Time-Sensitive Projects

My son thinks he has all the time in the world to accomplish his daily chores. I’m constantly reminding him not to waste daylight hours on indoor projects: “Get off the computer and go walk the dog, take the trash out, mow the grass…before it gets dark.” Like most young people, he doesn’t realize that time is a limited commodity that needs to be managed carefully.

I’m most productive in the mornings. By late afternoon my energy starts waning. I can still manage to do physical tasks, but my brain starts shutting down by 7 pm. So I’ve learned to cram as much as I can into the small window of time between 6 am to 11 am—my peak efficiency time slot.  

We all have tasks that are time-sensitive, light-sensitive—that are best done while we have the mental capacity, health, and vigor to accomplish them.

“We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.” (John 9:3-5 MSG)

God has different tasks planned for each season of our lives. He shines his spotlight on specific areas—calling our attention to projects that He wants us to focus on. These are time-sensitive gigs. If we put off these assignments until we feel like doing them—until we feel ready to do them—often the peak time has passed and we no longer have the physical or mental prowess to do these tasks well.

There is a common saying among parents of young children: Delayed obedience is still disobedience. 

When we delay in obeying God’s instructions—when we put off doing what He has placed in our hearts, when we procrastinate and make excuses—we are essentially disobeying God.