Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. JOHN 11:9-10 (NKJV)

Key points:

  • We often feel guilty about how we spend or “waste” our time.
  • Living in relationship with Jesus is the key to using our time well.
  • God loves us in and at all times.
  • Listen to this episode of Real Hope in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Time is one of the only non-renewable things in life. And yet it’s one of the easiest things to waste. Are you feeling guilty? Yep, me too.

I often feel guilty about the ways I spend (or don’t spend) my time.

I often feel guilty about the ways I spend (or don’t spend) my time. It’s easy to get caught up with the checklist of things I ‘should’ be doing to make sure I’m a ‘good’ Christian; reading my Bible, praying, attending Church and prayer or Bible study groups, reading a devotional, journalling… there are so many ‘things’!

There have been seasons in my life where I’ve asked God, “Why did this situation go wrong? I’ve been doing all the right things!”

I know, right? That’s not how it works. But so easily, we think, if I give Him all my time, doing these things, surely, He’ll answer my prayers?

It’s an example of Him demonstrating the power of living with and for Him.

In John 11 when Jesus said, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” (v9-10)

I’m learning that this isn’t an example of Jesus saying, “do better!” It’s an example of Him demonstrating the power of living with and for Him. If you’ve given your life to Jesus, the Light is in you. On the good days and the bad.

Listen to this episode of Real Hope in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Here’s the twist: He is a good God, whether or not we spend our time wisely. He loves us, whether or not we spend ‘enough’ time with Him. He is our Provider, our Father and our Saviour, no matter how well we live, or how many times we fail.

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And that’s the entire point.

Listen to this episode of Real Hope | The Podcast in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.


Subscribe to the YouVersion plan or listen to Real Hope | The Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.


Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro

Devotion written by Joni Boyd

Originally published as Spend Your Time Wisely


Joni Boyd

Joni is a writer and Digital Media Coordinator at Hope Media. She is passionate about the power of stories to transform lives and brings that heart to her work in content creation and digital storytelling.

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