accomplishment.
The third gear is drive. This is where we spend most of our work time. It’s productive time that gives us a feeling of accomplishment when we stay in this gear through the day.
Finally, there are times we need overdrive. Every job, ministry, or family role has seasons of special responsibility that demand our all for a time. But, we don’t stay there too long or we ruin the machine.
Remember, adapting to use all four gears will redeem the time.
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"One of the deepest Christian writers of modern times, A.W. Tozer, was called “a 20th century prophet.” Since his death in 1963, his writings, which often exposed the shallowness of the modern church, have led countless believers into a deeper walk with God.
What then would a wise man like Tozer have to say about our use of time? In his book, “Following Hard After God,” Tozer writes:
“Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention, but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and the servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we in this day know God imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all.”
Words of wisdom, from a man who redeemed the time.
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"Have you ever seen a tombstone with dollar signs on it? No. And you probably never will, because when people leave this world they do not want to be remembered for how much wealth they accumulated, but for what they have done for others.
That’s really a simple truth we all recognize, yet the difficult part is translating that perspective into what my schedule will consist of today. There’s nothing wrong with having a well paying job and earning a good living. In fact, if you work hard enough and smart enough, in time you’ll almost certainly accumulate more wealth than your basic needs require.
At that point we’re faced with a choice of continuing to accumulate more and more, or beginning to give our time and resources to spreading the Gospel and helping others.
If you don’t want your statement of net worth or your balance sheet to be part of your obituary, then stop and consider how you can spend the rest of today redeeming the time.
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"“What can we do to take this “times 10” next year?” That’s the question to ask when you have a successful experience that seems especially blessed of the Lord.
Quite often God grants success in an area where He has a special mission He wants us to fulfill. It may be a business endeavor that produces unexpected financial returns or an outreach ministry that brings great numbers to Christ. Whatever it is, success in one project can often be replicated to bring more success.
As you consider what activities you will focus on over the next 12 months, consider what activities have been most successful in the past year. Then ask, “How can we take this times ten next year?” “Is there a way we can duplicate what God has blessed in the past, in another setting or with another group?” The answer to that question may give insight into where you should spend your time.
Remember, taking your success “times 10” is a good way to redeem the time.
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