Series 2: Ordering Time With God — Week 5

Redeeming the Time

Central Scripture: Ephesians 5:15–16 (CSB)

“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time because the days are evil.”

We live in a world filled with noise, hurry, distraction, and pressure. Time slips through our hands in ways we hardly notice. Days blur. Schedules overwhelm. Moments pass that never return.

Yet the Word of God calls us into something higher. Something quieter. Something intentional.
This week, in Ordering Time With God, we step into Redeeming the Time, a sacred invitation to walk with wisdom and purpose.

These verses reveal a powerful truth: time is spiritual. The way we use it reflects our priorities, our maturity, and our alignment with God’s will.

Understanding What It Means to Redeem Time

The phrase redeeming the time comes from the Greek word exagorazō, meaning “to buy back,” “to rescue from loss,” “to reclaim.”
It is God’s way of saying:
“You can recover meaning where meaning was lost.
You can reclaim purpose where purpose was wasted.
You can step into alignment no matter how much time has slipped away.”

The time we have now is holy.
The moments we still hold are filled with divine possibility.

Scripture teaches us that one choice affects the spiritual direction of our days. Redeeming time is not rushing and it is not striving. Redeeming time is recognizing God’s moments and stepping into them with intention.

Psalm 90:12

“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.”

Wisdom grows when we stop drifting and start noticing.

Why Time Slips Through Our Hands

Time is lost when life becomes filled with:

• Emotional exhaustion
• Mental distraction
• Unclear priorities
• Overcommitment
• Avoidance
• Unnecessary burdens
• Spiritual neglect

Scripture does not ignore the struggle, it highlights it.

Hebrews 12:1

“Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.”

Not every weight is sin. Some weights are simply unnecessary, while others must be set down to reclaim spiritual clarity.

We cannot run freely when our time is swallowed by what drains us.

Redeeming Time in Our Inner Life

Our internal world shapes our external decisions.

Proverbs 4:23

“Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.”

Our thoughts, emotions, focus and spiritual posture matters.

There are three internal practices that may restore lost time:

1. Reflective Stillness

A few slow breaths.
A quiet pause.
A moment to remind our soul that God leads.

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

2. Spiritual Discernment

Asking God what truly belongs in our lives.

James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God.”

3. Holy Prioritization

Letting eternal things guide our hours here.

Colossians 3:2

“Set your minds on things above.”

Redeeming the time begins inside of us.
Transformation starts privately before it shows up publicly.

Redeeming the time means reclaiming our days from distraction. It means recognizing that time can be wasted, mismanaged, or surrendered to things that do not bear fruit. Yet it also means that God can restore what was lost and reshape our future with purpose.

Redeeming Time in Your Daily Rhythms

God desires to shape our calendars as much as our character.
Redeeming time means ordering life around what holds spiritual value.

Ways to Redeem Time Practically

1. Start our day with God
Even two minutes centers our spirit.

Matthew 6:33

“Seek first the kingdom of God…”

2. Limit draining activities
Not everything helps us grow.

3. Focus on our God-given priorities
Everything cannot be a priority.

4. Build margin
Rest is spiritual. Breathing space is holy.

5. Commit our day to God
Surrender before strategy.

Proverbs 16:3

“Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

Redeeming time is not about doing more.
It is about doing what matters most.

Our task is to bring our days under the lordship of Christ and allow Him to reshape how we steward each moment. When we redeem the time, our schedules become offerings, our hours become seeds, and our days become reflections of the kingdom of God.

Redeeming Time for Eternal Purpose

Scripture teaches us to adopt heaven’s perspective.

2 Corinthians 4:18

“We focus on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Eternal purpose shifts how we view our hours.
It shapes how we treat people.
It influences how we use our gifts.
It guides us in how we invest our energy.

Time is redeemed when life aligns with eternity.

Scripture shows us that God is a Redeemer of years, not just moments. Joel 2:25 promises restoration of time consumed by hardship, sin, or stagnation. Isaiah 43:19 reminds us that God does not repair old rhythms, He brings forth new ones.

Closing Prayer

Father, teach me to walk with wisdom.
Help me recognize Your moments.
Restore what was lost in distraction.
Open my eyes to purpose.
Strengthen me to lay down every weight.
Fill my days with clarity.
Fill my steps with intention.
Redeem my time by Your power.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Reflection Questions for This Week

Take time to journal slowly through these questions:

1. Where do I sense God calling me to redeem the time in this season?
2. What habits quietly steal hours from my life without producing fruit?
3. Which rhythms restore my soul and draw me closer to God?
4. What priorities reflect God’s purpose for me right now?
5. How can I open more space for God in my daily routine this week?

Let these questions guide your days.
Let them become a conversation with the Holy Spirit.

Until next time, remember, faith isn’t complicated.

It’s practical.