Fresh off the overseas mission field, I remember clearly the first Sunday we stepped into our small-town church. On the mission field, we’d learned another language, been through culture shock, and delved into ministry in a foreign land. Yet, my fear of being a small-town pastor’s wife was stronger than my fear of being in another country.

Over there, we had a team. Here, in small-town USA, we were on our own in the middle of cornfields with hurting people all around us.

At the end of the first year, adjusting to a new baby, hosting Bible studies in our house, providing snacks every other week for the after-church fellowship, feeling guilty for not having people over more and then overbooking our hospitality, stepping up to fill in every time a ministry gap opened up – I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and of no use to my God or my family. My Type A personality had gone into overdrive in this new ministry, and I had forgotten that it wasn’t about my work, my schedule, or my activity.

A year into our ministry, a change had to happen. That change had nothing to do with how small my church was, or how much they needed me, but everything to do with my own heart. I had to stop and remember why I served my Savior in this tiny town. I had to stop and rededicate my heart and my time to my Lord instead of my ministries. I had to stop and refocus my actions and my daily life to glorify the One who gives time to me. If you will allow, I would love to share those things that God so graciously gave to me.

Remember (the mind):

We aren’t going to focus on color-coded planners, Pinterest charts, or “how-to-do-it-all” bullet points. Some of those can certainly be useful tools for our lives, but they only touch the surface of what time management in the life of a pastor’s wife can be. In order to understand the full capacity at which we are able to do life and ministry, we must first understand the foundation of our life’s purpose. Set aside your pastor’s wife hat, go back to God’s Word, and remember:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” -Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)

After the saving work of Christ has taken place in our hearts, we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. A sacrifice is not a partial giving of our lives but a whole and holy handing over of everything we have been, are, and ever will be to the will of our Father. This includes your personal life, your family life, and your life as a pastor’s wife.

Have you handed over all of it?

Have you recognized that your time is His time? Have you sacrificed what you think is a good, acceptable, and perfect set of schedules, activities, and ministries into the hands of our Father? Before you read on, I challenge you to talk to God about this very thing. Ask Him if what you are doing for your little town truly fulfills this verse.

Rededicate (the heart):

We must rededicate our heart’s desires away from our understanding and towards God’s plan for our time. I would love to sit down and share with you all the beautiful things God did after I readjusted my heart to recognize God’s heart desires. It is true that both in creation and through His Word we see that God desires order (1 Cor. 13:14) and hard work (Prov. 10:4), yet He clearly wants the heart behind the actions to first be firmly established. Let’s look at some of the ways we miss the mark in our time-management desires.

1. We overwork and worry about what ministry our church needs. He asks us to be still, wait, and not fret (Ps. 37:7). Worry does nothing but harm organization and cloud our ability to see true needs.
2. Our plans and desires turn us into people-pleasers and activity worshipers. He desires us to renew our minds (Rom. 12:2). Do you remember why you are doing what you are doing?
3. We complain or become grumpy when people don’t notice our work. He commands us to do all to His glory (1 Cor 10:31). Watch out for self-glorification in your ministry plans.

An organized, God-glorifying pastor’s wife does not start with the perfect day planner, a Pinterest-inspired hospitality ministry, or as the star participant of every church, town, or school activity. This identity begins when we choose to glorify Him by recognizing our time is His and placing our hearts in alignment with His desires.

Part 1 of 2
– Part 2: Time Management Foundations {life application}