How to Experience God’s Wonder by Managing Your Time Well

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” – 1 John 2:17 

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

Make more time to enjoy wonder in your life. Use these tips to help you manage your time well:

Pay attention to the present. Each moment you live is a simple yet profound gift from God. As much as possible, stop multitasking and focus on just one task at a time. Whenever you’re communicating with God or other people, be fully present in the conversations.

Welcome schedule interruptions for divine appointments. Don’t hesitate to interrupt your plans when you sense God surprising you with an opportunity to help someone in need. If you choose to see interruptions as opportunities rather than as inconveniences, you can start noticing all the wonder that God brings into your life unexpectedly.

Live in sync with natural rhythms. Pay attention to the natural time periods that God has set for our lives. Celebrate a weekly Sabbath day of rest and worship. Enjoy nature during the four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Relieve stress with wonder breaks. Make time for wonder breaks – time devoted to the purpose of seeking wonder – in your schedule regularly. For example, take a wonder walk to search for something that inspires you. The transcendent moments you’ll discover on wonder breaks will expand your perspective in ways that relieve stress and time pressure for you.

Learn more about how to manage your time in ways that help you experience wonder by reading my book Wake Up to Wonder.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/fizkes

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on  X/Twitter.