“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” – Psalm 32:8

By: Melissa Bell

Summer is winding down, and fall plans are beginning to roll in. If I’m not careful, my calendar will be full of events and obligations that will leave me burning the candle at both ends. Now is the perfect time to set my intentions for the next few months, so I have a clear picture of how I need to spend my time and what are the calendar boundaries that I need to set.

Maybe you would like to do the same. Below are the steps I take for finding my focus and creating more life balance.

1) To begin, do a little soul searching to see how and where God wants you to serve in your present stage of life. I find journaling to be extremely helpful in this process. Take your time as this is a vital step in knowing who you are and where you should spend your time and efforts. 

Currently, my focus is on being a godly wife, present in motherhood, and working in ministry. Your areas may be different depending on your circumstances and family dynamics.

2) Once you have determined your 3-4 main focuses, write down all of the events and obligations that are vying for your time. Often, we do not realize just how many things we are trying to juggle until we see them all on paper. Consider whether these items align with the places God has you serving at this time.

3) Now for the hard part. It is time to release all of the obligations and activities that do not align with your current life mission. Sometimes we have to let go of something good to make room for something better.

The freedom this release provides is life giving. When you have the foundation of where and how you are to spend your time, it makes these decisions so much easier. If the task or request at hand does not fit into your target areas, it’s an easy no.

4) If you’re like me, your plate is still VERY FULL after this exercise, and you are still left wondering exactly how you are going to get everything done. Luckily, God is a God of details. Ask Him to show you if there is anything else you need to remove from your schedule and to highlight the areas where you can spend your time more wisely.

Next week, I am sharing six ways to maximize your time and the “Million Dollar” question I ask myself every night.

Happy planning!

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