Like many, I embrace the new year with hope for more joy than sorrow and success in accomplishing a list of goals. In the days leading up to a New Year’s Day, I typically reflect on the previous year, considering the good, the bad, and the ugly.

This past year’s end was no different until the morning of December 30th, when I looked at my digital clock that shows the day of the week, date (month and day), and temperatures inside and outside. One look at the date and I wondered if I’d awakened in the Twilight Zone.

According to my digital clock, it was Friday, the first day of the thirteenth month (13/1). The day, time, and temperatures were correct, but clearly the date wasn’t. There had been no power surge. Also, I’d changed the clock’s batteries a month before.

“What does this mean?” I asked. “Do I get an extra month to take care of the tasks I failed to accomplish before the year ends?” I wondered if time had frozen for everyone but me. I remember a Twilight Zone episode in which that happened with a character.

I cautiously approached a window facing the front of my house. Sliding the curtain aside just a bit, I peeked out. A car drove by. A neighbor was moving about in his front yard. Obviously, time was not frozen, so I decided to ponder the idea of time for a while. I found insight in the Word of God.

The Bible makes it clear that God’s view of time is different from ours. According to 2 Peter 3:8,

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years,

and a thousand years as one day.

With this in mind, consider James 4:14:

For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and

then vanishes away.

Even if I were to live to be 100, my life would represent a small portion of God’s “day.” What then should my attitude be regarding time? A verse from the Old Testament tells us to seek guidance from God regarding our use of time.

So teach us to number our days,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

In the New Testament, verses from Ephesians are more specific.

See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16

Walking circumspectly means to walk carefully, considering probable consequences of our choices. This is practical, everyday advice that can be applied to words, actions, and even attitudes. Maybe I should say especially attitudes.

With a new resolve to honor God with the use of my time, I reset my digital clock to show the correct date (I wanted to stop feeling unnerved every time I looked at it) and planned my day.