Help…I’m Caught in the Time Trap!

February 4, 2017

I have no time!

Sound familiar? It should because all of us have our time hijacked. It’s a “Time Trap” that rises each day with the sun. It’s a given. And it’s dangerous when you consider that it may determine whether or not we spend time with God each day.

This is not about business or work time management. It’s about making time for the Lord of heaven and earth.

“If you continue in My Word, then you are my disciples indeed. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

How do we get snared by the Time Trap?

Blame human nature…it’s OUR fault!

We start each day with a full “tank” of time which begins to draw down immediately. With plenty of time in the beginning, most of us quickly turn to doing our “favorite” things:

What we ENJOY.
What comes EASY.
What fuels our PASSION.

Focusing on our favorite activities is natural and actually a very good thing. It’s the propulsion for productivity and fuel for purpose in our life. But of course the time tank keeps running down until its inevitable scarcity takes over and we take a step closer to missing our daily appointment with God.

Then, right on cue, the day’s urgent tasks pay us a visit. We scramble to meet them, but if the time tank is too low, we have already reduced our ability to tackle the urgent tasks and increased the chance of ever getting to our appointment with God.

We’re in the Time Trap.

HOW CAN I ESCAPE?

Here are the three steps I take to avoid the Time Trap:

FIND LEEWAY.
ACTIVATE LEEWAY.
MAINTAIN LEEWAY.

STEP 1: FIND LEEWAY

I am not a big fan of using conventional time management to make sure I spend time with God each day. Carving out time for God by merely managing our schedule is impossible because there is always something that will hijack our time! Count on it.

Instead of time management, I find time for God by focusing on my spiritual goals. I never get wrapped up in my favorite activities or the day’s urgency without thinking about my spiritual goals. I create hijack-proof time first, when the tank is full.

STEP 2: ACTIVATE LEEWAY

Finding leeway is the first step to avoid the Time Trap. But it’s not enough by itself. That leeway must be activated.

Activating leeway for God is achieved by regulating the time tank’s pressure to make sure our favorite activities and each day’s urgency don’t suck it dry. Regulating the time tank EARLY guarantees that we complete what is imperative, what MUST be done. For believers, that is spending time with God every day.

STEP 3: MAINTAIN LEEWAY

This is where conventional time management can be used to make sure the leeway lasts over time. Below is my 4-Part Decision Filter I use for each and every circumstance that pops up to protect the leeway we have created.