[15] Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, [16]
making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
I recently had my 67th birthday. Since it was my birthday, I reflected on Psalms 90:12 and Ephesians 5:15-16. How can I best use my time to behold God and become like Him? As mentors, how do we help our mentees manage their time wisely? How do we evaluate our own hearts and use of time?
Priorities
What are our priorities? Does God truly have first place or does our comfort or self indulgence? Do we present our day(s) to the Lord and ask Him to order it and show us the priorities He has for us today, this week, this month or year? Does He get time first thing in your days or a harried prayer as you rush out the door? For myself with chronic illness and ADHD, I have to be very intentional and count the cost. I do best if I prayerfully ask God to direct my “to do” lists to keep on focus or task in spite of my ADHD. Because I have severe reactions to chemicals and fragrances, I need to decide if this activity has eternal value and also if I am the one God wants to use at this time or not. I have to incorporate recovery days at home after each outing. Because of this, I have cut shopping out of my life and order online for delivery or drive up pick up so I can do things like Women’s Bible Study, small group, and attend church on Sundays. I like when I can minister from the safety of my chemical free/fragrance free home like host a small group that Joel leads, a Barnabas team, and mentor two younger women in my home. We ask people who meet in our home to refrain from any fragrances to bless me. If my activities do not invest in relationships, bless others or involve ministry I try to either avoid them or find another way to meet needs. I could do none of these things as well as I do without my loving, helpful, and supportive husband Joel who prays with and for me and offers me so much godly wisdom.
Divine interruptions
Have a plan to redeem your time and live wisely but be willing to flex when God brings divine interruptions into our lives. Some are wonderful interruptions like visiting relatives or friends from out of town, or a daughter who needs you to watch your grandkids unexpectedly, or other events we would rather skip like colds, flu, injuries, surgeries, a relative dying, becoming a caretaker long term, and helping with end of life care. We have to trust God in His sovereign plan and seek His will in the midst of the unplanned to wisely steward our time and energy in the midst of these interruptions.
Our life is a vapor
While to our finite, sinful minds time seems long, in view of eternity, our lives are just a vapor or minute blip compared to eternity. Time cannot be saved like money. We all have 24 hours a day. The question is how are we using it? Are we using our time so it most glorifies God? Do we approach whatever God has set before us, regardless if it’s good or bad, with an attitude of serving and glorifying God or are we doing it begrudgingly? I have mentored for over 25 years and I have often heard young moms say they have no time to do anything for God. They may not with a new baby get an hour long quiet time, but they can get sprinkles of time in word and prayer. They can keep a Bible next to where you nurse or Bible App on their phone and read a few verses. Pray as you rock them to sleep. Sing songs with rich spiritual truths to your baby and yourself. They have the great opportunity to instill God’s Word in their children’s hearts that hopefully bears fruit. My daughter with five kids, 4 with a rare interstitial lung disease requiring feeding tubes and oxygen 24/7 in infant and toddler years, kept her Bible and devotional in her bathroom during those years.
Psalm 90:10
[10] The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Turning 67 was sobering to me in light of Psalm 90:10. I will be 70 in three years and 80 in 13. What can I/we do to further Christ’s kingdom in our remaining years? Ponder and prayerfully consider how we can invest in future generations in our families and in those we mentor. Please share any other thoughts you have in redeeming time in a Christ like manner.
Joyful Refuge 
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