Wind The Clock Series

Wind the Clock

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Time is a gift that each of us experiences differently. The historian David McCullough once observed, “The digital watch is a perfect symbol of an imbalance in outlook in our day.” His words capture the tension we often feel some treat time as abundant and grow complacent, while others, fearing its brevity, rush through life in a constant flurry of activity. Neither path leads to true fulfillment.

Life is not measured by hours or achievements but by meaningful moments. Scripture calls us to redeem the time, but how do we do that? Some advocate for constant reinvention—always chasing the next challenge. Others insist that simply mastering what already exists is enough. Yet both perspectives fall short of God's wisdom, for as C.S. Lewis reminds us, "Nothing is inferior for being old, and nothing is valuable for being modern."

To live lives worthy of the Gospel, we must see time through God's eternal perspective. As 2 Peter 3:8 tells us, "With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." God does not call us to frantic striving for success, nor does He invite us to passive complacency. Instead, He calls us to faithful obedience, walking in the good works He has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).

Today, we will explore how to "wind the clock" of our lives—by tuning our hearts to God's voice and aligning our time with His purpose. He lovingly and strategically guides us on the path of faithfulness, shaping us into His image. Let us open our hearts to His Word and reflect on how we can live each moment for His glory.

Prayer:

Lord, You alone are the desire of our hearts. As we listen to Your words of wisdom today, we humbly ask that You transform us. Help us redeem the time You have given us by embracing change where needed and walking faithfully in Your purpose. May everything, we do be for Your glory and honor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Mind over Matter

To better understand how we can 'wind the clock' by aligning with God's purpose, we turn to a fascinating concept that highlights the power of mindset—neoteny, which demonstrates how the right attitude can profoundly affect our well-being. In 1979, Harvard professor Ellen Langer conducted the groundbreaking "counterclockwise study," which explored this connection. She and her colleagues transformed an old monastery in Peterborough, New Hampshire, into a perfect recreation of 1959. Participants were instructed to live as if it were twenty years earlier—surrounded by period-specific music, television shows, books, and magazines. Mirrors were removed, and no discussion of events beyond 1959 was allowed. Remarkably, after just one week, these men showed measurable improvements in physical strength, dexterity, hearing, vision, and cognitive performance. By the end of the experiment, men who had struggled to move freely were playing football with surprising vitality. Langer concluded that if these dramatic changes were possible for a group of elderly adults, we too can experience renewal by changing how we perceive time. However, while human mindset can lead to powerful transformation, true renewal comes when we trust in God's eternal plan and walk in faithfulness. This is the essence of 'winding the clock'—tuning our hearts and minds to God's purpose with faith and expectancy. Much like tuning a clock ensures it keeps the correct time, aligning our hearts with God’s voice keeps us walking faithfully in the moments He has prepared for us. What attitudes or beliefs about time might be holding you back from experiencing God's renewal in your life?

Thankfully, we are not left to rely on our own strength. Scripture assures us in 1 Corinthians 2:16, "But we have the mind of Christ." With this gift, we are empowered to view time and circumstances through God's eternal lens, discerning His will and walking in faithful obedience to the good works He has prepared for us. Faithful obedience may mean seeking God's guidance in your daily tasks, making time for prayer and Scripture, or serving others in His name. To truly redeem each moment, we must keep one eye on eternity and the other on the opportunities God places before us. Yet, this is no easy task. The lure of the world—its fleeting pleasures, the desires of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17)—constantly pulls us toward self-gratification. But Jesus reminds us that life is more than food, clothing, riches, or power (Matthew 6:25). We are Christ’s ambassadors and royal priests (2 Corinthians 5:20; 1 Peter 2:9). Our highest calling is to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). After all, nothing on earth is more desirable than our Lord (Psalm 73:25-26). The true battle is in the mind, where with divine aid we must push out sin and worldly distractions that entangle us. While mindset can lead to temporary change, true and lasting renewal comes when we allow Christ to transform our hearts and minds through His Spirit. Have you been intentionally seeking Christ's transformation of your mind so that you may fulfill His "good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:2)? Today, I encourage you to ask Christ to transform your mind, to guide you in redeeming each moment for His glory, and to give you the strength to walk in His good and perfect will.