HOW TO USE WISELY OUR TIME THIS YEAR -- Time is our most precious gift, because we only have a finite amount of it.

None of us knows when our lives will end. "Do you know what tomorrow holds for you? What is your life? A light mist, visible for a few moments and which dissipates very quickly. "James 4:14.

Our days are in God's hands, and if it is wise to prepare ourselves as if we are going to live long, it is just as important to use our time wisely to make a difference in the world, knowing that we are not sure we will live tomorrow.

Today we must do God's will, today we must show His love for one another, help the poor, visit the sick, make good decisions, today we must be generous, today we must have time for prayer, and today we must be God's instrument for someone in need.

The use of our time has an impact not only on our lives here on earth but also on our future lives. Managing our time well, in a way that helps us achieve our goals, while having a good balance between our work, hobbies, family life and faith life, is an important part of our earthly life. The present moment of each day is the time that God graciously gives us, and therefore we should give it immense value. When your life is over, will you be happy with the use you have made of this invaluable gift from God, or will you have regrets?

A friend uses a classic illustration to compare the short time we have to live here on earth with the eternity that awaits us. He rolls out a rope about 10 meters long, one end of which is painted red over a length of 8 centimeters. He says that we focus too much on those 8 centimeters that represent our life here on earth, - on our personal comfort, our social status - and that we ignore the rest of the rope, which represents our eternity.

It goes without saying that these 8 centimeters that represent our earthly life are important. God has given us life and time here on earth in the hope that we will live fully and enjoy it in a way that is in harmony with His nature and character. He wants our lives to contribute to making the world a little better. However, these 8 centimetres do not represent the whole of our existence. There are many more after that, and we should not lose sight of that reality but reflect on how we use our time and what we value.

God has given man a brief moment here on earth, and yet eternity depends on that brief moment.

We must recognize that the enemy of our soul is working in this world and take a firm stand against it. This means that we must be attentive to what is going through our minds - what we are listening to, what we are looking at and how we are using our time.

"Take special care, therefore, to ensure that you live in a way that is appropriate for you. Act with an awareness of your responsibility. Do not live from day to day, without thinking further, like those who do not know the true meaning of life. Behave as wise people who understand the critical times we live in, and know how to make the most of the present period. Become masters of your time, take advantage of all the opportunities, despite the current difficulties. Yes, precisely because we live in a time when evil prevails.» --Ephesians 5:15-16