Time to Stop?!?

Okay, I admit it. I am busy. Youth minister, grad student (16 hours this semester) and husband all pull at my time. Homework piles up and papers need to be written. But so does Wednesday night's lesson. And who could forget spending time with Suzi? It seems like I spend my time running around like a slave to the work that I have all around me. What is worse is that I really do not allow myself time to re-create. Instead I run until I collapse and then veg-out staring at television or hearing the radio without really paying any attention to either. But I keep telling myself that if I do it just a little longer (till graduation in December) then I will have time. Time to manage myself better, time to re-create in quality recreation, and time to stop.

But that is the trick isn't it? How I handle my time now is how I will handle my time then. Running until I collapse will happen then as well, it just may focus in different directions instead of school. No doubt it will continue to be 11:30 PM before I get around to exercising, Midnight before I think about going to bed (though I've thought about sleeping all day). Shortcuts will be tempting and stress will mount just as high. Unless I learn to change how I handle the tasks I've been given. But how?

I think God tells us to slow down. We should meditate on his Word, not speed through it (Psalm 119:15, 97-104). We should have a Sabbath and regenerate our resources with a focus on God (Exodus 20:8-11). Our minds must be renewed and we must become different from the world (Romans 12:2). God is not pleased with my desire to rush through life. It is hard, but I am learning to slow down. When I do I can focus on balance in my life. God wants me to do my best and to honor him with my work, but I can not honor him if I am to busy to live like he intended. The path I am learning is one of planning, patience and preparation. God wants to see me learn to handle all three.

Do you feel that God offers advice on time management? How do you get through your day? Can you make it without a cup of coffee? Do you spend time in genuine recreation or do you just veg-out and crash? How do you make it through the day?