Sadhu Sundar Singh

              In general, whenever I have a decent amount of down time I hope to not waste it on stupid things – things like facebook or spending too much time getting ready or watching pointless tv shows – but rather spend that time being productive, even if it is just a little productive...because I know that pleases the Lord much more so than being lazy or being a busybody.  I’m usually pretty good about that, but sometimes I find myself getting caught up in it.  I guess it comes down to something Sundar said: “We ought to make the best possible use of God-given opportunities and should not waste our precious time by neglect or carelessness.  Many people say: there is plenty of time to do this or that; don’t worry.  But they do not realize that if they do not make good use of this short time, the habit formed now will be so ingrained that when more time is given to us, this habit will become our second nature and we shall waste that time also.”  I do not want to form a habit of lazy procrastination!  It’s about practicing good time management with the little time I have now, because trust me, I only have a little bit of down time!
                So how do I begin a good habit of managing my time well and using it effectively?  I think I should just start asking myself questions like “what can I do to please the Lord with the down time I have for the next hour?”  Kind of an unusual thing to start doing, but I like the idea of not using every waking moment I have to please myself and do what I want.  Because that’s just ridiculous.  But that’s what most of us do anyway…
                More specifically, when it comes to schoolwork I wish I managed my time so much more wisely!  It’s not like I don’t know how, I just don’t do it – again, because I want to do what I want to do on my own time.  I often think that maybe I should start on an assignment (at least start on it) the day I receive it, instead of thinking “there is plenty of time to do this or that; don’t worry.”  I feel like it would help me get a head start, and when it comes down to the due date I won’t be as rushed, won’t stay up as late, etc. – a much more effective use of my time.
                The problem with all this is being motivated to actually do all these things.  It’s a discipline, for sure.  It’s really a spiritual discipline – denying yourself and what you want to do in order to do what pleases the Lord…being a good steward of the time God gives you on this earth.  And I suppose that’s where we are to look for everything we need – the Lord!  He will be the source of my motivation and willpower to actually implement some of these things.  Because ultimately I’m doing it all for him anyway…Col. 3:23.  Interesting way to think about my time…