Strategy for the New Year (II): The Effective Use of Time

Scripture Focus:

“No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be lost. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”

As we step into a new year, God calls us not only to carry new visions but also to adopt new strategies. New wine demands new wineskins. Fresh results require renewed thinking, planning, and systems that can sustain growth.

Get The Blueprint for Unlocking Success in the New Year

Understanding Strategy

Strategy is the art of planning the best way to gain an advantage or achieve success. In life and in the Kingdom of God, progress is not accidental—it is intentional.

Systems of Advantage

God has placed certain systems at our disposal to help us thrive. These include:

Relationships and connections
Skillset and competence
Resources and finances
Health
Time
Spiritual maturity

In this teaching, our focus is on Time—one of the most valuable and limited resources God has given us.

Time as a Resource

Resources are useful or valuable possessions or qualities that can be deployed to bring about productivity. There are three major kinds of resources:

Time
Treasure (Money)
Talent (Skill)

Among these, time stands out because once lost, it can never be recovered.

A startling fact reveals how poorly time is often managed:

The average person wastes about 26 days every year scrolling through social media (The Guardian Newspaper, January 16, 2022)

The Bible warns us: Colossians 4:5

“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, making the best use of your time.”

Two Kinds of Time Governing the Universe

The Bible reveals that time operates in two dimensions: Chronos and Kairos.

1. Chronos Time

Chronos refers to clock and calendar time. It is measurable—seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years.

Scriptural examples remind us that mere passage of time does not always equal progress:

Acts 18:20 — Paul declined spending more time with them.

John 14:9 — Jesus asked, “Have I been with you all this time, and you still do not know Me?”

Chronos time must be managed intentionally through planning, scheduling, and discipline.

2. Kairos Time

Kairos refers to the appointed or right time—divine moments pregnant with opportunity. It is the best time to act, invest, decide, or step out in faith.

Scripture affirms this truth:

Romans 5:6 — Christ came at just the right time.

Galatians 4:4 — When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son.

2 Corinthians 6:2 — “Now is the time of God’s favor.”

Isaiah 60:22 — “At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 — God makes all things beautiful in His time.

Mastering both Chronos and Kairos gives believers a strategic advantage in the new year.

Wisdom in a Distracted World

We live in an age of constant distractions. To succeed, we must be deliberate about how we allocate our time.

Ephesians 5:15–16

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of your time.”