The past few weeks, months, have been a whirlwind of activity. There have been miles driven, including a quick turn around trip to West Virginia. That quick turnaround was 23 hours and 50 minutes from Southside, Alabama, to Nitro, WV, then back you Southside, Alabama. 18 hours of driving time, 2 hours cleaning a house and about 3 hours sleep in a Pilot Truck Stop.

All of this, to bring my biological father home to live with me.

Needless to say, times have been fast and the days ae long, but life is great.

As I look at my calendar this week, I wanted to share a few things with you. Monday has not even started yet, but these things are still on my mind. Across my desk tonight is a laptop, a paper planner, and a few pens. The week will be a great one.

There is what I am thinking.

This week, I am going to war against wasted time.

Here’s the truth nobody wants to say aloud: the ministry didn’t steal your time. The lack of a plan did.

We’ve all been there. Sunday’s coming, the sermon still needs work, the visit list is growing, the phone won’t stop buzzing, and somehow, it’s already Thursday. Again.

Time management isn’t just a productivity hack for CEOs in corner offices. For the preacher, it’s a stewardship issue. God gave you 168 hours this week. The same as everyone else.

The question isn’t whether you’re busy. You know you’re busy; I know you’re busy. The question is whether you’re building or just burning.

Here’s your challenge this week:

1. Do an audit on your week. Before you plan anything new, look at where last week’s hours went. Not where you think they went, but where they really went. Write it down. Be honest. No one’s grading you.
2. Block your Big Three. Identify the three tasks this week that will move your ministry forward the most. It might be the sermon prep, that leadership conversation you’ve been avoiding, the follow-up visit. Put them on the calendar first, before anything else fills the space.
3. Create a “Not Today” list. Some things are good but not urgent. Give yourself permission to say “not today” to the things that can wait so you can say “right now” to the things that can’t.
4. Protect your prep day. Pick one day this week that is non-negotiable for sermon study and spiritual preparation. Guard it like you’d guard the pulpit on Sunday morning.
5. Report back Friday. Drop into the community and tell us: What did you protect this week? What tried to steal your time? Did you let it? (The Community is our Preacher Building Community. If you want to know more, just ask.)

The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is intention.

A preacher who manages his time well isn’t just more productive, he’s more present. He is more present for his family, more prepared for his people, and more available to the Lord.

Just some thoughts,