Work on your future: Sundown to Sunrise
The Future You: You in 5 Years (Part 4)
Drawing from Scripture, we’ll discover how anchoring our evenings and mornings—through rest, spiritual depth, and focused living—creates space for meaningful, lasting growth.
Learn why the hours we often overlook may be the most powerful time to take small steps toward the future God is shaping in you.
Reflection Questions:
- What habits or routines currently shape my evenings and mornings, and are they moving me closer to the person I want to be in five years?
- Which small, intentional step could I take from “evening to morning” to better anchor my spiritual, physical, or creative life?
As we continue our sermon series titled "Future You," we're focusing on a transformative concept: who do you want to be in five years? So far, we've touched on the challenges of inertia and the importance of gradual change, but this week, our attention turns to an essential element—time management. How do we allocate time to take these steps toward becoming our best selves?
Evening to Morning: A Paradigm Shift
Interestingly, Scripture offers us an alternative perspective on time. Genesis introduces a day as evening followed by morning, which is contrary to our modern view where days begin at midnight or with our morning routines. This biblical depiction suggests a time framework we often overlook.
Throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Psalms and Ecclesiastes, the theme of "evening to morning" repeats, urging us to utilize this special period. For example, when God provided for the Israelites in Exodus, they received meat in the evening and manna in the morning.
The Untapped Power of Evening to Morning
Our lives are crammed into the typical 'nine-to-five,' a period we have minimal control over due to appointments, deadlines, and other commitments. In contrast, from evening to morning—an often-neglected time—lies incredible potential.
Anchoring Our Days
Having the right start and end to your day transforms the chaos of the middle into something manageable. Take, for example, the significance of sleep. Before the light bulb, people slept longer, and our current sleep deprivation is a modern challenge linked to various health issues. I believe adopting an evening-to-morning focus can enhance our physical and mental health.
Two Practical Steps: Sleep and Depth
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Get Enough Sleep
The invention of the light bulb reduced our sleep significantly, and now, screens and technology add to our sleeplessness. Sleep deprivation impacts mood, susceptibility to illness, and even our ability to make healthy choices.
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Go Deep Spiritually, Physically, and Creatively
Mornings are a prime time for deep work. Be it spiritual contemplation, physical exercise, or creative pursuits, focusing during these hours sets a positive tone. Spending time in prayer, practicing gratitude, and engaging meaningfully with God's word is pivotal. Physical activity can naturally boost mood and focus, while creativity fulfills our imago Dei—being made in the image of a creative God.
The Importance of Deep Work
Focus is essential, and multitasking is a myth. True productivity comes from concentrated effort. As Alexander Graham Bell advised, bring your thoughts to a laser focus. Deep engagements, like those I've experienced writing my thesis, require intentional removal of distractions.
Concluding Thoughts
When we embrace a time from evening to morning, we're poised to face our days equipped and anchored. We're more resilient against daily challenges. The time between evening and morning is invaluable. Let's anchor ourselves in this timeless rhythm and harness these hours for transformative growth.
Let's end with a prayer: Father, we are grateful for the model You offered in creation—where the sun sets and the calming anticipation of a new day begins. Help us take full advantage of this precious time you've given. May we find solace and strength in these hours and emerge ready to face whatever comes our way. In Jesus' name, amen.