The sun rises, the alarm goes off, and we hit the floor running to meet another day filled with “things to do”. We often focus on our day-to-day tasks, the “stuff” that needs to get done, and the goals we are working toward. As Christians, we strive to be a virtuous woman, a woman after God’s own heart.
In the last several years there has been a concentration on determining which “stuff” is more important than other “stuff”. Making lists, prioritizing events, deciding who, or what, needs attention because they are more important than another…all of this has become what we like to call “time management“.
Deciding how to spend your time is a worthy endeavor. Psalms 39:4 tells us, “”Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.” Time used wisely is “well spent” when we recognize how short life is on earth.
Time management is a good thing. The difficulty, as we try to separate the urgent from the important, is knowing the reason we determine something is important. Why it is really important, or better yet, why do we think it is really important? How can we be a wise woman with time?
It is here that we come in line with the heart of God in all we do. Proverbs 16:2 gets right to the point: “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.” As we sift through all the “TO DOs” how often do we determine the reason we are doing whatever it is we are doing? Not how it looks on the surface to others (and ourselves), but the deep hearted reason for choosing to spend our day as we do.
14 questions to ask yourself as a virtuous woman after God’s own heart–
–Am I trying to please another person?
–Am I trying to appear a responsible citizen, parent, Christian, daughter, wife, etc.?
–Am I trying to get someone to like me?
–Am I trying to keep up with someone?
–Am I trying to be like someone else?
–Am I trying to win God’s favor in order to get something from God?
–Am I doing this because I was raised to believe this is the right thing as a virtuous woman?
–Am I doing this because I don’t know what else to do?
–Am I doing this because I feel pressured into doing it?
–Am I doing this because another Christian, friend, parent, spouse, etc. said I should?
–Am I doing this out of guilt, revenge, pride, selfishness, anger, rebellion, etc.?
–Am I doing this because I want fame, money, or recognition?
–Am I doing this out of love (either for myself or others)?
–Am I doing this to please the God I love?
When it comes to disciplines of a Godly woman, we can “do” the same thing yet with different motives. God is ultimately interested in the motives. While you are making your plans, setting your goals, and writing out your “TO DO” list, first ask yourself why? Why am I doing this? When life is over and time on earth is gone our motives will be the thing that brings God’s praise. The virtuous woman is a woman after God’s own heart…a woman who spends her time wisely.
1 Corinthians 4:5, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.”
Sources;
NIV Bilble
Laura Wrede’s Woman Bible Study Series- Ultimate Christian Time management devotional for women after God’s own heart
