Pay careful attention, then to how you walk-not as unwise people but as wise-making the most of the time, because the days are evil.  So don’t be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is.  And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:  speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.    Ephesians 5:15-21  HCSB

I start each day with my daily devotional and in prayer.  After that I try to walk myself and then my dogs, weather permitting.  I do those things first, because as the day progresses, I don’t know what I will face.  I start out with a list of things that need to be done and hope to finish the list by the end of the day.  A prayer I pray often is for God to guard my time.  I know when I pray this, God will work everything out and I will at least accomplish those things He needs me to do.  I have learned that my priority is doing His will.

The days are evil, the devil puts all kinds of distractions in our way as we go through each day. The devil also puts people in our way to try to destroy our witness. We must remember to focus on God and His will and now allow these distractions to get in our way.

Proverbs 16:3 tells us to, Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be achieved.   It’s easy to prioritize when you just put God’s will and His work first.  When I worked in probation and parole, there were usually three stacks on my desk.  There was the “do not leave the office until this is completed” or urgent stack.   There was the “it can wait for a few days” stack and there was the “not yet urgent”, stack which could wait until it had to be moved up into one of the other stacks.  I used to go in and work on Sunday when the urgent stack grew tall,  but that made for a disastrous Monday.  It took a while, but I realized that if I “kept the Sabbath holy”  (Exodus 20:8), God would give me a smooth Monday and I could at least complete the “do not leave until completed” stack.

John 9:4 tells us, We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day.  Night is coming when no one can work.    We can plan to do this and that, but in all honesty we have no idea what tomorrow holds.  It is said that man plans and God laughs.  Only God knows what is in store for us from one day or even one minute to the next.   So today, I encourage you not to put off anything God is calling you to do.  Make whatever God is calling you to do your priority.  I have learned when I do this, He takes care of everything else for me and makes sure I have time to get it done (Matthew 6:33).

If you are doing God’s will and things are not going just as you had hoped, know that God has good plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11).  Know that we must not give up, but we must persevere.  Galatians 6:9 tells us that we must not tire of doing good for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Romans 8:28 tells us All good things work for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. If you love the Lord wholeheartedly and are doing what He has called you to do, you can be assured even when the going gets rough, He is working all things out for your good.

If you are coming to the end of your day wondering where the time went and feeling as though you accomplished nothing, then give it over to God.  Trust Him with your time.  Make His will your priority.  You will be amazed at what you can accomplish through Him.

Have a great day!