Three Ways to Help You Slow Down

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

There is a world phenomenon happening—time is speeding up every day.

Not so, sorry! There truly are 24 hours in every day—no more, no less. What is happening then? There are just more demands put on us every single day, and there is no way of getting away from those demands. There is also a bombardment of information coming at us, all at the click of our fingertips.

Let’s take a look at these three lessons that will provide some practical ways to find more time for you, your family, and God.

Lesson One: Stop, Drop, and Pray

You need to make sure whatever you have planned in your schedule is your job to do. You do this by asking God to help you make a list of your personal priorities.

Don’t pick up another person’s God-given priority.

Ask God where you are just being busy and not producing fruit for your labor.

Stop trying to be a perfectionist. Do things well, as you do everything for the glory of God.

Stop saying you are busy—say, “I am being productive.” Changing your words is a large part of changing your life.

I will always do everything to the best of my ability because I represent Christ with my life, but I no longer worry if I am doing everything perfectly. I have asked God for His help every day, and He has promised me to be there and give me wisdom.

Lesson Two: If You Don’t Tell Your Time Where to Go, It Will Go Away

If I asked you what the five most important roles are that you play in your life, what would they be?

Mine is: child of God, wife, mother/grandmother, businesswoman, minister of the message—a pure heart after God. If I am not prioritizing all my life activities around these five roles, I am allowing my time to go where it does not belong. In every activity ask yourself, “Does this activity belong in one of my five major life roles?”

Lesson Three: Procrastination Versus Preparation

If you truly want to slow down, it all comes down to preparation. Prepare your daily schedule knowing that you only have so many hours in a day. Make sure nothing important gets left out.

Look after yourself. Sleep, rest, exercise, fun, and relationships are so important, because if there isn’t a healthy, strong you, nothing else will get done.

Next, organize your space so you can find what you need at the tip of your fingers. The things you can’t readily find are energy leaks. Think of a time when you couldn’t find your keys—or even worse, your cell phone! If you are at all like me, I become antsy and even angry.

Time is the most valuable commodity on earth. Once you spend it, you can never get it back.