“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Do you ever feel like there are not enough hours in the day? Like, no matter what you do, there’s never enough time to get it all done? Some nights I go to bed feeling harried and exhausted. I wonder where the hours went and why I accomplished so little. I pray and ask God’s forgiveness for not spending more time in His Word or in prayer.
When I asked God why, He helped me review my day. I started my morning listening to the news and scrolling through my phone instead of opening my Bible. I rushed to work with a quick prayer for safety and traffic mercies without spending time in God’s presence. After a full day of teaching and writing, I ate dinner and collapsed on the couch until my eyelids drooped. By the time I went to bed, three items on my to-do list were still unchecked.
As I lay in bed, feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, I had to admit that how I spent my time suggested I valued the things of this world more than God. This realization struck me hard and led me to repentance quickly.
Friend, the truth is that we make time for what we value. The choices we make with our time reveal what occupies our hearts. We may tell ourselves we are too busy, yet how we spend our hours shows what we truly value.
Idols can take many forms: our phones, social media, friends, jobs, the approval of others, relationships, success, wealth, or even our identity. The problem comes when we turn to anything other than God for happiness, help, or peace. Relying on earthly things instead of fully trusting God can never truly satisfy and will always leave us empty.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provided a key to prioritizing our time and addressing our idols. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33, NIV).
Jesus was teaching the crowd not to worry about their daily needs, such as food and clothing. He instructed them to prioritize God’s kingdom and His righteousness, assuring them that God would provide for their necessities.
I believe we can apply this principle about our worries to how we manage our time. When we prioritize seeking God through prayer, worship, and meditating on God’s Word, He gives us wisdom to discern what’s truly important and helps us accomplish it.
Here are a few practical ways we can begin to demolish our idols, especially when it comes to how we use our time:
- Take an honest inventory. Notice where our time goes. Becoming aware of our daily rhythms is the first step toward surrendering our time to God.
- Confess and repent. Invite God to reveal the ways we have placed other things above Him.
- Prioritize our relationship with Jesus. Make a plan to cultivate a pure and personal connection with Him.
- Put safeguards in place. Stay in bed a few extra minutes to pray before starting the day. Keep the TV off and set our phones aside so our attention is focused on God first.
- Pray consistently throughout the day. Short prayers can help us stay connected to Him amidst busyness.
- End the day with reflection and gratitude. Take a moment to notice God’s goodness and give thanks for His provision, guidance, and presence.
Friend, when we intentionally invite God into the rhythm of our days, our hearts begin to shift. Time spent with Him becomes more than a task; it becomes the wellspring from which everything else flows.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You are the source of everything we truly need. Help us to seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness first in our daily lives. Teach us to recognize the idols that steal our time, attention, and peace. Give us the wisdom to surrender them to You. May our hours reflect what we value most—our love for You. Guide our thoughts, our actions, and our hearts so that each day we grow closer to You. Fill us with Your presence. And help us rest in Your provision, trusting that You will lead us in all we need to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
