Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Have you ever noticed how time seems to work differently depending on the situation? Five minutes waiting for the Wi-Fi to reconnect feels like an eternity. But five minutes hitting the snooze button? Gone before you can even remember why you set the alarm in the first place. Time is slippery like that. It keeps on spinning, spinning, spinning into the future. (Most Baby Boomers are humming a tune right now)

Moses put it like this in Psalm 90:12: "Teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." Translation: life is short, so use it well.

The Bible calls us to "redeem the time" (Ephesians 5:16)—not by finding the perfect planner or mastering time-blocking, but by learning wisdom through prayer. Here are three ways prayer helps us use our time wisely.

1. Make Prayer a Priority

Prayer isn't a side hobby like fishing or fantasy football. It's foundational. David Brainerd, a missionary to Native Americans in the 1700s, prayed so faithfully, even while he was sick, that God used him to spark a revival. Daniel prayed three times a day, even when it was illegal.

Parents, your kids need more than car rides and packed lunches. They need you to lift them before God. Prayer shows up when we make it a priority, not an afterthought.

2. Let Prayer Shape Your Choices

I once heard someone complain, "I pray all the time, but God never answers." Turns out she never opened her Bible, so really, she was leaving God voicemails and never checking for replies.

Prayer isn't just talking; it's listening. And God's Word is where He speaks most clearly. Personally, I've tried every time-management hack—apps, planners, color-coding my calendar like it was a kindergarten art project. But nothing orders my day like opening my Bible first, sitting still, and letting God's wisdom guide me.

3. Rely on God Through Prayer

Prayer means living like God is your only option—because He is. A preacher once described "fourth-quarter Christians." In football, when the last quarter begins, players hold up four fingers: "This is it, no holding back." That's the posture of prayer—open hands, empty palms, total dependence on God to carry the day.

When we live that way, prayer isn't just part of our schedule; it's the fuel for everything else.

Time is a gift, but it's also short—and it won't renew itself. You can't manage it into submission, but you can redeem it through prayer. So, here's the challenge:

• Start each day with 10 minutes of prayer before you touch your phone.
• Read a short passage of Scripture alongside your prayer so you're listening as much as talking.
• At least once, pray like it's your "fourth quarter"—fully dependent, no backup plan, all in.
• When we make prayer a priority, let it shape our choices, and rely on God through it, we discover that time isn't slipping away—it's being redeemed.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

James Weekly Verse Challenge:

Want to go beyond just reading God's Word? Want to take action? As we study the Book of James in the "Faith That Works" message series, we encourage you to do more than read the theme verse. Each week, we challenge you to memorize the verse and put it into action. Beginning Monday, October 6, we will text the weekly verse on a downloadable wallpaper on Monday mornings. Download the mobile wallpaper to your phone and memorize the weekly verse as you strive to live it daily. 

Text "JAMES" to 601-299-4493 to receive each week's theme verse.