Ordering Your Time

Introduction: The Psalmist’s Prayer - Psalm 90:12

Psalm 90:12 NIV

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Key #1 - Do things at the appropriate time - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 NIV

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Clarifying The Urgent and the Important

The Important has significant Value

The Urgent has a limited time restriction

Zone 1 is both important and urgent

Zone 2 is important but not urgent

Zone 3 is not important but is urgent

Zone 4 is neither important or urgent

Key # 2 - Establish Clear Priorities - Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 NIV

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

In God’s plan there are only two priorities:

God’s Kingdom

Everything Else

How do we determine priorities?

Time? This is a false comparison (Based on time, our highest priority would be sleep)

Choices? This is also false (Usually hypothetical like, “Would you choose time with God or time with your family?” Both are important.

What does our life say about our values?

Jesus had just established the values of the kingdom - Matthew 5:3-10

Matthew 5:3–10 NIV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Values of the Kingdom:

Humility

Dependence

Meekness

Spiritual hunger

Mercy

Purity

Peacemaking

Fearless

Key # 3 Prioritizing God’s will - Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We must begin with a mindset of personal sacrifice

We must then renew our mind to think differently than the culture

Most of what we know, we learned from the culture around us

Some of this must be challenged to follow God’s will

We must seek out God’s will over our own choices

Testing for God’s will

Test # 1 - Is it Scriptural?

Test # 2 - Is God opening doors?

Test # 3 - Is God confirming this choice?

Approving God’s will

It is essential that we commit to following God’s will even before we know what His will is!