Months have flown by and now we’re halfway through the year! I hope your year has been challenging in the good way that makes us ever more like our Creator and Savior. As for myself, I have finished my portal fantasy, book 2 in the fantasy Before Series, and am halfway done with the first round of editing on my up and coming historical fiction novel Manifest Destiny, which will be followed by its sequel A House Divided, a novel about the Civil War homefront.
Reflection
Because we are officially in summer, I want to discuss redeeming the time with you this time.
Summertime is the time of travels, vacations, getting to those projects you couldn’t get to during the school year (if you’re in school). Or perhaps you’re like me and find yourself burnt out from the school year and in need of healing and a new schedule to start your new school year off strong. I’m speaking as a piano teacher; summer is my time to put more efforts into writing and editing, but this time around even coming to the computer to do so is a struggle.
I’m talking to you, the one with all the dreams and goals and seemingly no time or energy or effort to complete them. We’re in the same boat. And when we are, we can easily feel stuck and without any way out. This is currently how I feel. But, as a writer, I like to say that just because something is a certain way, that doesn’t mean it must stay that way. Whether you believe it or not, you are in control and you, through the strength given us by Christ, are able to break free and finally, fully, redeem the time.
Not to say breaking free is easy; it is not. But with God, all things are possible. And yes, before you think He wouldn’t care about your schedule, He does. Afterall, He tells us to redeem the time.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
God has given us this time, these abilities, these responsibilities. Failing in life isn’t ending up broke or not making it to a rung in the ladder or letting your family down, it’s failing to complete what God has given you to do. And our time to complete said work is limited; procrastination is our worst enemy.
“ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. ” James 4: 13-16
Not to say we can’t make plans, but we must take them to God, and take advantage of each day that we have.
I’m not saying I do this; I’d be a hypocrite to claim that. Recently I’ve struggled to redeem the time, and this is a challenge both for you and myself.
So how do we do this? Well, here are a few ideas:
~Make concrete priorities and goals
Write them down and put them where you will see them. If you have specific goals, add due dates.
~Observe your day
Although this is a pain, it would be worth it. Keep track of time spent throughout the day–writing it down–and find the times of day you waste the most time and how you’re wasting time.
~Create solutions
Once you know what’s holding you back–lack of sleep, scrolling, sleeping in, etc–try to come up with ways to create new habits that will replace the bad ones.
~Execute changes
Change one area at a time, and don’t add another area until the first is concrete and natural to you. This might take a week, two weeks, or a month or more. Keep track with a change journal by writing down whether or not you met the new goals each day. Get accountability; ask a friend or family member to check in with you at a set time.
~Celebrate
The small wins, the big wins, everything. Congratulate yourself for meeting your new solutions each day, and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t meet them. Change takes time.
~Pray
This is the greatest tool we have: prayer. God will give us what we need to carry out our purpose, even the will to make change.
If you’re in the same place as myself, don’t despair. Take steps to redeem your time and steward what God has given you. And put out effort to make that change; it won’t happen on its own. And remember you don’t need to make it on your own, either.
Final Thoughts
My hope is that this summer, you will see the changes you’ve wanted to see for so long. Remember to pray and spend time in God’s Word; this alone will change everything. It is a double-edged sword that pierces through and separates the good from evil and will shape you into the child of God you were made to be. I myself will be tackling this side of my life, and come back in September with updates and more encouragement. If you want to discuss this further, feel free to contact me in the comments or privately in the “Contact Us” tab.
Until next time.
God bless,
H.E. (Hailey) Willis
Mountain Plains Press 
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