AUDREY DICKEY MINISTRIES

Glory International Center

​"A Center for God's Presence"

UTILIZE TIME MANAGEMENT AND MAINTAIN BALANCE

Dr. Audrey L. Dickey, Los Angeles, CA

Shhh, I’ll tell you a secret but only if you promise you will share it with everyone. The way to get most things done is for you to have the ability to prioritize. But this time set your priorities and trust God with your time.  After all He created time and set it in place so I would think that He knew a little something about it. Seek Him and what He would have you to accomplish and work on that first because what is important to Him should be what is most important to you. The key to accomplishing the other things on your agenda is when you place His request first the rest of your day will fall in line and you should accomplish much. He will give you the strength, energy, ideas, strategy, the anointing to finish, remove distractions, send you help, equipment, and supplies that will be necessary to complete any given work. Whatever it takes, if it is His assignment or project to you He will make the provision to take care of it. Your part is to stay in balance, focused and sensitive to His Spirit. He said we could do all things in Christ Who empowers us… (Phil 4:13).

Ephesians 5:15-16 basically says that we are to “live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people)” and in that v.16 speaks about us redeeming our time (making the very most of it) knowing that the days are evil and a transition will eventually take place, however, in the meantime we should be investing our time in the Kingdom of God as opposed to distracting busywork. Wisdom redeems our time and connects us with opportunities we may have forfeited by being unwise. God is the only One who can give us the wisdom and teach us to plan our lives and use our time in such a way that we will reach our full potential. (Psalms 90:12).

In order to successfully achieve operating according to God’s timing, order and to have a godly balanced life, there are certain spiritual and natural things that need to be considered to simplify and accomplish our assignments and/or goals.

When working on special projects God gave me the idea to rise up earlier than my usual time. So I started each morning at 2:00 a.m. and not only was I refreshed and ready to start my morning prayer before starting my project, but before I could rise up for the morning He had given me instructions, many times an order of priority to follow for working on a current project or certain materials to review so that I could get the work done speedily. Plus I had hours of quiet uninterrupted time. In addition, I knew if I were going to rise up earlier I also needed to rest properly. We must keep all things in balance and use wisdom.  I found this advice of rising earlier and keeping a balanced lifestyle as much as possible to be true for all projects He places on my heart to do. He will give us the strategy and if we cooperate we will be successful, Luke 10:40-42.

Your vision could entail owning a business, work, career, having a wonderful and prosperous family or using your gifts and talents to the fullest as directed through open doors of opportunity. The Lord told all of us to occupy till He comes, therefore, we are to utilize the gifts and talents God gave us while we continue to seek Him for further instructions and directions. The key is to use them wisely and keep everything in order and balance. Try not to hurry so much as you are going about your day because this could hinder your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and block your hearing from God.

We are to be productive and fruitful not just busy all the time. Spinning our wheels wasting precious time and really accomplishing nothing significant that really needs to be done. Doing works that do not accomplish anything or bring any type of progress is a robber of time, time that you cannot get back. Time is a resource that needs to be managed. Do not follow the world’s system where there will never be enough time but there will be a lot of hurrying, stress and guilt for not doing everything you think you need to do. Being guided daily by the Holy Spirit will cause you to make the right connections and to accomplish what is really necessary for that day. I have found that keeping a weekly schedule that list each day with certain items to be done works well as a guideline so time won’t be wasted, a routine is set up and good habits can be formed. Since I use it as a guideline, flexibility is always available to do things God is asking of me; for emergencies that may come up; or to be able to attend or participate in special events. What it does is it keeps things flowing in my home so certain things will be done and not forgotten and control of work hours will not be out of balance since I have a tendency to work long hours. The Word says, “When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine” (John 15:8).  He further says, “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you” (John 15:16). He is saying when you ask in the name of Jesus you are going before God the Father with all that is in Jesus not in you but in Him that will determine the answer to your prayer.

I Peter 5:8 speaks about being well balanced and being cautious because we have an enemy and robber of time, energy, health, finances, and relationships seeking to devour us. When we are out of balance we are caught off guard more easily, we make more errors and usually because we are too tired to deal with things. My weekly schedule helps to keep my time balanced. When I designate time with God in the morning; with family; work; rest and relaxation; overseeing my home; study; socializing; shopping and so forth it keeps me in balance and also helps to prevent burn out. I have never been a people pleaser but I enjoy giving and helping others. As I have come into the Word of God I do all unto Him and I have found that He meets the family and people’s needs through me that He wants to reach in a well balanced way. We all need to say no to people sometimes if that is what it will take to keep us in balance.

I would like to add that even though I designate early morning time to my Heavenly Father I commune with Him on and off all day everyday because He is a part of my life (my life source) and I enjoy my personal relationship with Jesus.

For my daily agenda I initially review my monthly calendar which is located in my organizer from there I see my weekly schedule and my project to do list. After which I usually check the in box on my desk. Once I review each source I transfer the information for the day onto a “3x5” ruled index card as a reminder. I review this card periodically during the day as well as take it with me if I am in the field. This avoids my having to carry my organizer and run the risk of misplacing it. This is an idea that God gave to me years ago and it works very well for me. On this card I list things to accomplish by priority on the left side. On the right side, I list phone calls to make that day and on the bottom right encouraging words from a daily devotional. On the reverse side of the card I have reminders to family, staff or others. Note: If I have an extended list for either side I will use a 5x8 sheet of paper in addition to the card. By doing this I do not have to refer to my organizer or weekly schedule during the day nor try to remember what it is that I need to accomplish and run the risk of forgetting something that is very important. This system helps my day run smoother and more efficiently.

Some people work two and three jobs to make ends meet which can have tragic results. Not only will it rob you of time with God, your family and any type of social life, rest, relaxation and peace but it will eventually take its toll on your health and possibly ruin your marriage and so forth. I find the best way is to pray about employment, work where you have a peace about it knowing that God is in it and then pray and trust God for the provisions not covered in your pay check. It also helps to realize that our pay checks are not designed for us to “live on” but to provide a portion as a seed in the Kingdom of God and allow God to multiply a return on our seed. In the Kingdom of God the return on your seed could branch out into areas where there is a need that money alone cannot solve.
 

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Christian Love Fellowship, Inc.