As we begin the New Year, we typically reflect on how we spent time in previous year and how we will prioritize our time in New Year. Did you know that the Bureau of Labor Statistics is also interested in how you spent your time?
How Americans Spend their Leisure Time
Each year, the Bureau releases the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) which shows the average amount of time per day that Americans worked, did house-hold activities, cared for household children, participated in educational activities, and engaged in leisure and sports activities. Each day we all have discretionary time (Leisure Time) that we spend on various activities. Take a look at the average for Americans for 2007.
--On an average day, nearly everyone age 15 and over (96 percent) engaged
in some sort of leisure activity, such as watching TV, socializing, or
exercising. Of those who engaged in leisure activities, men spent more
time in these activities (5.7 hours) than did women (5.0 hours)
--Watching TV was the leisure activity that occupied the most time, ac-
counting for about half of leisure time, on average, for both men and
women. Socializing, such as visiting with friends or attending or
hosting social events, was the next most common leisure activity, ac-
counting for about three-quarters of an hour per day for both sexes.
--Men were more likely than women to participate in sports, exercise, or
recreation on any given day--21 versus 16 percent. On the days that
they participated, men also spent more time in these activities than
did women, 2.0 versus 1.4 hours.
The Bible and Time Management
Most Americans have at least one Bible in their home. Most don't read it, or don't read it very much. Does that apply to you, or someone you know? Strangely, polls have shown that a huge percentage of Americans believe the Bible is the word of God but don't have time to read it. Why this disconnect? Either we must think God has nothing to say to us, or something else is going on.
Is that something else your time management? Time management can also be called priority management. Why? Because everything we do in effective time management is actually nothing but managing our priorities to get the most of our time. Given limited amount of time, how can we use it in such a way that maximize our productivity ? Or put it in another way, how can we use it to maximize our happiness ? Reading God’s Word can do this for you, your life and the lives of others you touch.
The reality is, we do not have enough time to do everything we want. So logically, the best way to go is by managing our priorities in such a way that things with most impact will be done over the ones with less impact. There is no choice, we must sacrifice some (or sometimes many) of them to make room for those activites that can positively impact our lives and the lives of others. We must be able to make hard choices about what to do and what not to do. As you can see, it’s all about priority management.
One Year Bible Daily Reading Plan
You can read the entire Bible in as little as 15 minutes a day and make reading the Bible an achievable goal for this year. The One Year Bible daily reading plan consists of passages from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. This arrangement of Scripture brings variety and a fresh approach to each day's 15-minute reading, while providing a clear understanding of the Bible's larger message. No other "through the bible" plan presents the entire bible in such a user-friendly format.
Make Reading the Bible this year one of your top priorities. All it takes is 15 minutes a day which can easily be arranged by prioritizing it over television or internet activities. Make up your mind, set aside the time and stick to the commitment. Do this and God will honor your commitment and deliver on his promise that his word will accomplish His will in your life.
Isaiah 55:10-11 (New International Version)
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Congratulations on your commitment to reading the entire Bible this Year!
Lance
Fearful To Fearless | Fear Not - Don't Worry - Fear God brings together almost 400 passages of scripture to demonstrate or direct us to not be afraid, to not worry or be anxious, to look to Christ for strength and comfort, and be transformed to have a worshipful fear and awe of God.
