“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV

 Time. It happens whether you plan for it or not! Do you have a plan for how you spend your time? Part of the value of knowing your purpose is that having a definite sense of what you were created for gives you the clarity you need to make purposeful decisions about how you spend your time. When you know why God put you on Planet Earth, you know what to say YES to and what to say no to. Know yourself. Learn your purpose. Know your purpose. Make purposeful decisions.

 When I keep my purpose in mind, I feel empowered to set goals and arrange my schedule to move toward those prayerfully created goals. Having a clear sense of purpose and calling has enabled me to create time management systems for myself that keep me motivated and moving forward. Sometimes it seems like the forward motion is by mere inches, but all forward motion is to be celebrated, right? If the ball crosses the goal line by inches, it still counts as a touchdown!

 What is so important about knowing your purpose? Knowing your purpose helps you know how to spend your time and how you spend your time helps you to fulfill your purpose.

 Knowing your purpose becomes your time compass.  When you have articulated your reason for being in a clear purpose statement you have a guide to direct your time. Your tasks will change throughout the seasons of your life, but your purpose won’t. Knowing what you were made for helps narrow your options and make better choices. You’ll know which direction is north because your compass is pointing toward your purpose.

I’ll be honest. There are times when I have felt like I started out heading north and then lost my way. Keyword: FELT. Even at the times when it seemed to me that I was wandering when I looked back, I realized that I had made progress. Every forward inch matters. Encourage yourself with that.

Knowing your purpose gives you a reason to give a good no.  Let’s face it, most of us struggle to say no. We don’t want to miss an opportunity, or we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. You may not think you are one of those, and maybe you aren’t, but is your no always a good no?

 What do I mean by a good no? A good no may disappoint the person you give it to, but they will understand your reasoning because you will be able to tell them why. A good no helps you say yes to the right things. A clearly articulated purpose statement helps you know what the right things are. And when you know what the right things are, you know what the wrong things are.

A good no is based on specific reasons. Not just feelings. Not because you don’t want to. The truth is you may really want to say yes, but because you understand your purpose and you have a compass to guide you, you’ll be able to see that the yes won’t lead you in the right direction. That is a good no. It’s a no that you can feel good about regardless of how the other person takes it.

 Knowing your purpose motivates you to get the right things done, even when they are hard.  Your desire to fulfill the purpose you were created for can give you the motivation to give the hard yes. The hard yes is the yes that requires you to make some sacrifices. The hard yes can be speaking up for yourself in a difficult situation. It can be getting up early to make sure you have devotional time or to work on that book or ministry project that you know you are called to. The hard yes often involves absorbing human frailty as you are called to serve and to love.

For me that has meant giving up a pastoral position with people I loved to move with my husband and pastor a church in a new community. It also meant moving hours away from family to start a whole new journey at a time when others are thinking about retirement.

The hard yes isn’t easy but is always worth it. I recently heard a statement that perfectly defines the hard yes: The pain of obedience heals quickly, but the pain of disobedience can last a lifetime. That is not a pain I want you to experience, and it is not a pain I want to experience either.

Dear Friend, it’s true that having a clearly articulated purpose won’t always make everything as clear as you want. But it will give you criteria for evaluating your time decisions. Your purpose can be a time compass, a pathway to a good no, and a motivator for forward motion even when you feel like you are climbing uphill. Keep climbing!

Key Question: Are you planning your time to help you fulfill your purpose?

A Scripture to Consider: ” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.“Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV

A YES Challenge: Consider your life purpose, even if you are not completely certain of it. What is one thing that you can put in your schedule to help you move toward that purpose?

Prayer: Father, help me to develop a clear sense of purpose so that I can plan my life in that direction. Help me to take steps now toward the purpose I am sensing from You. I want my life to count. I want my days to make a difference for Your honor and glory. Lead me through his process so that my time is well spent toward fulfilling the purpose You created me for. Amen.