Daily Devotional: Spending Time
- David A. Case
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
By David A. Case
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15–16, NKJV)
Everything we do is a heart activity. That is especially true with the things we care about most. What matters more to us than our time or our money? We can say many things about what we value, but our calendar and our bank statement often tell the truth more clearly than our words.
Time is the new money. One of the most common things people say is, “I’m so busy.” It sounds like a fact, but often it is a confession of priorities. We have more time-saving devices than any generation before us, yet many feel more overwhelmed than ever. Why? Because more choices create more expectations. More expectations create more frustration. With every new opportunity, activity, device, and form of entertainment, life begins to pull at us from every direction.
Busyness can become a way to avoid honest evaluation. If I am busy enough, I do not have to slow down and ask what my life is producing. I can keep reacting, keep moving, keep answering the next demand, and never ask whether my time is being directed by God, by pleasure, by pressure, or by fear.
An accurate assessment of my time would say a great deal about my priorities. If I say I value God but give Him only the leftover minutes, that tells a story. If I say my family matters but give my best energy to work, entertainment, or personal escape, that tells a story. If I say I want heart change but do not make room for prayer, Scripture, reflection, and obedience, that tells a story.
What I consistently care about is who I am. Time reveals consistent care. Not occasional care. Not emotional care. Consistent care. The places where my time goes repeatedly are the places where my heart is being formed. Every action cycles back and writes on the tablet of my heart. If I repeatedly give time to distraction, distraction becomes normal. If I repeatedly give time to God, listening becomes more normal. If I repeatedly give time to the greater good, love begins to shape me.
This does not mean every moment must be intense or religious. Rest matters. Recreation matters. Work matters. Family rhythms matter. The issue is lordship. Is my time submitted to God, or is it driven by appetite and pressure? Am I living with intention, or am I being swept along by the loudest demand?
Wisdom redeems the time. Wisdom recognizes that time cannot be recovered. A day spent is a day invested somewhere. The question is whether that investment is producing life. God wants our whole heart, and our time is as whole heart as it gets.
Reflection Question
What would an honest review of my time this week reveal about what I truly value?
Prayer
Father, help me see my time honestly. Show me where busyness has replaced obedience and where distraction has crowded out Your voice. Teach me to redeem the time and to live with priorities that reflect love for You and love for others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Obedience Step for Today
Track one ordinary day in 30-minute blocks. At the end of the day, mark each block as God, others, work/responsibility, rest, growth, or distraction. Ask God what needs to change.
This devotional was inspired by the book Heart Change Handbook by David A. Case. If you found it helpful, please consider it for your own self-study and suggest it to your church small group or recovery community as a basis for small group study.
If this message has encouraged you to pursue deeper transformation, I invite you to continue the journey through The Heart Change Handbook. It provides a practical, biblical path for spiritual growth and is an excellent resource for church small groups and recovery communities. Consider getting your copy today and introducing it to your group as a guide toward meaningful heart change.
👉 Learn more about Small Group Resources from Heart Change U.
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