Are you consuming time or inhabiting it?
Do you ever feel like you just don’t have enough hours in the day?
I struggle with this feeling constantly. But if we honestly added up all the minutes we spend mindlessly scrolling, bingeing Netflix, or procrastinating, we might suddenly discover an extra hour or three every day—time that could be spent far more intentionally.
This idea is beautifully championed by Paul in Ephesians 5:15-16:
"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
In the original Greek, the phrase "making the most of every opportunity" literally translates to "redeeming the time." How do we redeem time? By choosing to trade our mindless hours for wise living. According to Paul, this requires a careful, thoughtful, and deliberate examination of how we spend our days.
The trap of consuming vs. wasting time
In a recent podcast episode, theologians John Mark Comer and Dr. Gerald Sittser discussed how we need to start “inhabiting” time, rather than consuming or wasting it. They point out two faulty mindsets our modern culture has developed:
Consuming time: The urge to fill every single moment with endless activity.
Wasting time: The false belief that any spare minute not filled with activity is wasted.
On the contrary, Comer and Sittser argue that we actually need space for boredom—because quiet margins are necessary for creativity.
Furthermore, we need time for rest and recovery. Our hustle culture often labels rest as "unproductive," yet rest is precisely what fuels our productivity. Without rest and space in our schedules, our bodies and minds inevitably burn out.
This, of course, is exactly why God commanded us to take a weekly Sabbath. Our Creator knows our human limitations and the vital importance of restoration.
What does it mean to "inhabit" time?
Inhabiting time means being fiercely intentional with the hours we’ve been given. As Christians, we recognize that life on this earth is short. We have a limited window to carry out our God-given mission: to share the love and salvation Christ offers.
But inhabiting time also means being fully present to the moments, experiences, and people right in front of us—just as Jesus did, and just as we practice through mindfulness in our classes.
As Dr. Sittser beautifully puts it:
"Time is a gift God has given to us... The closest we are to eternity is right now—this present moment. The past we can’t change. The future we can’t control. But we can be present to what is happening right now."
Let’s step off the treadmill of constant consumption and start truly living in the space God has provided.
May you be blessed as you inhabit your days.
Blessings in Christ,
Bec
Founder & CEO, Be Still Movement
Image: Unsplash/Artem Kovalev