Ephesians 5: 15 – 16 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil.
Being in lockdown due to the coronavirus we need to fight the temptation to move into “brain dead” mode of spending all our time on social media, watching TV, and other mindless activities.
Try to maintain a normal daily routine as much as possible. I know that this is easier for some than for others. For example, some people do all their work on their computers and can continue working from home if they have a computer available. However, others can’t do any of their work from home.
The question that should be foremost on our minds is whether God is pleased with the way we use our time. That doesn’t mean that we have to spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week praying and reading our Bibles. God has made us holistic beings and he’s pleased when we balance our lives on wholesomely.
Suggested activities:
- Spend time with God in prayer and worship
- If you have wifi or enough data join an online church service on Sundays.
- Read your Bible
- Do extra Bible studies
- Reading plans on the YouVersion Bible app. https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/
- Do topical Bible studies e.g. love, the justice of God, Bible characters, etc.
- Study books of the Bible
- Do a short course online of something that interests you
- Free courses https://alison.com/
- Paid courses https://www.udemy.com/
- Read books
- Spend time with your family. This may seem obvious as we’re locked in together. However, it’s easy to be around each other physically and never actually spend quality time together, because each person is on their computer, phone, watching TV, or doing some other individualistic activity.
- Have meals together as a family without your phones
- Play games.
- Ask each other how they’re doing. This means that you actually have to talk to each other. This might seem to be an obvious point, but there are many homes where they don’t speak to each other except to say the bare essentials to get by.
- If you normally play sport, go to the gym, run, etc. then improvise by doing other types of exercises at home, but don’t stop because you’re stuck at home.
- Keep in touch with family in other places through regular messages and calls. Keep in touch with the community in the same way. Join a community WhatsApp group if necessary.
What we shouldn’t do?
- Don’t try and do everything that’s sent your way, even if it is prayer, fasting or Bible reading plans. There is an abundance of stuff being thrown at us every day. You can’t do it all!! Note that the above 7 points are suggestions, not commands.
- Don’t fall into depression because of being cut off. Rather call someone to talk. It can be your pastor, or a family member, or friend. There is always someone willing to listen.
In all things and at all times keep trusting God