THE COST OF WASTED TIME.
🎉 Icebreaker: Mark the Minute
Ask everyone to close their eyes. Start a 1 minute timer. Then ask everyone to quietly raise their hand when they think that one minute has passed.
It’s funny how different our sense of time can be. Sometimes what feels long to us may actually be short, and what feels short may be more significant than we realize.
🗓️ Announcements:
Find more information about these events on our app or events page.
Creative Internship
Thursday, September 11th - 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Legacy Marriage Enrichment Class
Sunday, September 21st - 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Cost: $50 per couple
MAN CAMP
Thursday, October 9th - Saturday, October 11th
Whispering Winds Camp 17606 Harrison Park Road Julian, CA
3 Ways To Make Time Count.
1. Manage Time.
Managing time is about being ready. In Matthew 25, the wise virgins were prepared when the bridegroom came, but the foolish ones missed out because they were distracted. The truth is, many of us live with “someday” thinking—someday I’ll get closer to God, someday I’ll serve, someday I’ll slow down for what matters most. But “someday” is not promised.
When we manage our time well, we don’t let distractions or excuses rob us of encounters with God. Instead, we set rhythms that make space for His presence and His will.
Reflection Questions:
What excuses or distractions have been keeping me from the things of God?
Where can I create better boundaries to live ready instead of always feeling rushed or unprepared?
Am I filling my days with what matters most, or what matters now?
2. Maximize Time.
Psalm 90:12 teaches us to “number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” None of us knows how much time we truly have, but we all know it’s limited. The temptation is to wait for the “perfect” time before we step into faith, take risks, or walk in obedience. But Ecclesiastes 11:4 reminds us that if we wait for ideal conditions, we’ll never sow and never reap.
To maximize time means to see every day, every moment, as an opportunity to walk in God’s purpose. The opportunity in front of you today—whether it’s to encourage someone, pursue growth, or say yes to what God is asking—may not come again. Maximizing time is about seizing those opportunities, not postponing them.
Reflection Question:
What step of faith have I been postponing because I’ve been waiting for the “perfect” moment?
Where in my life do I need to shift from procrastination to action?
How can I start my days with a mindset that sees time as a blessing to be maximized, not wasted?
3. Multiply Time.
Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25 shows us that time, like talent, is something we can invest. The faithful servants multiplied what they had been given, but the unfaithful servant buried his portion and wasted it. Multiplying time isn’t about squeezing more hours into your day—it’s about investing your time in people and things that carry impact beyond you.
When you invest your time into mentoring, encouraging, serving, or building God’s Kingdom, the fruit continues to grow long after the moment has passed. That’s multiplication. Jesus Himself said in John 17:4, “I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave Me to do.” That’s the goal—not just to live long, but to live well by multiplying our impact for God.
Reflection Question:
Am I simply maintaining my schedule, or am I multiplying my impact?
Who can I pour into this week so the work of God in me doesn’t stop with me?
What can I say “no” to, so that I can say a stronger “yes” to Kingdom impact?
THIS WEEK’S DECLARATION: "“This week, I declare that my time is a gift from God, and I will steward it well. I will not waste my days on distractions, excuses, or things that do not align with my purpose. Instead, I will manage my time with wisdom and preparation, maximize every opportunity God places before me, and multiply my impact by investing in people, purpose, and His Kingdom. I refuse to live casually or carelessly. I choose to live ready, to walk wisely, and to finish the work God has entrusted to me. My time will tell a story of faith, fruitfulness, and eternal impact. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
