Reagan Rose's Blog, page 5

How to Simplify Your Life

Everywhere I look, I see people talking about wanting a simpler life. They want to get out of the rat race, out of the city, or just plain slow down.

It’s a natural response to the harried pace of modern life. We live in what is perhaps the busiest time in human history. Sure, we may not be as physically active as our ancestors, but because of the internet our minds are overloaded by information and choices in a way that was never possible before. So it’s not surprising that a lot of folks are looking around thinking, “Is it just me? Does anyone else feel like they are drowning? I want out!”

About five years ago, feeling that strong pull to simplify, my wife and I began making moves to create a more sustainable pace of life for our family. And what started with moving closer to work and downsizing to a single car eventually led to a mid-thirties career change and a cross-country move, all in pursuit of a slower, simpler life.

I wrestled with these changes a lot.

Is simplifying the best way to honor God with my life? Is this just a trend, an expression of laziness, a mid-life crisis, or some escapist daydream? Or is there really something to this pull to slow down that so many of us seem to be feeling?

If you’re a Christian who is thinking of slowing down and you’re wrestling with some of these same questions, I want to share some thoughts on simple living and some strategies for pursuing it.

A Worthy Pursuit

One hang up Christians can have about simplifying their lives, is they conflate simplicity with laziness. The Scriptures condemn laziness as foolish, selfish, and not God-honoring (Ecclesiastes 10:18; Proverbs 6:9, 12:24, 13:4, 19:15, 16; 20:12, 13; 26:12–15; etc). But idleness and busyness are not binary options. Rejecting the hurried life does not by necessity mean embracing indolence. It doesn’t have to be a choice between pedal-to-the-metal burnout and sitting around on the couch all day.

I like how one Reddit user put in a recent post in r/simpleliving describing how he sold his business and bought a farm:

Turns out, slow living doesn’t mean not working. It means working without the frenzy. My days now start with sunlight, not Slack, not the ping of another “urgent” request. And the wildest part? The work is better. Without the clutter, I think clearly. Without the burnout, I solve problems with patience instead of panic.

I’ve found it more helpful to think about it using a different spectrum. Instead of asking, “how busy must I be to be faithful?” we can view it as a question of depth vs. shallowness. I suspect that most of us suffer not from too much but from too many. I can do dozens of things poorly, or I can do a small handful of things extremely well. What drives us mad is that sense that we can’t keep up with all of the various demands, or that we can’t give adequate attention to the things that really matter. We crave depth, but modern life has us jumping from puddle to puddle.

More fundamentally, simplicity is a question of stewardship: How can I best manage my time, talents, and treasure? For some, that may be a fast-paced life—God has designed some of us to thrive at that speed. But many believers were made to do their best work in a lower gear. For those people, simplicity is almost a necessity for stewardship.

Here’s the bottom line: While selfish motives can taint our desire for simplicity, simple does not equal lazy. That desire for simplicity may be the Lord nudging you toward the life He wants for you, where your faithfulness can best blossom and where He has housed those good works He planned in advance for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).

How to Simplify

In theory, simplicity is the easiest thing in the world—just do less! But it’s frustratingly elusive. You would think our lives would naturally gravitate toward simplicity. But for most of us, the opposite seems to be true. Like a peace-seeking missile, busyness always seems to find us.

You’ve got to fight for a simpler life. Let me offer a few strategies that might help.

1. Know What You Want

Busyness is a byproduct of a lack of clarity. When we aren’t clear on our values, we borrow them from those around us.

When we adopt the world’s priorities, we can find ourselves being pulled in three different directions at once, chasing three different dreams at the same time, none of them our own. Until, one day, we wake up to realize we’ve been chasing the idols of status, money, comfort, and people pleasing. What a tragedy it would be to waste a life chasing things you didn’t even care about, not because it was the right thing to do but simply because that’s what everyone else said was important!

If you want a simpler life, you have to know what you want out of life. Specifically, you have to know how you want to invest your life for God’s glory.

I’m going to assume as a baseline that you want to pursue holiness, closeness with Christ, and spiritual maturity. If not, you should. And if you need additional motivation, it’s worth noting that the Scriptures always present clarity of direction as downstream from closeness with God. Delighting in the Lord, trusting in Him entirely, and acknowledging Him in all things are necessary pre-requisites to straight paths (Psalm 37:4; Proverbs; see also Proverbs 16:3 and Romans 12:2).

When I say “know what you want,” I’m talking about the specifics of your life. Your individual call to steward the unique life God has entrusted to you. We’re talking stewardship.

This will look different for every Christian, but God-glorifying pursuits have one thing in common: They all seek faithfulness. And faithfulness doesn’t have to be epic. It can be the simple faithfulness of quietly raising your children, working your job “as unto the Lord,” or building a business that truly serves people.

Whatever God has put on your heart, my point is that you need to get clear about it. You’ve got to develop conviction about what exactly you would like to pursue in this life. We get so busy because we believe the lie that we can have it all. But simplicity demands trade-offs. Only clear priorities allow you to say no to the good for the sake of the great. So get clear on what you want.

2. Question Your Current Path

I knew I wanted a simpler life for a long time, but my trajectory had no chance of connecting with those aspirations. If I had stayed on my career path, I would have been comfortable and done meaningful work (I had a great job, working for an incredible ministry). But I started to see that my path would never allow me to pursue the depth I really craved.

For years, I kind of shrugged off that nagging feeling, thinking maybe someday things would magically fall into place. Or I would justify not making a change because I could honor God where I was. And I do believe you can honor God wherever He places you. But that does not relieve us from the duty to how best to steward what He’s given us. I’d claim not making the changes I knew I needed to was contentment, but in truth, it was fear masquerading as piety.

When I finally got serious, sat down, and wrote my aspirations for the next 5 years, I was faced with the cold, hard truth. Unless I made some radical changes, I would likely never have the life I said I wanted. I wouldn’t have the time with my kids or to think, write, and build things that would really serve people with the unique giftings God had given me.

I knew what I wanted, and I was convinced it was a better way to steward what the Lord had entrusted to me. Now, I just needed to make a choice. It was time to stop dreaming and start deciding.

3. Make the Necessary Sacrifices

For us, it meant the near-term sacrifices of financial security, stability, and comfort. Leaving a great job and striking out on my own was scary. We put everything on the line. For me personally, in the past couple of years, simplicity has meant going further still; leaving social media, getting rid of my smartphone, and holding the line against the pull toward busyness. But I suspect the biggest obstacle that holds us back from simplifying is the reputational cost.

To an outsider, your moves to simplify may seem arbitrary or even foolish. When you sacrifice things the world holds dear—money, status, opportunity—you leave people scratching their heads. You open yourself up to whispers behind your back, and that’s painful.

But the truth is, you are constantly making a sacrifice. It’s just that we usually sacrifice the better for the worse. Relationships, church community, our walk with the Lord, the joys of meaningful work, the pleasures of creation, or just a good meal—these are the good things! The best things in life really are free. And yet these are the very things we sacrifice to the gods of busyness and Mammon! We crave more and we end up with nothing.

Simplicity is not a virtue in itself. It is simplicity in pursuit of something greater that matters. And I suspect that what we crave isn’t less, it’s more. More time, more depth, more meaning. We want to fill our days with work that makes a difference, relationships that matter, and homes that are a haven from the busy world.

The great irony is that the simple life is the easiest thing to get! It’s a matter of subtraction, not addition. But more often than not, it’s covetousness that keeps us from contentment (Luke 12:15).

The path to simplicity is paved with sacrifice, but in my experience, it’s been well worth the price.

Reagan’s Roundup: April 24, 2025

Your weekly roundup of insights and resources to help you get more done for the glory of God.

In Today’s Issue:Love Through PunctualityThe Problem with Habits15-Minute Blocks45 Tips to Improve Your SleepCharnock on the Heart & Good Works

Dear steward,

One of the downsides of being the “Christian productivity guy” is that no one cuts me any slack for being late!

If I’m even a few minutes tardy to a meeting or event, it seems somebody always takes it upon themselves to give me a hard time about it.

But the truth is I don’t mind a little ribbing, and I actually kind of like the added accountability. Because I firmly believe that being on time is simply a practical way for Christians to love others. And, frankly, it’s not something I’m always the best at it. So I’ll take take the encouragement to be punctual where I can get it.

But there are actually better (and more biblical) reasons to be someone who is on time for things. This week I wrote down three of the most important reasons why Christians should make a point of being punctual. And I also included the 5 most helpful tactics I’ve found for improving in this area.

-> Read “Love Through Punctuality: Why Being on Time Matters“

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Weekly Word

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
– Galatians 6:9

Weariness can creep in when we don’t see the fruit of our labor, but God’s timing is perfect. Keep going—your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Eternity will bring the harvest, and it won’t disappoint!

Worth Your Time The Problem With Habits (and Why We Still Need Them) (3 mins) “Spiritual disciplines, while necessary, risk becoming empty routines that distract from their true purpose: bringing us closer to God.” The 15-Minute Block (6 mins) “I am obsessed with this idea of the 15-minute block. Anything and everything becomes possible when you break it down into a manageable chunk” 45 Tips — That You Haven’t Heard a Million Times Before — to Improve Your Sleep (15 mins) While there are a few tips on this list I can’t endorse, there are a ton of practical tips here that are sure to help you get more Z’s.Words of Wisdom

“Works make not the heart good, but a good heart makes the works good.”
– Stephen Charnock

Take your Christian productivity to the next level

Listen to the Podcast â†’ The Redeeming Productivity Show is available on all podcast platforms and YouTube.​

Get the Book â†’ Grab a copy of â€‹Redeeming Productivity: Getting More Done for the Glory of God​

Join the Academy → Get access to all of our courses, workshops, private community, planner, and more​​

Use the Planner → The all-in-one productivity system designed for Christians

Love Through Punctuality: Why Being on Time Matters

One of the downsides of being the “Christian productivity guy” is that no one cuts me any slack for being late! If I’m even a few minutes tardy to a meeting or event, somebody always takes it upon themselves to give me a hard time about it.

But the truth is I don’t mind a little ribbing and I actually kind of like the added accountability. Because I firmly believe that being on time is a very practical way for Christians to demonstrate love and, frankly, it’s not something I’m always the best at it.

If you’re a Christian who is struggles with punctuality, let me offer you three reasons why being on time matters. And then I’ll suggest five practical strategies to help you grow in this important area.

3 Reasons Why Being on Time Matters1. Punctuality Is a Form of Love

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:4

When we’re not on time, we often make others wait. You leave someone sitting alone in the coffee shop, make the meeting start late, or disrupt the event that’s already begun. It’s inconsiderate. It’s unloving.

But when you are diligent about being on time, you are loving your neighbor by valuing their time. And that may mean sacrifice on your part—waking up earlier, skipping the coffee, or being the one who gets there early and has to wait awkwardly. But if we really care, these are relatively small sacrifices to make for the sake of love.

2. Punctuality Reflects Integrity

“Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No,’ no.” – Matthew 5:37

If you say you’ll be somewhere at a certain time and then show up late, that’s is a broken promise. Sure, unforeseen circumstances can come up that delay us, and we just need to communicate that. But if you’re chronically late due to poor planning or apathy, you need to see the problem for what it is: A lack of integrity. When you agree to a time, you have said “yes,” you’ve made a promise. So make sure you are doing everything in your power to fulfill that promise.

3. Punctuality Is Part of Your Witness

“So that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:12

We want to have integrity because that honors God and loves others. But we also want to keep our appointments because it is part of our witness to unbelievers. When Christians are consistently reliable and respectful of time it shows our consideration toward others and reflects the love of Christ that has transformed us.

Strategies for Punctuality

The heart is the most important part of this thing, that’s why I began with the “why.” But here are some super practical ways to be better at being on time.

Plan in Reverse – Instead of asking “What time do I need to leave?” ask, “What time do I need to start getting ready?”Build in Buffer – There will always be unexpected delays—especially if you have kids. So don’t try to time everything out perfectly. Always try to overestimate how long it will take.Dress, then Rest – A lot of times we end being late because we were relaxing and waited until the last minute to start getting ready. Instead, get ready to go first, then spend some time relaxing before you actually have to leave. Bonus: This way is a lot less stressful.Set a Leave Alarm – This assumes you’ve already figured out when you need to be out the door. But once you have that time, then set an alarm 5–10 minutes before that time. That way you don’t lose track of the time, or have to constantly be checking the clock.Prep the Night Before – This applies more for morning appointments. But laying out your clothes, getting your lunch or whatever else you need together in advance, these simple steps can save you loads of time (and anxiety) in the morning. And they can help you be punctual.Conclusion

Punctuality matters. It matters to God and it matters to others. If this is an area you struggle in, take some time to pray about it. Confess your shortcomings in this area and ask the Lord to help you to be more diligent to manage your time in a way that loves others, showcases integrity, and honors Him.

Reagan’s Roundup: April 17, 2025

Your weekly roundup of insights and resources to help you get more done for the glory of God.

In Today’s Issue:The Best Place to Start with Time ManagementHow to Publicly Thank God After a Work WinJohn Piper’s on a Biblically Informed Retirement PlanThe Rule of 3Hudson Taylor or Fruit-bearing & Cross-bearing

Dear steward,

Last weekend I was speaking at a church on the subject of life stewardship. And during the Q&A portion at the end of the talk, someone asked an excellent question:

“If I’m trying to get better at managing my time, what’s is THE FIRST THING I should do?”

When you first start learning about personal productivity, it can be kind of intimidating. Everywhere you look someone is offering a different tip, strategy, or app that’s going to “change your life.” So where do you start?

If your life is feeling out of control, you know you aren’t stewarding your time well, and you just want to know where to start, then let me offer this one piece of advice:

Start with your bed time.

Reasons:

More Predictable Mornings. It’s easier to have consistent morning habits (devotions, exercise, planning the day, etc.) if you are going to sleep a decent time on a regular schedule.Improved Sleep Quality. Quality sleep is as much about consistency as it is about quantity (number of hours). God designed our bodies to follow regular rhythms. Going to bed at the same time trains your body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm), making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.Better Mental Clarity. Your brain thrives on routine. A consistent bedtime helps your mind stay sharp, improves focus, and enhances decision-making during the day.

Having a bedtime as an adult sounds kind of lame, but I just see it as part of the stewardship of my body. And I’ve found that if I nail this habit, everything else gets easier.

The easiest way to build this habit is to set an alarm on your phone that goes off 30-45 minutes before you want to be in bed. That’s your cue to start winding down, get off the screens, and start preparing for sleep. But after a couple weeks of consistency, you’ll just start feeling tired at that time and you won’t need the alarm anymore.

If you’re interested, I’ve got a few more tips on evening routines in How to Prepare for a Great Morning Routine.

We also dedicate an entire week to morning routine habits in the new Waypoints to Well Done curriculum, which is part of the RPA membership. If you’re a Christian who is wanting to take a giant leap forward with your time management, consider joining the ​Redeeming Productivity Academy​.

Weekly Word

“O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.”
– Psalm 5:3

In this Psalm David models a heart that begins each day by turning to the Lord in expectant prayer. When we start our mornings with God—lifting our requests and watching for His work—we cultivate a posture of trust that steadies us for whatever the day may bring.

Worth Your Time How to Publicly Thank God After a Work Win (4 mins) Miranda Carls offers some excellent Scriptural counsel for how to honor Christ in the workplace when you experience success. John Piper’s Framework for a Biblically Informed Retirement Plan (11 mins) This is a great read. Chris Cagle looks at some of Piper’s principles on retirement and compliments it with his own expertise. Chris was previously a guest on our podcast and I can’t recommend highly enough his series on NextGenStewardship. The Rule of 3 (2 mins) A simple framework for keeping your the priorities for your day, week, and year crystal clear.Words of Wisdom

“Fruit-bearing involves cross-bearing. There are not two Christs—an easygoing one for easygoing Christians, and a suffering, toiling one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are you willing to abide in Him, and thus to bear much fruit?”
– Hudson Taylor

Take your Christian productivity to the next level

Listen to the Podcast â†’ The Redeeming Productivity Show is available on all podcast platforms and YouTube.​

Get the Book â†’ Grab a copy of â€‹Redeeming Productivity: Getting More Done for the Glory of God​

Join the Academy → Get access to all of our courses, workshops, private community, planner, and more​​

Use the Planner → The all-in-one productivity system designed for Christians

Reagan’s Roundup: April 10, 2025

Your weekly roundup of insights and resources to help you get more done for the glory of God.

In Today’s Issue:Ecclesiastes on CollaborationSloth, Diligence, & the Protestant Work EthicGetting Organized for the Glory of GodBusy But Never ProductiveThomas Watson on the Madness of Earthly-Mindedness

Dear steward,

Our family picked up 8 baby chicks this week. When we told our six-year-old that gathering the eggs will be his responsibility, he just beamed with pride. Every day since, he’s doted on those baby chicks. Checking on them first thing each morning, making sure they are eating and drinking, and taking time to hold them.

As a parent there are few things that lift your spirit as much as seeing a child step up a responsibility.

And I imagine our Heavenly Father feels the same way toward us. When He puts a duty or opportunity before us, and we rise to the occasion, not with complaining but with joy, we honor Him.

We don’t know what the day will hold, but whatever the Lord has for us, let’s greet the day’s work as a stewardship. Let’s do our Father proud.

(And pray for me that I’ll keep that attitude while I put this coop together!)

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Weekly Word

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”
– Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

The triune God designed us to fulfill His purposes in community. Collaboration strengthens our efforts lifts us when we stumble. Remember that seeking help and offering it to others is a vital part of fulfilling God’s purpose for your work. This is a team effort.

Worth Your Time Sloth & Diligence (4 mins) What is the Protestant work ethic and how does it change the way Christians think about labor and productivity? Getting Organized For the Glory of God (3 mins) “When the Bible clearly lays out a responsibility . . . there is the implied responsibility to be as purposeful and organized as necessary to fulfill that biblical command.” Why You’re Always Busy but Never Productive (and How to Fix It) (7 mins) A helpful framework for how to divide up your professional time: Management, creation, consumption, ideation. Words of Wisdom

“The world is but a great inn where we are to stay a night or two, and then be gone. What madness it is so to set our heart upon our inn—as to forget our eternal home!”
– Thomas Watson

Take your Christian productivity to the next level

Listen to the Podcast â†’ The Redeeming Productivity Show is available on all podcast platforms and YouTube.​

Get the Book â†’ Grab a copy of â€‹Redeeming Productivity: Getting More Done for the Glory of God​

Join the Academy → Get access to all of our courses, workshops, private community, planner, and more​​

Use the Planner → The all-in-one productivity system designed for Christians

Reagan’s Roundup: April 3, 2025

Your weekly roundup of insights and resources to help you get more done for the glory of God.

In Today’s Issue:Stewarding Your MindProverbs 12:11 on the blessings of hard workResources on VocationThe Paradox of EaseAn App for Time Blocking

Dear steward,

I just wanted to open this newsletter with a word of thanks to you, my readers. It’s a joy and privilege to write it, and I’m so grateful to you for reading it.

And an extra big thanks for your kind replies to last week’s edition. I enjoyed the fruitful and encouraging conversations on the topic of not trying to do everything yourself.

Thank you!

Stewarding Your Mind

Doing productivity God’s way means viewing your entire life as a stewardship. Your time, talents, and treasure are all resources left to your care. And the sensible Christian will take care to do all that he or she can to make a good return on these things for the Master.

Most believers understand this call to stewardship in areas like finances or even with the use of our time. But are you treating your mind like a stewardship?

In this week’s essay, I take a look at how we can steward our minds by guarding, growing, and gifting our mental faculties for the glory of God.

Read “Stewarding Your Mind” ->

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Weekly Word

“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.”
– Proverbs 12:11

We work as unto the Lord because we want to please Him. But don’t forget that hard work also tends to lead to blessing. The Bible tells us this plainly. Productivity is the pursuit of the wise and God-fearing, but it’s a curse word to the foolish and lazy.

Worth Your Time 5 Recommended Resources on Vocation (2 mins) Ligonier has a nice roundup of books on the theology of vocation. The Paradox of Ease: Why Friction Is Good for You (5 mins) Trevin Wax reviews Antón Barba-Kay’s latest book, A Web of Our Own Making and, boy, get ready to feel convicted. Align: Time Blocking Planner This is a very cool little time-blocking app for iOS. It has a great way of visualizing your schedule as your day progresses. A great way to implement your weekly plan.Words of Wisdom

“[O]ne of the benefits of claiming to be overworked or starved for time is that it lets you off the hook for dealing with the burden of choice.”
– Laura Vanderkam, 186 Hours

Take your Christian productivity to the next level

Listen to the Podcast â†’ The Redeeming Productivity Show is available on all podcast platforms and YouTube.​

Get the Book â†’ Grab a copy of â€‹Redeeming Productivity: Getting More Done for the Glory of God​

Join the Academy → Get access to all of our courses, workshops, private community, planner, and more​​

Use the Planner → The all-in-one productivity system designed for Christians

Stewarding Your Mind

Doing productivity God’s way means viewing your entire life as a stewardship. Your time, talents, and treasure are all resources left to your care. And the sensible Christian will take care to do all that he or she can to make a good return on these things for the Master.

Most believers understand this call to stewardship in areas like finances or even with the use of our time. But are you treating your mind like a stewardship?

God has gifted many believers with incredibly sharp minds. However, there is always the temptation to boast about our intellect or to use it merely to serve ourselves. But how do we steward our minds? The Bible calls us to both guard and grow our minds.

Guard Your Mind

One way we steward our minds is by guarding them. The Scriptures encourage us to guard our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:6–7), to take thoughts captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), and to be watchful when it comes to our minds (1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7). Guarding your mind means being careful about what you put into it. If you fill your head with entertainment that glorifies sin, or promotes worldviews that are contrary to Scripture, you’re simply inviting temptation into your life.

Positively, guarding your mind means filling it with truth. We must fill our heads with the Word of God and hear it echoed to us in our local church and by other faithful believers. We need constant reminders that cut through the world’s noise with the clarity of God’s truths.

Grow Your Mind

We also steward our minds not just by guarding them but also by growing them. Be diligent about having your mind not conformed to the world’s ways of thinking but renewed by exposure to God’s truth (Rom. 12:2). Growing your mind also means training your mind not just in spiritual things, but for use in all of life. Just as Paul disciplined his body (1 Cor. 9:27), we must discipline our minds. Read good books, solve difficult problems, push yourself to grow in your thinking and reasoning so your mind will be a sharp weapon in God’s arsenal.

And most importantly, as we guard and grow our minds, we need to invest them in worthy pursuits. Give the best of your mental abilities to serve your local church, your neighbors, and your family. God has entrusted you with your mind. Your role as a steward is to make a good return on that trust.

Give Your Mind

One thing we must avoid when it comes to our natural talents, however, is the danger of trusting in or boasting in our abilities. “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God” (Ps. 20:7). We must remember that these are not things we have created but are gifts of God (1 Cor. 4:7). We give those gifts back to God when we use them to serve Him.

An arrogant steward is an abomination. “God is opposed the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). So as you use your natural talents, make sure you always do so with an attitude of humility. The whole point of stewardship is to use these gifts to make God look good, not yourself.

Portions of this essay were adapted from Well Done: A Strategy for Life Stewardship (CLC Publications, 2022)

Reagan’s Roundup: March 27, 2025

Your weekly roundup of insights and resources to help you get more done for the glory of God.

In Today’s Issue:You Can’t Do It AloneTheology of Work and Stay-at-Home-MomsSpiritual Care for the UnemployedOption Rot: Why It’s Time to Commit to SomethingJerome on Redeeming the TimeYou Can’t Do It Alone

Dear steward,

It’s been one of those months.

I was out of town most of last week working on a new project. Then, I came home to a cold house and a broken boiler, which required us to move out of the house while we wait for it to get fixed. Then, I had jury duty and got picked to serve on a trial that is still dragging on nearly a week later. I’m supposed to be taking a week off for family vacation next week. All the while, I have deadlines to meet, emails to answer, a community to manage, interviews to give, promises to fulfill, a chicken coop to build, a family to serve, talks to prepare, and…

…a newsletter to write.

It’s been a good reminder that I can’t do this alone. And neither can you.

If you’re also experiencing a hectic season, I hope you’ll take a moment to read the article I wrote this week that you’ll find some encouragement in it.

Read “You Can’t Do it Alone” ->

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Weekly Word

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
– 2 Corinthians 4:7

God works through our weakness, not in spite of it. He does this because His object in using flawed creatures like you and me to accomplish His will is not because he needs our help or our productivity but because He wants to magnify His glory through us.

Worth Your Time The Theology of Work and the Stay-at-Home Mom (7 mins) Shiprah shares an encouraging word for stay-at-home moms. When the Paychecks Stop: Spiritual Care for the Unemployed (5 mins) “What the unemployed need—beyond job leads and résumé workshops—is a renewed understanding of who they are in God’s economy and how their worth transcends their productivity.” Option Rot (5 mins) This is an excellent reminder that every decision is a tiny murder. “Optionality promises freedom but delivers paralysis. It offers endless paths but leaves us stranded at the crossroads. The more doors we leave open, the less we walk through any of them. And slowly, imperceptibly, those doors close and the options begin to rot.”Words of Wisdom

“As followers of Christ, we are called to be wise and discerning in our use of time. Let us not be careless or foolish, but rather understand the importance of every moment. May we dedicate ourselves to seeking God’s will and making the most of the opportunities He grants us.”

– Jerome (347–420 AD)

Take your Christian productivity to the next level

Listen to the Podcast â†’ The Redeeming Productivity Show is available on all podcast platforms and YouTube.​

Get the Book â†’ Grab a copy of â€‹Redeeming Productivity: Getting More Done for the Glory of God​

Join the Academy → Get access to all of our courses, workshops, private community, planner, and more​​

Use the Planner → The all-in-one productivity system designed for Christians

You Can’t Do It Alone

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

2 Corinthians 4:7

It’s been one of those months.

I was out of town most of last week working on a new project. Then, I came home to a cold house and a broken boiler. On Monday, I had jury duty and got picked to serve on a trial that is still dragging on. And I’m supposed to take a week off for family vacation this Sunday. All the while, I have deadlines to meet, emails to answer, a community to manage, interviews to give, promises to fulfill, a chicken coop to build, a family to serve, talks to prepare, articles to write.

I’m not complaining—I promise!

This is just real-life stuff. This is productivity in the trenches of life. And it’s in these seasons that I’m reminded that life stewardship is not merely a matter of strategies and life hacks.

I put my money where my mouth is with what I teach about time management. I plan my weeks, I practice my POWER Morning, I work ahead to create a buffer in my schedule, I keep my responsibilities to a manageable level using a quarterly commitment audit.

But this month, I’ve burned through all my buffer time, my schedule has flown the coop, and my responsibilities are exceeding my capacity. And as I sit here now, I’m writing this the morning I’m supposed to send it. And even as I type, half my mind is preoccupied with everything I need to do in the next two days.

“How am I going to get all of this done?”

The truth is that productivity is not the solution to all of your problems. That’s the promise of secular productivity, isn’t it? Peace, order, simplicity, abundance—the life you want—is just on the other side of one simple system/technique/app/framework.

You can become the most efficient and effective person alive, and you’ll still be a time-bound creature living in a fallen world. But that message doesn’t sell books.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe very much that productivity matters. It’s a matter of faithful stewardship of the time God has given you. Having clear priorities, organized systems, and consistent habits will bring order to the chaos of your life. It’s just wisdom of the kind Solomon explicates in the Proverbs.

But productivity is not a panacea.

No matter how good you get at goal-setting, habits, or time management, you’re still going to come up against hard limits, you’re going to have seasons where all the systems fall apart, and you’re going to feel inadequate, overwhelmed, and anxious. At times, you’re still going to wonder, “How am I going to get this all done?”

And what I want to remind you of today, is that these seasons of stress and systems break down are providential reminders sent to you by a loving Heavenly Father to remind you that you still need Christ. You can’t do this alone. Christ is the one working through you to accomplish His will. Christ is the one on whom you cast your cares in that busy season when you don’t know how everything will get done. Christ is the one you turn to for succor when the task is heavier than you can lift.

God delights in using clay pots like us, cracks and all, not because we are the most effective instruments in ourselves but because His glory shines through our weakness.

So, if you’re having “one of those months” or even just one of those days, I want to encourage you to take a breath and turn to Christ in prayer. You can’t do this alone; He doesn’t expect you to.

Reagan’s Roundup: March 20, 2025

Your weekly roundup of insights and resources to help you get more done for the glory of God.

In Today’s Issue:A Manner Worthy of the LordTheming Your Days to Avoid OverwhelmDumb ChurchThe Chef’s Secret to a More Productive LifeJohn Maxwell on Giving Away Your Time

Dear steward,

A couple of months ago, we launched a new curriculum as part of the revamped Redeeming Productivity Academy. It’s a 9-week program called Waypoints to Well Done.

We’ve had 155 members start the program, and the feedback so far has been great. But I haven’t done a great job communicating exactly what the new program is all about, which is evidenced by all the questions I get from you guys about it.

So, I figured the best thing to do was to make the first lesson available for free to give you guys a big-picture overview of what Waypoints to Well Done is all about. If you want to watch it, just head to the Academy landing page and click the button that says “Get a Free Sample” (just like at Costco!).

In other news, I’m on the road this week doing filming for a rather ambitious new project in concert with another ministry. I’ll keep it top secret for now. But I’ll have more info for you in the coming months.

(I’m just telling you now so you’ll think I’m cool, interesting, and well-connected.)

Now, let’s dive into this week’s roundup!

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Weekly Word

“so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”
– Colossians 1:10

Today’s mission: Please the Lord. Let’s not be content with stagnation but press on in His power to pursue growth in our knowledge of Him and in our fruitfulness, for His name’s sake.

Worth Your Time Try theming your days to feel less overwhelmed (2 mins) This is a super-simple technique to bring some order to your week, and one we teach in RPA as well. Dumb Church (6 mins) This unfortunately titled article is likely to get you thinking. As people switching to dumb phones has become a trend, Stephen asks if it might be wise to do something similar with our churches. This episode of the Aaron Renn Show makes a nice pairing. Mise en Place: The Chef’s Secret to a More Productive and Organized Life (7 mins) Mis en place is a French phrase that means “put in place.” It’s about organizing so the kitchen can run as efficiently as possible. But Brett & Kate share how 3 principles from this culinary philosophy can help us better order our lives.Words of Wisdom

“The greatest gift you can give someone is your time because when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back.”
– John C. Maxwell

Take your Christian productivity to the next level

Listen to the Podcast â†’ The Redeeming Productivity Show is available on all podcast platforms and YouTube.​

Get the Book â†’ Grab a copy of â€‹Redeeming Productivity: Getting More Done for the Glory of God​

Join the Academy → Get access to all of our courses, workshops, private community, planner, and more​​

Use the Planner → The all-in-one productivity system designed for Christians