Right Choices / Better Outcomes
#2 I deserve “Me Time” don’t I? January 18, 2013
One of the daily decisions I must make is what to do with my “down time.” Most of us work hard at our job or career and the many responsibilities that we face each day. At the end of the day I feel I deserve some ‘Me Time” and I confess that my “go to” activity is to watch TV. I love a good “who done it” mystery. However, these days it’s getting harder and harder for me to find a program that represents my life values.
Someone gave me a good measuring stick to use as a tool to evaluate my entertainment and activities many years ago; it went something like this, “if it’s not true, holy, just, pure, lovely, and respected” don’t waste time on it. (See Philippians 4 8)
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Prov. 23:7
I went to the Strong’s Concordance for help to understand two of the Hebrew words used in this verse. Here is what I gleaned.
Thinketh(8176)= shaar (shaw-ar) to act as a gatekeeper, to estimate, think
Heart(5315) = nephesh (neh-fesh) being, self, soul
I am the only gatekeeper of what comes into my mind, heart and soul. I need to be much more diligent as to what I allow and invite to permeate it. The things I permit in will have long-lasting, and possibly damaging effects on my state of mind, thought processes and actions.
Yes, I deserve “Me Time”. In fact, I have learned that taking time for myself helps me to perform my other responsibilities much better. But I need to continually keep guard over what that time involves. It’s time to pursue some of my hobbies. I have a feeling it’s time to break open the new jigsaw puzzle I received for Christmas. I’ve been trying to get to that anyway. Or will it be the embroidery project I started years ago, or the new jewelry projects I’ve started much more recently……
And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment,
so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11 (HCSB 2004)
One of the daily decisions I must make is what to do with my “down time.” Most of us work hard at our job or career and the many responsibilities that we face each day. At the end of the day I feel I deserve some ‘Me Time” and I confess that my “go to” activity is to watch TV. I love a good “who done it” mystery. However, these days it’s getting harder and harder for me to find a program that represents my life values.
Someone gave me a good measuring stick to use as a tool to evaluate my entertainment and activities many years ago; it went something like this, “if it’s not true, holy, just, pure, lovely, and respected” don’t waste time on it. (See Philippians 4 8)
There are several other verses from scripture that address this issue:
- I will not set anything worthless before my eyes. I hate the practice of transgression;
- it will not cling to me. Ps 101:3
Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in Your ways. Ps 119:37
Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild. Ps 73:7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Prov. 23:7
I went to the Strong’s Concordance for help to understand two of the Hebrew words used in this verse. Here is what I gleaned.
Thinketh(8176)= shaar (shaw-ar) to act as a gatekeeper, to estimate, think
Heart(5315) = nephesh (neh-fesh) being, self, soul
I am the only gatekeeper of what comes into my mind, heart and soul. I need to be much more diligent as to what I allow and invite to permeate it. The things I permit in will have long-lasting, and possibly damaging effects on my state of mind, thought processes and actions.
Yes, I deserve “Me Time”. In fact, I have learned that taking time for myself helps me to perform my other responsibilities much better. But I need to continually keep guard over what that time involves. It’s time to pursue some of my hobbies. I have a feeling it’s time to break open the new jigsaw puzzle I received for Christmas. I’ve been trying to get to that anyway. Or will it be the embroidery project I started years ago, or the new jewelry projects I’ve started much more recently……
And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment,
so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11 (HCSB 2004)