Redeeming the Time in Homemaking

Examining God’s Word

“See then that ye walk circumspectly,
not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time,
because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise,
 but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Ephesians 5:15-17

Evaluating Our Garden

Our homes, the places where we spend time and savor life can also be the places where we slack off, waste energy, or lose direction, our fight, and all track of time. We can also fail to walk circumspectly and with Godly wisdom. That is when our homes are most vulnerable to the evils of today and why redeeming the time is most important.

Experiencing Seasons

It blows my mind how much time I’ve wasted at home, even with good intentions and desires to be energetic and efficient. I buy cute planners, make plans, and start each New Year off great.

Then, I get busy, and get interrupted, distracted, sick, off-schedule, and lazy or get bad news and get disheartened and soon give up on progressing. The clock keeps ticking and, before I know it, a day has gone by, a week has slipped away, a month has passed, and I’m facing the end of another year with no improvements to my home or home-life.

I’m tired of collecting failed attempts at making my house “home sweet home.”

This year, I’m intentionally approaching my home responsibilities with a fresh focus. I’m taking slower, more deliberate steps towards my desired fruitfulness.

I don’t want to just do. I want to thrive in a peaceful, Godly, simplified, clean, and efficient home where we can rest, get rejuvenated, enjoy life, and grow as individuals and as a couple. I want to be wiser about protecting my heart and home against the evil of today.

Embracing Solace

We don’t need more time. We need to use the time we have more wisely. We lack solace because of our over-commitments and self-inflicted obligations.

Enjoying Simplicity

Our homes are where we live the lives God has given us to protect and nurture. It’s our choice whether we make it simple or complicated.

Employing Solutions

If we choose to make our homes better, we have to eliminate the evil and replace it with good. We have to invest time wisely. That will require applying Godly wisdom and instruction to our daily routines. (See James 1)

I want change and am willing to make changes. So, I’ve started the New Year with a heartfelt desire to encourage a stronger faith and fruitfulness in my home by:

• Seeking God’s Word for guidance on which tasks to do
• Determining which obligations should be eliminated
• Making a task list for the day, week, month, and year
• Prioritizing the tasks (Everything can’t be most important)
• Setting a budget to accomplish each task
• Assigning a day and time to tasks in a paper or digital planner
• Committing to keep a workable schedule for tasks
• Allowing “some” flexibility, while remembering that too much “flexibility” is just procrastination
• Striving not to quit on tasks when interruptions come

Our Creator set life up to be governed by seasons and time, and His Word shows us how to overcome evil with good, by redeeming the time we’ve been allotted.  It’s up to us to redeem each minute wisely and to do all the good we can in and through our homes.

Bring It Home

What are some ways you’d like to redeem your time in your home this year?

Praying for you as we grow together…
Smiles, BRC