Woman to Woman: Guarding Our Time

Seek the Lord and His strength;

seek His face always.

1 Chronicles 16:11 CSB

When my kids were little and we were constantly running around between sports, music lessons, and church activities, to say life was busy was a vast understatement. At any given time we'd have three kids playing a sport, a kid or two in music lessons, and as staff pastors at our church we were consumed with preparations and ministry. On top of all that, my husband works a very physical -and mental- job and I was homeschooling and taking care of the house. Life was going ninety miles an hour.

However, we always made sure to have one night a week at home with nothing to do. We'd have dinner together at the table -not a rushed event to get to the next thing. We'd sit down and watch TV together or play a game. And we'd get to bed on time, sometimes even early. What night it was might change depending on the season, but we guarded that night closely.

Now that my kids are grown and we are empty nesters, we still guard our time closely. My husband and I make sure we always have at least one night a week that is just for us. We have dinner together at home, relax together, and get to bed on time or early. When it comes to our time, we are open handed to God, but close handed to the world. We do this for our marriage, our family, our mental health, and our rest.

Recently my husband and I woke up on a Saturday morning and got ready for our day, of course him finishing before me. Once I was ready, he said, "Let's go to the fair." So we promptly left for the fair. After spending a couple hours there, then visiting his brother and running an errand, we came home, had some lunch and took a nap. Then our afternoon was spent prepping things for church the next day and picking up the house. Around early evening it dawned on me that I never had my quiet time that morning. I just got up and went full speed ahead. All good things. All wonderful time spent. But none of it spent with God.

I got to thinking how closely I protect time with my husband and family and my rest, but am I protecting my time with God in the same way? I sure didn't that day.

Our time is important, it is valuable. However, God is the Author of time. When we neglect to spend time with the very One who created it, are we spending it wisely? We need to be careful to protect our time with God. Intentionally scheduling time to spend in the Word and prayer each day and guarding that time.