Seven Timeless Principles from Christ's Example

Inspired by the pages of Redeeming Your Time, Jordan 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.

Next Step: 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.

Next Step: 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.

Next Step: 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.

Next Step: 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.

Next Step: 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.

Next Step: 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.

Next Step: Plan your time carefully, and hold your plans loosely, allowing interruptions without losing your peace.