So What Does It Mean to be on God’s Time?

I read a book just before my daughter’s 3rd birthday that encouraged me to consider the difference between God moments in time and time as the world explains it. (Kiros vs Chronos)

I loved it and spent the next ten years attempting to live in the God moments of time. I learned that kairos is the word for “God’s time,” and chronos refers to chronological or sequential time.

Kairos is actually a Greek word meaning the "right or opportune moment", or "God's time."

While chronos refers to chronological or sequential time, kairos signifies "a time in between”, a moment of an undetermined period of time in which something special happens. While chronos is quantitative, kairos has a qualitative nature. I like the way that sounds!

One thing I’ve noticed is that it is not easy to measure kairos time. It just seems to flow; allowing us to be caught up in the moment. But did you know there are things we can do to make room in our schedules for more kairos moments to take place? 

A theologian named Paul Tillich described kairos time as “the fullness of time,” or “moments in which conditions are ripe for events to transcend linear time and take on greater, even eternal, significance.”

“Chronos,” or chronological time, is measured in minutes, hours, days, and years. 

This is a predictable, sometimes relentless measure of time that tells us when we have to be at work, when our next deadline is due, when our vacation is over, or even a measure of what we have or haven’t accomplished. 

While “chronos time” is very important for organizing our lives, it can become guilt-ridden and begin to master us. We say things like: “I never get enough done!”  Or “I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this." Or "when will this ever end?"

Unless you're lucky enough to find a genie in a bottle who stretches your days to twenty-six hours long, you've got the same twenty-four hours each day that the rest of the world has. 

But how you manage your time and how you choose to use the time you have will be unique to you. This is the key that will unlock time and allow you more of those kairos moments in your life.

So how do you make the best of your time? How do you prioritize the busyness of every day life? How can the ordinary moments of your daily life become amazingly extraordinary? 

There's only one answer to these questions... Living life according to God's design. 

He will help you discover how to capture the most precious blessings of life that we so often take for granted. Like the little things that can easily go unnoticed and get lost in the whirlwind of busyness.

Like a child's imagination and desire to play... the fragrance of a garden... the change of seasons... the sound of a stream flowing over rocks... the simple joy of family meals and evening walks.

I believe family time is a priority according to God’s Will for our lives. 

Even though we have many responsibilities, we can help to keep things simplified by cutting away unnecessary tasks, activities, and chores that prevent us from spending quality times with people we love.

Start scheduling quiet times with God and ask Him to guide you to ways that give you balance and rest within your daily life.

When my daughter was growing up, we had a rule, "No TV during dinner." 

It had always been that way, so she didn't know anything different. I can't remember today what all the conversations around the table were back then, but I can tell you I remember how much we enjoyed those times together... We talked... laughed... had tears at times and made plans... We worked through different issues that we each encountered during our day and we thanked God for the food we were about to enjoy.

My daughter is now off to college, and we are "empty nesters." The "family dinner table" is pretty much a thing of the past. Those days went so quickly. 

If you still have children in your home, don't take meal times for granted. Turn off the TV and spend that time together. Even if it's just a simple dinner and it doesn't seem like the conversations are all that deep or inspiring, some day you'll look back as I do, and remember the "moments" more so than the "topics." Invite God to join you and expect meals to become opportunities instead of just eating to satisfy your hunger.

Here are some suggestions of what you can do to keep family at the top of your priority list.

Ask God to help you find ways to make family a priority. 

Here are a few questions to ask God:

1) What are some of my biggest time wasters throughout any given day?

2) Are there committees, events, groups, or tasks that I should put on hold for a period of time?

3) What are my priorities? Is my life a living example of those priorities? 

4) How do I find time to get rejuvenated when I've been too busy to spend time with the people I love the most?

5) How can I find times of rest without feeling guilty and without further neglecting those I love?

My husband would alternate having breakfast each week with one of his boys. That gave them "special time" together one-on-one. This is a great way for busy dads to "schedule time" with their kids.

Time just might be the most precious gift you will ever give to someone, and the most valuable one you can give away. 

If someone offers you the gift of their time this week, don't take it for granted. Instead, recognize it as a gift and embrace it with all your heart. Then send them a "thank you" note and let them know how much you appreciated their gift of "time."

"She who believes in Me... out of her heart will flow rivers of living water."

John 7:38