Reclaiming Control: Prioritizing Our Time Wisely

Devotional

Day 1: Defining the Culture of Our Lives

The culture of our lives is defined by what we do and what we allow to be done. This requires a deep self-examination to understand the current state of our personal and family lives. Only by acknowledging where we are can we begin to make meaningful changes. We often find ourselves caught up in the busyness of life, allowing external pressures to dictate our schedules and priorities. This can lead to a life that feels out of control and disconnected from our true values and purpose. By taking a step back and evaluating the culture we have created in our lives, we can begin to make intentional changes that align with our faith and values.

Ephesians 5:15-21 encourages us to live wisely and make the most of every opportunity. This means being intentional with our time and making decisions that align with God's will. Living life on purpose is crucial for spiritual fulfillment. By defining the culture of our lives, we can ensure that our actions and decisions reflect our commitment to God and our desire to live a life that honors Him. [51:51]

Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel your current culture does not align with your faith? How can you begin to make changes in that area today?

Day 2: Living Wisely and Redeeming Time

Ephesians 5:15-21 teaches us to live wisely and make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. This means being intentional with our time and making decisions that align with God's will. Living life on purpose is crucial for spiritual fulfillment. In a world filled with distractions and demands, it is easy to let time slip away without accomplishing what truly matters. By focusing on living wisely, we can ensure that our time is spent in ways that honor God and fulfill His purposes for our lives.

Living wisely involves setting priorities that reflect our faith and values. It means being mindful of how we spend our time and making conscious choices that align with God's will. This may require us to say no to certain activities or commitments that do not contribute to our spiritual growth or the well-being of our families. By redeeming the time, we can make the most of every opportunity to serve God and others, and to grow in our faith. [57:23]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: What is one way you can be more intentional with your time this week to ensure it aligns with God's will?

Day 3: Prioritizing Biblically

Our priorities should be in biblical order: God first, then our spouse, followed by our children, and finally our jobs or ministries. Mismanagement of these priorities can lead to chaos and dissatisfaction. Ensuring that our actions align with these priorities is essential for a balanced life. When our priorities are out of order, it can create stress and conflict in our relationships and hinder our spiritual growth. By putting God first and aligning our priorities with His will, we can experience greater peace and fulfillment in our lives.

Prioritizing biblically means making intentional choices about how we spend our time and energy. It involves setting boundaries and making sacrifices to ensure that our relationships with God, our spouse, and our children are nurtured and strengthened. By keeping our priorities in the right order, we can create a balanced and fulfilling life that honors God and reflects His love to those around us. [01:02:26]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: Are your current priorities in line with the biblical order? What changes can you make to ensure that God is first in your life?

Day 4: Effective Time Management

Proper time management involves planning and being purposeful with how we spend our time. If we don't plan our time, someone else will. This can lead to a feeling of lost years and unfulfilled potential. We must be proactive in managing our time to avoid this. Effective time management is not just about being busy, but about being productive and intentional with our time. It means setting goals, creating schedules, and making conscious choices about how we spend our time.

By managing our time effectively, we can ensure that we are using our time in ways that honor God and fulfill His purposes for our lives. This may involve setting aside time for prayer, Bible study, and serving others, as well as making time for rest and self-care. By being intentional with our time, we can avoid the stress and frustration that comes from feeling overwhelmed and out of control. [01:10:38]

Psalm 90:12 (ESV): "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can improve your time management? How can you create a plan to be more intentional with your time?

Day 5: Wise Delegation

Unwise delegation can lead to others controlling our schedules, which can cause stress and dissatisfaction. We must take responsibility for our time and make conscious decisions about how we delegate tasks and commitments. This ensures that we remain in control of our lives. Wise delegation involves knowing our limits and recognizing when we need help. It means being intentional about who we delegate tasks to and ensuring that they are capable and trustworthy.

By delegating wisely, we can free up time and energy to focus on the things that matter most. This may involve delegating tasks at work, at home, or in ministry, and being clear about our expectations and boundaries. By taking responsibility for our time and making conscious decisions about how we delegate, we can create a more balanced and fulfilling life. [01:14:20]

Exodus 18:17-18 (ESV): "Moses' father-in-law said to him, 'What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.'"

Reflection: Are there tasks or commitments in your life that you need to delegate? How can you ensure that you are delegating wisely and maintaining control of your schedule?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the theme of "Taking Back Control of Our Schedules," a crucial aspect of our lives that often feels overwhelming. We began by acknowledging that culture has shifted from being front-yard people, engaging with our community, to becoming backyard people, often isolating ourselves. This shift reflects how we sometimes try to escape the world God placed us in. The core of our discussion was about defining the culture of our lives by what we do and what we allow to be done. This means taking a hard look at our personal and family lives and asking, "What is the culture of my world now?"

We explored Ephesians 5:15-21, where Paul advises us to live wisely, redeeming the time because the days are evil. This passage emphasizes the importance of making the most of every opportunity and living life on purpose. We discussed how our priorities, time management, and delegation play significant roles in how we control our schedules. If our lives feel out of control, it's often because we have unwise priorities, poor time management, or we delegate our time to others unwisely.

We also touched on the importance of having our priorities in biblical order: God first, then our spouse, followed by our children, and finally our jobs or ministries. Mismanagement of these priorities can lead to chaos and dissatisfaction. We need to be intentional about how we spend our time, ensuring that our actions align with our priorities.

Finally, we concluded with a call to action: to reclaim and redeem the hours we've been given, to live for the Lord, and to be there for our families. We also took communion, reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus and the importance of living a life that honors Him.

###

Key Takeaways

1. examination to understand the current state of our personal and family lives. Only by acknowledging where we are can we begin to make meaningful changes. [51:51]
2. Living Wisely and Redeeming Time: Ephesians 5:15-21 teaches us to live wisely and make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. This means being intentional with our time and making decisions that align with God's will. Living life on purpose is crucial for spiritual fulfillment.

3. Prioritizing Biblically: Our priorities should be in biblical order: God first, then our spouse, followed by our children, and finally our jobs or ministries. Mismanagement of these priorities can lead to chaos and dissatisfaction. Ensuring that our actions align with these priorities is essential for a balanced life.

4. Effective Time Management: Proper time management involves planning and being purposeful with how we spend our time. If we don't plan our time, someone else will. This can lead to a feeling of lost years and unfulfilled potential. We must be proactive in managing our time to avoid this.

5. Wise Delegation: Unwise delegation can lead to others controlling our schedules, which can cause stress and dissatisfaction. We must take responsibility for our time and make conscious decisions about how we delegate tasks and commitments. This ensures that we remain in control of our lives.

### [51:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[48:38] - Introduction and Personal Anecdote
[50:07] - Series Overview: Porch Swings and Garage Bands
[51:51] - Defining the Culture of Our Lives
[54:02] - Ephesians 5:15-21: Living Wisely
[57:23] - Redeeming the Time
[60:40] - Causes of Bad Decisions
[62:26] - Prioritizing Biblically
[70:38] - Effective Time Management
[74:20] - Wise Delegation
[79:01] - Reclaiming Your Schedule
[81:34] - Prayer and Invitation to Accept Jesus
[85:24] - Communion
[92:07] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 5:15-21, what are some specific actions Paul advises believers to take in order to live wisely?
In the sermon, what cultural shift did the pastor mention that reflects our tendency to isolate ourselves? ([50:40])
What are the three causes of bad decisions as outlined in the sermon? ([01:00:40])
How does the pastor suggest we should prioritize our lives according to biblical principles? ([01:02:26])

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to "redeem the time" as mentioned in Ephesians 5:16, and how can this be applied in our daily lives?
How does the cultural shift from being "front-yard people" to "backyard people" affect our engagement with the community and our spiritual lives? ([50:40])
Why is it important to have our priorities in biblical order, and what are the potential consequences of mismanaging these priorities? ([01:02:26])
How can unwise delegation lead to stress and dissatisfaction, and what steps can we take to ensure we delegate wisely? ([01:14:20])

Application Questions

Reflect on your current schedule. Are there activities or commitments that do not align with your priorities? How can you adjust your schedule to better reflect your biblical priorities? ([01:02:26])
Think about a recent decision you made that led to stress or dissatisfaction. Was this decision influenced by unwise priorities, poor time management, or unwise delegation? How can you avoid making similar decisions in the future? ([01:00:40])
Identify one area in your life where you feel out of control. What practical steps can you take to regain control and live more intentionally? ([57:23])
How can you ensure that your relationship with God remains your top priority amidst the busyness of life? What specific actions can you take this week to strengthen this relationship? ([01:02:26])
Consider your family dynamics. Are there ways in which you can better prioritize your spouse and children according to biblical principles? What changes can you make to improve these relationships? ([01:03:03])
Reflect on how you currently manage your time. Are there any habits or routines that need to change to make better use of your time? What is one specific change you can implement this week? ([01:10:38])
Think about a task or responsibility you have delegated to someone else. Was this delegation wise? If not, how can you take back control and ensure that your time is managed effectively? ([01:14:20])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We define the culture of our lives by what we do and what we allow to be done. I'm going to say it again. Make sure you get it. We. Say we. I didn't write it this way, but just for fun, say me. Say I. I was going to get there. I define the culture of my life by what I do or what I allow to be done. We've got to get that." [51:51](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Live life on purpose. Don't be dumb. Make good decisions. You only get one chance to live this moment. So make this moment mean something." [58:45](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You alone are in control of your life. We may not like that truth because if we are unhappy and we recognize the truth that only we are in control of us, then we have to recognize that the things that are making us unhappy are either happening because we are choosing them or because we are choosing to allow them." [59:53](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "If you don't have some part of your life that you would call ministry, I promise you, you'll never be happy because you're created in the image of God. And you're here for a reason. He has something he wants you to do. And until you learn how to serve him with some aspect of your life, you're going to be miserable." [01:04:18](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Every one of us tomorrow is going to get 24 hours. How many of you recognize? Will you at least agree with me that you get 24 hours tomorrow? Now, some of you are going to go to bed tomorrow night thinking, Man, that was a great day. I got a lot accomplished and I had a lot of fun. And some of you are going to go to bed tomorrow night thinking, Man, that was a miserable day. I was busy all day long. I didn't do a single thing for myself. And I'm just worn out." [01:13:20](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "If we are choosing bad decisions, it's either because of one of three things. I call these are three, the cause of bad decisions, three things, A, B, and C. I'll put them up there. Then I'm going to break them down. Number one, unwise priorities. Number two, unwise management. And number three, unwise delegation." [01:00:40](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If you don't know what your big rocks are, you'll never feel fulfilled. Because if you start with the sand in the water, let me say it again. If you start with the stuff that's the most fun, but maybe not what you're called to do, you'll never get what you're called to do done because there's no room for it in your jar." [01:07:08](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You have to make sure that you're being purposeful with that hour and a half. Does that make sense? You have to plan it. And that's how, if you don't do that, that's how you find yourself. Where did the last 10 years of my life go? You weren't living them on purpose. You were just coasting through. You were just surviving." [01:10:38](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You have to make sure your priorities are in biblical order. You have to make sure that you're managing the time you have wisely. And you have to make sure that you're not allowing anyone else, especially someone who doesn't have God's best at heart for you, to control your calendar. Or your checkbook for that matter. Because you're in charge." [01:19:01](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I believe that when we're living on purpose for your purpose fulfilling your will that you're going to allow us to walk in a joy that makes no sense when we allow you control of our hours God I believe you bless those hours. I pray for wisdom and priorities I pray for wisdom and management I pray for wisdom and delegation I pray for wisdom in every aspect of our lives and I'm grateful Lord for every opportunity you give us to represent you because all glory belongs to you." [01:32:39](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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