Published on: 24/02/2026
In her blog post from a few weeks ago, Beth remembered a wise person saying to her that you can tell what someone values by looking at two things: their bank statement and their calendar. This was a helpful reminder to me to review the patterns I have been inhabiting over the last few months – am I happy with the way that I’ve been spending my time and dividing it between different priorities? Am I happy with the way I’ve been spending the money God has given me to steward? Most importantly, does my life reflect my Christian beliefs and values?
The psalmist asks God to ‘teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom’ (Psalm 90:12). Being intentional about how we use our gifts, our time, and our money each day can help us to become more like Jesus and to make sure our lives align with his teachings.
Recently I was lamenting that I don’t have enough time to read as much as I would like – both for pleasure and for the deepening of my faith and discipleship. Then, having seen the average screen time report on my phone, I realised that I do actually have time – I had just not been using it wisely. I deleted social media apps and put books where I could easily pick them up for a few minutes – in the car, in my work bag, on a shelf next to the sofa. I even put one in amongst my daughter’s toys so that I can read when she is happily playing by herself. It took me a few days to get through the scrolling withdrawal but I don’t feel the ‘pull’ of my phone as much anymore. Making intentional changes in this area of my life has helped me to make sure my daily habits reflect my values.
Author Annie Dillard said that ‘how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing. A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days.’ Not everyone thinks of themselves as having a fixed ‘schedule’, but everyone has things they must do each day in order to live – eat, dress, brush our teeth and so on! In our Diocese we encourage people to develop a Personal Rule of Life that helps them to put their Christian faith and values into practice. Our resources can help you to curate your daily, weekly, monthly and even yearly rhythms to better align with the trajectory you would like your life to follow.
I have heard it said that your life is the only Bible some people might ever read. If somebody were to look at your life, would they see the outworking of your Christian values? I encourage you to think deeply about what your values are, and consider whether your current pattern matches up.
This week’s blog post has been written by Hannah Sandoval, Lights for Christ Enabler