How to Make the Most of Your Time
By Rick Warren

“We are each responsible for our own conduct” (Galatians 6:5 NLT).

All of us get the same amount of time every week: 168 hours. The difference between people who make their lives count and those who don’t is how they manage their time.

God wants to use your life in amazing ways. He put you on this planet to use you for his purposes. But most people don’t get to experience this because they don’t make time for God in their schedule. They’re so busy with their agenda, they’ve never learned how to manage their time. If you want to be used by God, you must manage your time well.

The Bible says in Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (NIV).Notice that time management must be taught. Most of us are not naturally good at it. We naturally waste time. We naturally fritter it away on things that don’t matter.

We must learn how to use our time wisely. Over the next few days, we’re going to look at some basic principles to help you start getting a better grasp on your calendar so you can make the most of your time.

To make the most of your time, you must assume responsibility for your time.

That’s the first step. This means you stop complaining about how much you’ve got to get done and how much you’re not getting done and how much you’re overworked and over-stressed, and you just start making some smart choices. Stop complaining, and start choosing.

Your choices control your calendar a lot more than your circumstances do. You may not like what you’re doing, but you’re choosing to be busy. You can’t change your circumstances until you start changing your choices. The Bible says in Galatians 6:5, “We are each responsible for our own conduct” (NLT).

There are three types of people in the world: accusers, excusers, and choosers.

Accusers are people who go around blaming everybody else for their problems. They’re constantly accusing other people of causing the unhappiness in their lives.

Excusers don’t blame others. They just make up excuses for why they don’t do more with their lives and why they’re not happy. They tell themselves rational lies that sound good—and then they believe those lies. When excusers want to procrastinate, any excuse will do.

You’re not going to make it in life if you spend your whole life excusing yourself or accusing everybody else.

God wants you to be a chooser. He wants you to accept responsibility for your life. You are as close to God as you want to be. You are as spiritually mature as you want to be. You are as happy as you want to be. You are as disciplined as you want to be. You are as busy as you want to be. It’s your choice!

Stop complaining about how much work you’ve got to do and how tired you are all the time and how other people are affecting your schedule. Start accepting responsibility for your time, and make smart choices that will make the most of the time you’ve been given.

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Daily Hope 2018 Prayer Journal

Learn how to pray prayers that expect answers!

Do you sometimes struggle with how to talk and listen to God? The good news is he longs to hear your prayers, whether it’s a bold cry or a whisper. And your words don’t need to be perfect. He delights in you when you come before him—in thanksgiving and petition.

Jesus says in John 15:7 . . .

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

So the key to praying with hope and expectation is abiding in Christ—and we want to help you do that with the all-new Daily Hope Prayer Journal. Your faith will be strengthened and you will be blessed as you look back on your written prayers and see how God has faithfully answered them.

It has a soft cork-like cover on the outside, while inside you’ll find . . .

• Bible verses and suggestions to help you pray for specific people and situations
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.