A Business Leader’s Guide to Redeeming Your Time
Time Management for Christian Leaders
If you’re a business leader, you know a specific kind of exhaustion. It’s not just long hours. It’s the mental load. The constant “open tabs” in your mind. Even when you’re resting, part of you is still scanning for what you forgot.
You’ve probably asked:
Why do I feel so behind when I’m working so hard?
Am I always going to feel this way?
Why do I feel so behind when I’m working so hard?
Am I always going to feel this way?
Is it possible to have peace while chasing productivity?
How do I get more time back in my schedule?
You’re not alone.
Is it possible to have peace while chasing productivity?
How do I get more time back in my schedule?
The Leadership Ripple Effect: Why Your Pace Matters
Here’s what most productivity systems won’t tell you: Poor time management isn’t only about you. If you’re a leader, your pace shapes your team.
Leading from a place of hurry can still produce results, but it slowly erodes the people and purposes those results are meant to serve. Your team picks up on your fragmented attention. Your customers sense when you’re rushing through interactions. Your family feels the residue of your work stress, even when you’re physically present.
That’s why redeeming time is one of the most practical ways to love your employees, customers, spouse, kids, and community. The question is: How do you break the cycle?
A Different Framework for Productivity
Jordan Raynor answers that question head-on with one simple truth: 100% of the time you spend in your business matters for eternity. If your work matters eternally, productivity can’t be about striving for peace through performance. Instead, Raynor calls leaders to grace-based productivity—managing time as a response to Christ’s peace, not a way to earn it.
Most secular productivity systems promise peace after you optimize your calendar, clear your inbox, or finally hit your quarterly goals. However, Raynor offers something radically different: peace before you do anything.
Two Ways Jesus Solves Your Time Problem
When you understand that your work has eternal significance, your perspective on time shifts from something to control to something to steward. The best model for managing time comes from Someone who faced constant demands, limited hours, and high-stakes decisions: Jesus.
First, Jesus frees you from performance-based productivity. Scripture reminds us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). If God loves you at your worst, He loves you the same on your most productive day and on your least productive one. That means you don’t pursue productivity to earn God’s approval but as worshipful stewardship in response to grace.
Second, Jesus modeled healthy time management. In the Gospels, we see Him handling distractions, prioritizing relationships, fighting for solitude, and meeting countless needs without becoming hurried (Matthew 12:46–50; Mark 1:35–39; Luke 4:1–2, 42–44; John 11:5–6). Since He is the author of time, we can trust His example.
Seven Timeless Principles from Christ’s Example
Inspired by the pages of Redeeming Your Time, Raynor draws seven principles from the life of Jesus that help leaders become present, focused, and dependable. Here’s a high-level guide of those principles, with clear next steps you can begin using this week:
1. Start with the Word.
Jesus prioritized time with His Father above everything else. Even after late nights of ministry, He rose early to pray alone (Mark 1:35). If your work matters eternally, you need clarity on what matters eternally to God.
➜ Study Scripture in a way that produces accountability, such as writing notes in a Bible you plan to give your children or someone you’re discipling.
1. Start with the Word.
Jesus prioritized time with His Father above everything else. Even after late nights of ministry, He rose early to pray alone (Mark 1:35). If your work matters eternally, you need clarity on what matters eternally to God.
➜ Study Scripture in a way that produces accountability, such as writing notes in a Bible you plan to give your children or someone you’re discipling.
2. Let Your “Yes” Be “Yes.”
Most leaders keep commitments scattered across emails, sticky notes, texts, and mental reminders. That fragmentation creates anxiety because your brain knows you’ll drop something eventually. Jesus teaches: “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37). Follow-through matters—not just for effectiveness, but for integrity.
➜ The solution is to externalize your commitments. Do a complete brain dump of everything you’ve agreed to do and capture it in one trusted system. You’ll feel relief before completing a single task.
2. Let Your “Yes” Be “Yes.”
Most leaders keep commitments scattered across emails, sticky notes, texts, and mental reminders. That fragmentation creates anxiety because your brain knows you’ll drop something eventually. Jesus teaches: “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37). Follow-through matters—not just for effectiveness, but for integrity.
➜ The solution is to externalize your commitments. Do a complete brain dump of everything you’ve agreed to do and capture it in one trusted system. You’ll feel relief before completing a single task.
3. Dissent from the Kingdom of Noise.
The Gospels repeatedly show Jesus withdrawing to solitary places. Even after His baptism, rather than launching straight into His public ministry, He entered 40 days of silence and solitude (Matthew 3–4). Noise drains discernment. Solitude strengthens it.
➜ One radical practice Raynor recommends: Let other people curate the news for you. He stopped consuming news years ago and found that friends naturally share what actually matters without the constant anxiety and distraction.
3. Dissent from the Kingdom of Noise.
The Gospels repeatedly show Jesus withdrawing to solitary places. Even after His baptism, rather than launching straight into His public ministry, He entered 40 days of silence and solitude (Matthew 3–4). Noise drains discernment. Solitude strengthens it.
➜ One radical practice Raynor recommends: Let other people curate the news for you. He stopped consuming news years ago and found that friends naturally share what actually matters without the constant anxiety and distraction.
4. Prioritize Your Yeses.
When crowds wanted more miracles, Jesus said no, because He had a bigger mission (Mark 1:37–38). He knew what He was called to do, and He let that guide His decisions. Many leaders struggle to say no because they don’t have a clear “north star” for their work. Without it, everything feels urgent.
➜ Define your big goal—your “why.” Doing so will make it easier to filter your opportunities and protect your priorities.
4. Prioritize Your Yeses.
When crowds wanted more miracles, Jesus said no, because He had a bigger mission (Mark 1:37–38). He knew what He was called to do, and He let that guide His decisions. Many leaders struggle to say no because they don’t have a clear “north star” for their work. Without it, everything feels urgent.
➜ Define your big goal—your “why.” Doing so will make it easier to filter your opportunities and protect your priorities.
5. Accept Your Uni-Presence.
Jesus willingly chose to be in one place at a time. He didn’t try to be everywhere for everyone. At times, He even avoided attention so He could focus on what mattered most (Mark 9:30). For leaders, this means choosing when to be reachable rather than always being available.
➜ Set specific times to check emails and texts. Create a VIP list for truly urgent needs. Ask VIPs to call (not text) when it’s urgent. Keep your phone on Do Not Disturb so you can stay fully present.
5. Accept Your Uni-Presence.
Jesus willingly chose to be in one place at a time. He didn’t try to be everywhere for everyone. At times, He even avoided attention so He could focus on what mattered most (Mark 9:30). For leaders, this means choosing when to be reachable rather than always being available.
➜ Set specific times to check emails and texts. Create a VIP list for truly urgent needs. Ask VIPs to call (not text) when it’s urgent. Keep your phone on Do Not Disturb so you can stay fully present.
6. Embrace Productive Rest.
Jesus slept, practiced Sabbath rhythms, and gave His disciples breaks during demanding seasons. Rest is part of faithful stewardship. The key is that the tired parts of your mind are restored by engaging other parts of you.
➜ If you do mind work all day, rest with your hands: walk, cook, exercise, build something, or play music. Conversely, if you work with your hands, rest with your mind: read a book, solve puzzles, listen to a podcast, journal, or engage in strategic thinking about a passion project. Strategic rest makes your next sprint stronger.
6. Embrace Productive Rest.
Jesus slept, practiced Sabbath rhythms, and gave His disciples breaks during demanding seasons. Rest is part of faithful stewardship. The key is that the tired parts of your mind are restored by engaging other parts of you.
➜ If you do mind work all day, rest with your hands: walk, cook, exercise, build something, or play music. Conversely, if you work with your hands, rest with your mind: read a book, solve puzzles, listen to a podcast, journal, or engage in strategic thinking about a passion project. Strategic rest makes your next sprint stronger.
7. Eliminate All Hurry.
Jesus was extremely busy—so busy that His family thought He was “out of His mind” (Mark 3:20–21). Yet, He was never frantic. Busyness is an outward condition: There is a lot to do. Hurry is an inward condition: anxious, impatient, and reactive. You know you’ve crossed into hurry when you’re snapping at people or getting angry at small interruptions.
➜ Plan your time carefully, and hold your plans loosely, allowing interruptions without losing your peace.
7. Eliminate All Hurry.
Jesus was extremely busy—so busy that His family thought He was “out of His mind” (Mark 3:20–21). Yet, He was never frantic. Busyness is an outward condition: There is a lot to do. Hurry is an inward condition: anxious, impatient, and reactive. You know you’ve crossed into hurry when you’re snapping at people or getting angry at small interruptions.
➜ Plan your time carefully, and hold your plans loosely, allowing interruptions without losing your peace.
The Why Behind the How
Time management is about stewardship. God created us to work alongside Him: to build, lead, and serve with joy and eternal purpose. When you work from this understanding, productivity becomes worship.
This week, pick one principle that speaks to your current pain point and practice it. Remember to keep the “why” in view. There is a greater purpose behind all the work you do.
C12’s upcoming webinar with Jordan Raynor will delve deeper into how these principles apply to real-world leadership demands, especially those that don’t fit neatly on a to-do list. If you’ve felt swamped, scattered, or hurried, this conversation will help you lead with peace, purpose, and practical clarity, one day at a time.
C12 Business Forums provides an architected environment for Christian business leaders that integrates work, life, and leadership transformation. To learn more about C12’s approach to Christ-centered business leadership, find a C12 Business Forum near you.
February 18, 2026
