Leadership
It’s About Time
As worship creatives we often have a lot going on inside and outside of our heads. It can be great! That’s where a lot of our creativity comes from but there are times when all that activity can be overwhelming. With an abundance of “stuff” we can often feel like we’re getting nothing done. It seems like more is coming at us than we are able to get done and it can leave us feeling drained and discouraged. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are a few lessons we can learn from the Bible about how we can manage our time better.
We should be humble with our time and remember we don’t have all the time in the world.
Psalm 39:4 says “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.”
So be picky with what you spend your time on. Realize that there is always more to do than there is time to do it, so don’t try and fit it all in. If you do, you’ll only end up frustrating yourself and actually getting less done.
We should be intentional with our time.
Ephesians 5:15-17 says “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”
We should be thoughtful about how we spend our time. Make a plan; don’t just launch into whatever or whoever seems most urgent at the moment.
The way I manage this in my life is to use lists. EVERYTHING goes on my Inbox list then gets sorted into either a project list, task list, ‘waiting for’ list, or a reference list. Then a few times a week I go through each of those, determine what is best to do next and that goes on my weekly list.
It’s a system that’s worked well for me that I’ve developed with help from books like Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
We should seek God for how to use our time.
Romans 12:2 says “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
While we can gain all sorts of skills and tools we will never know everything. Only God truly knows your heart, the hearts of those you interface with, and the future. Therefore, we must seek God for His will. Ask Him to lead you as you exercise caution with your schedule.
God didn’t intend for you to be constantly overwhelmed and stressed out. By exercising a little strategy with your time you can take control of your time.
JOEL VAN MERSBERGEN
Pastor of Worship and Creative Arts
North County Christ the King | Lynden, WA
ncctk.com
Joel was raised in a Christian family and has worked hard to serve Jesus most of his life. He has always loved music, and from the day he bought his first electric guitar Joel has been involved in worship teams. Joel is passionate about communicating the Gospel to people in ways that are engaging, moving, and vibrant. Today, Joel gets to do this by serving as the Pastor of Worship and Creative Arts at North County Christ the King, leading a team of gifted people who are in charge of publications, graphic design, video production, stage production and music.
