Accomplish More Each Day

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4:5

Charles Schwab once offered to pay Ivy Lee, a management consultant, any reasonable amount if he could just show him how to accomplish more each day. Lee gave him the following formula: ‘Sit down every night and list, in order of priority, your six most important tasks for the next day. Then spend that day working down the list until it’s completed. At the end of that day destroy the list and make a new one for the following day. Don’t worry if you only finish one or two jobs. Just do first things first! If this method doesn’t work, nothing will; without a system you don’t even know what’s important. Try it, then pay me whatever you think it’s worth.’ A month later Schwab sent him a $25,000 check saying it was the best advice he’d ever received! That system will work for you, too! The term ‘time management’ is misleading because you can’t really delay, hasten, save, or manage time. You can manage yourself only by establishing the right priorities. That’s why the Bible says ‘Conduct yourselves wisely, making the most of. . .time.’ C S Lewis said, ‘Put first things first and you get second things thrown in. But put second things first and you lose both.’ Today, ask God to show you His priorities for your life, then set your personal goals and agenda accordingly. Go ahead, try it! There’s no feeling like knowing you’re in God’s will, doing the right thing at the right time!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me not to major in the minors, but to stay focused on the important tasks that You would have me do. Arrange my task list today so that it is Your list! In Jesus’ Name, Amen