Make Your Time Count

The "now" that existed when you began to read this sentence is gone forever! No wonder the Apostle Paul wrote, "Redeeming the time for the days are evil." The greatest commodity you have is time. It is here and then it's gone.

Whew! That moment sure flew by! As they all do as the clock ticks on. Counting time is not nearly as important as making time count. The important thing in life is not how old you are, but how you are old; not how much time has passed in your life, but how you have passed your time!

So what is the best use of your time? While you are making a living, don't forget to make a life. Everyone has the same amount of time in a day. Those that use it wisely are the one’s that experience the most success.

Here are some ways to make your time count:

Enjoy your life by enjoying the present moment.

You can't relive your past, it's gone forever. You can't live the future; it's not here yet. The only time you have is the present moment. God desires for you to enjoy life.

Find a dream and pursue it.

Discover what you really want out of life and go after it! Do what you were created to do. Someone once said: "The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."

Sincerely love people and treat them well.

Treat others with the respect and dignity they deserve as humans created in the image of God. Jesus taught that we are to love others as we love ourselves. In other words we are to treat others the same way we want to be treated.

Drop your regrets.

Live in the present, not in the past. Avoid self-tormenting language. "I should have . . ." "I could have . . ." "I wish I had . . ." "If only . . ." The Apostle Paul wrote, "Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press towards the prize for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Let the past go. There is nothing you can do to change it.

Learn to like yourself.

People who feel good about themselves are the most positive and productive people in the world. Jesus taught, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." If you don't have a healthy self-concept (love) of yourself you won't have one of others.

Give every project your total concentration and maximum effort.

King Solomon once said, "Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your might." High achievers understand the value and necessity of giving it your all. It's easy to become distracted from the project at hand, however, only those who are able to focus their concentration and effort on what they are doing at the moment will achieve their goals.

Spend quality time with your family.

There is no greater relationship in the world as important as that of you and your family. Don't give them the leftover time of your life. Give them your best.

Spend quality time with your heavenly Father.

Time spent reading the word, meditating the promises and praying to God, is never wasted time. The prophet Daniel wrote, "The people that know their God, shall be strong and do exploits." The word “know," means to know in an intimate way. The only way intimacy can be developed with God, or others, is to spend time with them.

Guard your associations.

Choose your friends wisely. Run with the wise. The Bible says, "Evil associations, corrupts good manners." Whether you want to admit it or not, you become like the people you hang with.

Watch out for time wasters.

As you pursue making your time count, there will be many obstacles and distractions that rise before you. Before involving yourself in any pursuit ask your self this question: "Is this in line with my overall purpose and mission in life?"