When We Waste Time: Honoring the Lord with the Moments We’re Given

Welcome to the Thankful Homemaker podcast, a podcast to be an encouragement and blessing to each other in the role God has called us to as women.

I'm so thankful you stopped by, so grab yourself a coffee or tea and sit with me a bit as we talk about how God's Word impacts every area of our lives as Christian women. Hello, friend. I'm Marci Farrell from Thankful homemaker, and I'm so glad to be with you today. We're chatting today about something I think all of us struggle with from time to time, at least I do, and especially as Christian homemakers, and that's how we use our time.

So today we're on episode 174, and I've simply titled it When We Waste Time. But before we get started, I just want to take a moment to share something really special with you. It's one of my favorite events, and it's the G3 National Conference. It happens every other year now. So when I'm recording this, it's happening this year from September 11th through the 13th, and this is 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia.

This year's theme is faith, and there's going to be over 25 faithful expositors of God's Word, people like Paul Washer, Jill Beakey, H.B. Charles Jr., Daryl Harrison, Burke Parsons, Martha Peace, and so many more. They're all going to be opening up God's Word with clarity and conviction. So if you heard me talk about G3 before, you know how much I cherish the sound teaching, the Christ-centered worship, and the sweet fellowship. So I also have a special offer just for my listeners.

If you use the code G3Homemaker, you'll save 20% off your registration.

Again, that code is G3Homemaker. I'll put it in the show notes so it'll be there for you. And you can find all the details at g3min.org backslash faith. So just the letter G, the number three, M-I-N.org backslash faith. I'm so bad at saying those websites. Sorry. But I'd obviously love to see you there. My husband and I will be there. It is just such an encouraging time.

So let's dig into today's episode, because if you're anything like me, you've had those days where you just look back and you wonder, where did all the time go, right? Maybe you sat down to do something really simple, like pay a bill on your computer, and before you knew it, an hour passed. Maybe you got pulled into social media, or you might have even ended up watching a YouTube video, and it could have even been something really encouraging or edifying, right?

But the reality is, there were other things on your list that needed to get done that prioritized over that, and they didn't get done. And then comes that yucky feeling. Yes, I said yucky because that's exactly how I feel when I know I didn't use my time well. And I've had to ask myself, what am I doing with the time the Lord has given me? Am I being intentional with it, or am I just letting it slip away? John Blanchard said, to waste time is to squander a gift from God.

That word squander, it's really not a word I use often, really probably at all, but it paints such a clear picture of what's happening when I let precious time slip through my fingers. So to squander, it means to waste it foolishly or carelessly. And I know I've done that with my time more often than I'd like to admit. Time is a gift from the Lord, and I want to be a good steward of that gift, not just letting it pass by without thought or intention.

So I'm just going to give you an example of how this plays out for me. One of many, this is just one. I was spending time updating old blog posts like this one. And actually, that's why you're getting a podcast episode. It was a very old one. I think I put this blog post together in 2015 and I'm like, you know, this could use a little help and I think it would be a great podcast. So that's why you're getting this. But I have other ones that just need some cleanup.

I'll sit down and I'll think, I'll just work on this for 30 minutes or an hour, but before I know it, more than an hour had passed or two hours had passed. I'll be honest, I'm really terrible at things like SEO and keywords and metadata. I don't even know what that stuff means and I don't know what I'm doing when the little blog post is asking me to fill that out. I find myself getting pulled in basically trying to figure out what I'm doing.

I may be researching, so I'm trying to learn a bit more about it. But as I'm doing this, time is slipping away. And meanwhile, you know what? The laundry, it's still sitting in the dryer. And I think at this point, I could have probably hit the fluff cycle three times. And the dishwasher still hasn't been emptied. And honestly, it's just easier. Because for me, this is my bent.

It feels more enjoyable to geek out on the blog stuff than to fold laundry or tend to the other tasks that are waiting for me around the house. Okay, again, that's just one example from my life. There are many more. And I know for each of us, it can look different. It can be obviously things like Facebook or email or phone calls or scrolling through Instagram or reading a book or watching a show. And none of these things, as I'm saying them, are wrong in and of themselves, right?

We need rest and refreshment. Those are good things. But the problem comes when these things distract us from the work that the Lord has entrusted to us for that day. And the issue for me is often one of self-discipline. It's so much easier to do what I want to do rather than what I need to do. And let's be honest, our culture, it really doesn't help us much. We're surrounded by those messages of treat yourself and instant gratification is everywhere.

And I can buy into that lie more often than I'd like to admit.

I have not perfected this and I never will this side of heaven, but I've found some habits that have helped me stay grounded in truth and become more intentional with my time. Our good Lord, he is so patient with me, and I want to grow in stewarding the time he's entrusted to me, because the time I'm giving, it's not really mine. It belongs to him, and I want to use it well.

Ephesians 5, 15-16 reminds us, Look carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of time because the days are evil. And that phrase, make the best use of time, it calls us to live with intentionality, not perfection. Our goal is not to check every box, but to be faithful with what's in front of us. And honestly, when I've wasted time, I just feel off track. I feel like the day got away from me and I'm left trying to play catch up in my heart and in my home.

But when I've been diligent in the day and I've gotten to those important things, I say the important things, but the things that were the priority on my list, then I enjoy those moments of rest so much more, whether it's reading a book, watching a movie, or catching up on Facebook. So I'm going to share some simple habits that help me make the most of my days, not perfectly, but prayerfully. And I know we are all in different seasons.

Some days are full of little ones underfoot, right? And some of us are in quieter seasons. Some of us are caring for aging parents or we're working outside the home. What faithfulness looks like may change, but the Lord sees every small effort to honor him with the time that we've been given.

So here's some simple ways that we can make the most of our days. My number one here is it's not gonna surprise any of you that are regular listeners. Spend time with the Lord first thing in the morning. We can come up with a zillion excuses why we don't do this. And I know it's not a lot in the morning, but really there's no better way to start your day than sitting at the feet of Jesus.

I love this quote from Charles Spurgeon. He said, it's a good rule never to look into the face of man in the morning till you have looked into the face of God. Our hearts need his word and his presence before we pour ourselves out for our families. He strengthens us and he gives us wisdom we need for the day ahead. So take the time during that time with the Lord to pray over your to-do list for the day. Ask the Lord to help you make the best use of your time, to be diligent, to be productive.

Again, we want to be good stewards of the time he's gifted us. My second one, because this is true for me, is to tackle the hardest task first. We all have those ugh, I don't know, kind of tasks on our list, just the ones maybe we're not really looking forward to. So if you find yourself procrastinating, try taking care of that one item you're dreading right away. For me, it can be things like maybe a phone call that's really time-consuming that I know I'm gonna be on hold forever.

Maybe it's an awkward one or one that I need to deal with some things, or maybe it's a challenging email I need to respond to. But once it's done, the rest of the day for me, it just feels a bit lighter. So just try this simple thing. Look at your list for the day and circle that one thing that you've been putting off. Ask the Lord for strength. to just do that one thing. And when that task is done, there's just this peace and momentum that follows after it.

I can attest to that. And if it helps, give yourself a small reward, like have a cup of coffee, light a candle, take a five minute break, put some lovely music on in the background of your home. Simple steps like that, without being too rigid, they can really keep us moving forward with intention. Number three, this is a big one, finish what you start, right? As keepers of our homes, it's easy to hop from one task to another and leave a trail of half-finished jobs behind us.

I am the queen of distraction. I can start a little laundry, forget to switch it. I go respond to an email. I start dinner. Then I'm dealing with the laundry in the evening, which is really not my favorite time to deal with it. We're all going to get distracted at times. Interruptions are going to happen, but so often we may not be interrupted, but we just may be distracted. And there are times we just need to stick to the one task until it's finished.

When you can try and focus on that one thing at a time, that is so good. If you start to clean the kitchen, finish it before moving to the next room. If you're writing out your grocery list, don't pause to scroll Instagram. Sometimes just jotting your tasks on a simple note card or a sticky note and crossing them off one by one, it just brings a small but real sense of accomplishment and it keeps you from feeling scattered.

Number four, take the time to get organized. Okay, this is a long-term goal. This is not an overnight fix, right? But the more, and I've talked about this before, and if I remember, on the main show notes, because some of this podcast will be on there, at least the main points you could read part of this. And I'll try to make sure to link some of these areas that I'm talking about, these points with other podcasts or blog posts that I have that pertain.

If you wanna dig a little deeper so you can check it out at the main show notes. And that's always at my blog at thankfulhomemaker.com. If you click on the menu and you hit podcast, you'll find the show notes all there. So, but the reality is the more organized we are, The less time and money we waste, we seem to forget this, right? Because meal planning alone can save hours and money. Just think about things like start with one small area of your home and work your way through it slowly.

You don't have to do it all at once. Pick one drawer, one cabinet, one routine to improve. It's okay to take your time. I like to remind myself that slow and steady is still progress. And sometimes it's not just about tidying a space. It's about figuring out a simple system that works for you. Maybe it's how you plan your day or organize your family's meals or stay on top of the laundry. But taking the time to put those little routines in place, they can save so much energy later on.

Being organized, it really does free up time and energy. When we are more ordered in our home, this is a big one. We're better able to focus on the people in our home and not just the projects. Okay, number five. This is a good one to end here with. I think I just have five points on this. Learn to deny yourself. This one's a hard one, isn't it, sometimes? But it's also central to what it means to follow Jesus.

Self-denial isn't just about giving up the big things. It's about these daily quiet choices that maybe no one else sees but the Lord. It's when I want to check my email before opening God's word, I deny myself. When I'd rather hit the snooze than sit with the Lord in prayer, I deny myself. When scrolling social media feels easier than getting up to serve my family, I need to deny myself.

Jesus said in Luke 9, 23, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. That verse isn't just a call to sacrifice, but it's a call to true discipleship. And self-denial runs deeper than just giving up certain comforts. It's about laying down the desires and ambitions and control that so often rule our hearts. It means surrendering not just things, but the very essence of self and trusting every part of our lives to Jesus.

And when Jesus calls up to take up our cross daily, he's not speaking of this occasional inconvenience. It's a daily willingness to die to self, to endure hardship or suffering or rejection for his sake, even when it's hard, even when it costs us something. Jesus isn't calling for half-hearted followers. This is a call to total commitment, a surrender of our comfort, our plans, our personal goals. He asks us to follow him fully, holding nothing back.

Because our world, it tells it to prioritize self, right? Self-care, self-expression, self-fulfillment. But Jesus calls us to something better, not easier, but better. He calls us to lose our lives for his sake in order to find them. And that was from Luke 9, 24. And here's the mystery, right? True joy, it's found on the other side of self-denial. This is not about legalism. It's about faithfulness. It's not about earning God's love. It's about responding to it.

When I start to see self-denial not as a punishment, but as a path to freedom in Christ, my heart begins to change. The choices don't always get easier, but they become more meaningful because I know that when I lay something down for the sake of Christ, I'm not losing, I'm gaining. So my friend, we need to be women who deny ourselves.

So what do we do? What do we do when we've wasted time, okay? So my friend, if you're listening and you're thinking, okay, Marcy, I've already wasted half my day today. All right, let me encourage you. Don't waste any more time beating yourself up. Repent, realign, move forward, right? We can't go back, but we can begin again right where we are. God's mercies truly are new every morning.

Lamentations 3, 22 to 23, one of, I'm sure all of our favorites reminds us, The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. So we're getting near the end of the podcast. I want to encourage you, take a look at your day.

What's the next thing on your to-do list? Maybe you need to switch the laundry or read a story with your little one, or maybe you just need to sit quietly with your Bible and be reminded of the Lord's love for you in Christ. I want to close with these words from John MacArthur, and they just tie this all together so beautifully. He says, We have only the time allotted by God, and none of us knows when it will run out.

Every Christian life runs by his divine timetable and against his divine clock. We do not know how long he will hold open the door of a given opportunity or of our entire time of service. Be careful how you walk, Paul counsels, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most use of your time because the days are evil. God gives us many things without limit, right? His love, his grace, and many others, but his gift of time is strictly measured. End quote there.

And that quote, for me, it brings us right back to Ephesians 5, 15 to 16, which is kind of where we started and what we've been talking about in the Walking in Wisdom series. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of time because the days are evil. We're reminded here again that wisdom isn't just knowing the right thing. It's living it out moment by moment in the strength of the Lord.

And one of the clearest ways that wisdom shows up in our daily lives is how we use our time. Again, we don't know how long we'll have the opportunity to love and serve in our homes, to disciple our children, to care for our aging parents, or to encourage a friend in Christ. Every day is a gift. And like we talked about in the Wisdom series, wisdom walks hand in hand with the fruit of the Spirit. It shows up in how we live and how we serve, and yes, even how we steward the hours of our day.

So instead of rushing through our to-do list or beating ourselves up when we feel behind, Let's ask the Lord to help us to be women who walk wisely. Let's seek Him first, trust His timing, and be faithful in the little things, knowing that our time belongs to Him. So my friend, wherever you are in this season, whether it's a season of busy days or quieter ones, remember the Lord sees your heart. He knows your frame.

He delights in your faithfulness, even in the smallest, what you might think are the smallest of tasks.

Before we close, I just want to leave you with a couple of questions to ponder as you think about how you're using the time the Lord has given you. And these are ones I'm pondering too. Is there an area where I tend to lose time most easily? And how might I invite the Lord into that space this week? And what's one small habit I could start today to steward my time more intentionally? And before we close, I really, I want to invite you to join my free library for blog subscribers.

You can find it at thankfulhomemaker.com backslash free dash library. I'll link to that in the show notes. But when you sign up, you don't only get access to resources like daily time with the Lord helps, cleaning help, just menu planning. There's a lot of other homemaking printables. But in addition, you also receive my monthly newsletter. And that's where I just put together a little note of encouragement from me to you. There's a short devotional in it.

I'll have links to articles I've loved, books I'm currently reading, and sometimes a few favorite finds from my home that I think you'll enjoy. The link will be in the show notes. You don't have to remember that, that thankfulhomemaker.com backslash free dash library.

But thank you, friend, for joining me today. I do pray this episode is an encouragement to you to just process more and think about how you spend your time and even thinking about how are you honoring the Lord and how you spend your days because we wanna be women who are faithful with the time we've been given.

Again, not perfectly, but always by his grace because Jesus truly is enough always. I'm so grateful for your time. Again, the full show notes are at my blog at myhomeonthewebthankfulhomemaker.com. When you get there, if you click on the podcast, it's right on the homepage there. You'll find the show notes all underneath there. If you've been encouraged by your time here, I'd be so grateful if you take just a moment to leave a rating or review wherever you listen in.

It helps other women find the podcast and to prayerfully maybe be encouraged in their walk with the Lord too. That's always my hope. I do pray, my dear friend, that you have a very blessed week. Music.