I love spontaneity. I love the thrill of gathering family, planning big events, and even enjoying a little “controlled chaos.” Summer is full of that—late nights, laughter, spur-of-the-moment plans, and sweet memories that I never want to let go of. I don’t desire to leave behind the fun of summer.
But life’s changing seasons remind me that there is also a time to return to rhythm. As fall arrives, I feel the need to get back to schedules and routines—spaces of order that give me balance, protect my marriage, and leave room for spiritual growth.
For me, that means sitting down with a calendar and honestly looking at how my time is being spent. I like to get things done. I hate making excuses and I resist procrastinating, because I know it wastes time and robs opportunities. So I write out the weekly commitments that truly matter, and I intentionally leave space for rest and family. I’ve learned to set limits:
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Only one ministry item per month beyond my regular service.
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No more than one big event a month.
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And never more than four days a week filled with scheduled activities.
Why? Because too much running leaves too little time for what matters most—marriage, family, self-care, and spiritual growth.
Working from home, I sometimes see my husband’s free hours and get frustrated. What looks like wasted time to me can actually be his needed rest and restoration. Health differences affect what each of us can do, and I have to remind myself that stewardship of time doesn’t look the same for everyone. Yet there is one area where rest cannot replace responsibility: our time with God.
Spending time in His Word is not optional. It is the very food of our souls. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). If we neglect the Scriptures, we cannot expect to grow in our relationship with Him. And if we only live off small bits and scattered verses, we risk creating a false view of who God is or twisting what He says.
Psalm 119:105 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Without that lamp, we will stumble in confusion. Paul urged Timothy to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). That doesn’t mean we will ever know everything the Bible says, but it does mean we are responsible to keep learning.
Even ten or fifteen minutes a day of focused reading and prayer can re-center our hearts and guard our minds against false thinking. As Psalm 1:2–3 declares, “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season.”
So in our marriage, our family, and our personal lives, time management will look different—but our time with God should never be neglected. Every moment spent in His Word is an investment that bears eternal fruit.
This fall, I want to be intentional:
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To keep my marriage strong by protecting daily and weekly time together.
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To delight in my grandchildren without letting activities overwhelm me.
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To protect time for prayer, Scripture, and quiet reflection.
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To say “no” when too many good things begin to crowd out the best things.
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To avoid excuses and procrastination that rob joy and growth.
Am I using my time to strengthen my relationships and deepen my walk with Christ—or am I letting excuses, distractions, or neglect of Scripture control me? What changes do I need to make in my calendar to honor God with my time?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” This is my season to embrace both rhythm and joy, both structure and spontaneity. But above all, it is my season to keep God’s Word at the center—because without Him, time is only wasted.
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