The attached devotion was in my inbox today. I am struggling with time management right now. How to prioritize my time. How to figure out how to make the most of the time I have each day. I find that making lists helps me. I HAVE to have a routine. Otherwise, I get distracted. And, if I am honest, when the seemingly overwhelming tasks that lie before me seem more than I can do, I go do something else.

I need to be a better steward of my time. I have known this for quite a while. I need to make more of an effort. I know that I feel better about myself and how I am caring for my family when I do. So, again, the question today is…Why not do it now?

March 18, 2008

Today is Tomorrow
By Melissa Taylor

“Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow’—when you now have it with you.” Proverbs 3:28 (NIV)

Devotion:
Many times, I don’t want to do, or think, about what needs to be done today, so I put it off until tomorrow. Can you relate? I’ve noticed that often tomorrow gets pushed back daily and then when I finally do whatever it is I’ve been putting off, I end up stressed out, in a rush, in a bad mood, or convinced that I don’t need to do that task at all. Here are a few of my “I’ll think about that tomorrow” things:”I’ll start my diet…tomorrow.””I’ll start my quiet time…tomorrow.””I’ll clean my house…tomorrow.””I’ll read to my daughter…tomorrow.””I’ll call my friend…tomorrow.””I’ll go have lunch with my son…tomorrow.””I’ll take brownies to my neighbor…tomorrow.””I’ll spend some quality time with my husband…tomorrow””I’ll __________________ tomorrow.” (fill in the blank)God gave us 24 hours in each day. How I use those precious hours is up to me. Although I may not be able to complete every task assigned to me in a single day, to continue to put off important things that need doing is not being a good steward of the time and tasks God has assigned me.

For a while in my life, I was so bad about putting my goals and tasks off until another day that I got behind in everything. My life needed changing. I wanted to change, but my choices didn’t reflect that. I was choosing to sleep instead of get up and have quiet time. I was choosing burgers and fries over a healthy soup and salad. I was choosing to play instead of do the laundry. I was watching TV instead of exercising. I was spending time with friends but not my husband. Day after day, I had good intentions to make necessary changes in my life. Day after day, I put them off until tomorrow. Eventually, I felt like a failure.

One day while I was feeling discouraged about putting off things until tomorrow, I was reminded of a lesson I learned a few years ago, after we planned a trip to Walt Disney World. At the time my daughter, Hayley Grace, was 3 years-old. We booked the trip months before we actually went, and I made the mistake of telling Haley Grace about it. Each day she’d ask, “Are we going to Disney World today?”

I would say, “No Hayley Grace, we aren’t going for 3 more months.” Then “2 more months …1 more month …3 weeks, 2 weeks, 1 week”. The night before we were leaving, I announced the news she’d been waiting for. “Hayley Grace, we are going to Disney World TOMORROW!” She was so excited!! The next morning she came running into my room before I was out of bed and the first words from her mouth were, “Mommy, Mommy, is today tomorrow?” I proudly replied, “Yes! Today is tomorrow!”
I’ve decided that I am going to make today my tomorrow by moving into action. Instead of wasting precious time, I want to look at what I’ve been putting off until tomorrow and put it in action today. The Lord has great plans for my life. I would hate to miss them because I was not embracing the changes He has placed on my heart.

Will you join me? What changes, goals, or intentions have you been putting off until tomorrow? Take a look at your current “to-do” list and make it a “to-day” list. Not only will you have a sense of accomplishment, but you’ll also make a difference today. Today is tomorrow!
Dear Lord, It never seems like there are enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do. Help me to discern the important from the unimportant and set my priorities in a way that is pleasing to you. I pray for daily discipline and motivation to get started today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
A Woman’s Secret to a Balanced Life by Sharon Jaynes and Lysa TerKeurst

The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized by Karen Ehman

Visit Melissa’s Blog

Application Steps:
Before bedtime tonight, make a list of changes or things that you’ve been putting off but want to get done. Place a number beside each one, ranking them in the order that you believe God would choose them. Pray and decide how you can implement the changes into your life. Call a friend and tell her about it so you’ll have someone to hold you accountable.

Reflections:
What is keeping me from doing what needs to be done today?

Power Verses:
Proverbs 3:28, “Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow’-when you now have it with you.” (NIV)

Proverbs 27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (NIV)

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)
© 2008 by Melissa Taylor. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
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Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org