How are you spending your time?
The View from where I sit looks a little different today. My friend and co-worker has resigned from his position and I find myself alone in the office. I have to admit that I never saw this moment coming and I really don't know what to make of it all. I mean he is an incredible teacher, a man whom I would consider a great friend, one who works hard serving the Lord, yet he is now unemployed and looking for a job. Today the view looks a little blurred, today questions run through my mind as to why God would allow such a man as this to be removed from the pulpit and thrown back into the regular grind of life.
I wish I had the answers to those questions. I wish I could understand the workings of the Almighty God but I cannot at times so now what? Well I am fortunate enough to have 33 years under my belt with the Lord so He has a proven track record in my heart. Oh trust me, I have run off and done my own thing during those 33 years and many were so clearly my stupidity. Many however were the Lord allowing things to take place in my life so that I might have the opportunity to grow in my faith. This is another one of those times. The Lord has ALWAYS been faithful through tough times. He has always provided when things, at the time, seemed impossible, when life seemed completely out of control. In those times I certainly didn't feel like things were in control but looking back on those situations I can now see God's hand all over them.
Today is an opportunity to grow in your faith. No matter what the situation you find yourself in, God has a plan in it and one of the bi-products is faith building! My faith is being built today. Many things seem up in the air and I truly have little control over my friend and pastor leaving, my eye not healing well, the economy, and any other thing that may come my way today.
One of the things that I do have control over however is how I spend my time. I was listening to the radio this morning on the way to work and the speaker was talking about prayer time and reading great books. I was nailed immediately because I have been throwing up little popcorn prayers lately and reading a little out of my bible but not much. He talked about setting aside time and really giving God a scheduled time when you are at your best. I even taught on this subject less than a month ago and yet I find myself mindlessly wasting time in front of the television or reading some stupid novel. Am I serious about my faith? My faith is being challenged every day. As a Christian I am not out on the field playing some game, I am on a battle field fighting for my life. The devil roams around like a lion seeking to devour us and we must be prepared for battle by putting on the FULL armor of God each and every day. What good is that television show or that novel doing for my faith and my walk with God through this battle?
How can we better spend our time developing the man or woman that God has called us to be? I am going to use the same bullets that I heard today in hopes that you take the time to evaluate how you are spending your time and what you can do to change those practices if they aren't working for you. I encourage you to look each of these scriptures up and read the verses before and after for context.
1) Think great thoughts. Philippians 4:8 dwell on these things.
2) Read great books. Romans 12:2 Renewing of your mind.
3) Pursue great people. Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men...
4) Dream great dreams. Ephesians 3:19-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
5) Pray great prayers. John 16:23-24 my Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.
6) Take great risks. Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God...
7) Make great sacrifices. John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this...
8) Enjoy great moments. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ...this is the gift of God.
9) Empower great people. 2 Timothy 2:2 and the things you have heard me say...
10) Develop great habits. 1 Timothy 4:8 ...for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things...
Each and every day we can control how we spend our time and if at any time you say, "that isn't true", then evaluate what that thing is that controls you. Is it sleep, your job, your "busy" schedule, your ministry, television, whatever it is either you have control over it or it has control over you. Take back control of your time and do these 10 things each day. Remember that the God that created all things is with you and has given you a helper, the Holy Spirit, to guide you and empower you to live your life according to the Spirit and not the flesh.
Today as your faith is being strengthened work with the Lord and trust Him because I can tell you from experience that this too shall pass. Whatever you face today has the potential to strengthen you for the next challenge that comes along and believe me the next one is coming. Faith comes as we trust the Lord and lean not on our own understanding. If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will make our path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Spend your time wisely, either you control your time or it will control you.
May God richly bless you today.
I wish I had the answers to those questions. I wish I could understand the workings of the Almighty God but I cannot at times so now what? Well I am fortunate enough to have 33 years under my belt with the Lord so He has a proven track record in my heart. Oh trust me, I have run off and done my own thing during those 33 years and many were so clearly my stupidity. Many however were the Lord allowing things to take place in my life so that I might have the opportunity to grow in my faith. This is another one of those times. The Lord has ALWAYS been faithful through tough times. He has always provided when things, at the time, seemed impossible, when life seemed completely out of control. In those times I certainly didn't feel like things were in control but looking back on those situations I can now see God's hand all over them.
Today is an opportunity to grow in your faith. No matter what the situation you find yourself in, God has a plan in it and one of the bi-products is faith building! My faith is being built today. Many things seem up in the air and I truly have little control over my friend and pastor leaving, my eye not healing well, the economy, and any other thing that may come my way today.
One of the things that I do have control over however is how I spend my time. I was listening to the radio this morning on the way to work and the speaker was talking about prayer time and reading great books. I was nailed immediately because I have been throwing up little popcorn prayers lately and reading a little out of my bible but not much. He talked about setting aside time and really giving God a scheduled time when you are at your best. I even taught on this subject less than a month ago and yet I find myself mindlessly wasting time in front of the television or reading some stupid novel. Am I serious about my faith? My faith is being challenged every day. As a Christian I am not out on the field playing some game, I am on a battle field fighting for my life. The devil roams around like a lion seeking to devour us and we must be prepared for battle by putting on the FULL armor of God each and every day. What good is that television show or that novel doing for my faith and my walk with God through this battle?
How can we better spend our time developing the man or woman that God has called us to be? I am going to use the same bullets that I heard today in hopes that you take the time to evaluate how you are spending your time and what you can do to change those practices if they aren't working for you. I encourage you to look each of these scriptures up and read the verses before and after for context.
1) Think great thoughts. Philippians 4:8 dwell on these things.
2) Read great books. Romans 12:2 Renewing of your mind.
3) Pursue great people. Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men...
4) Dream great dreams. Ephesians 3:19-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
5) Pray great prayers. John 16:23-24 my Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.
6) Take great risks. Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God...
7) Make great sacrifices. John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this...
8) Enjoy great moments. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ...this is the gift of God.
9) Empower great people. 2 Timothy 2:2 and the things you have heard me say...
10) Develop great habits. 1 Timothy 4:8 ...for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things...
Each and every day we can control how we spend our time and if at any time you say, "that isn't true", then evaluate what that thing is that controls you. Is it sleep, your job, your "busy" schedule, your ministry, television, whatever it is either you have control over it or it has control over you. Take back control of your time and do these 10 things each day. Remember that the God that created all things is with you and has given you a helper, the Holy Spirit, to guide you and empower you to live your life according to the Spirit and not the flesh.
Today as your faith is being strengthened work with the Lord and trust Him because I can tell you from experience that this too shall pass. Whatever you face today has the potential to strengthen you for the next challenge that comes along and believe me the next one is coming. Faith comes as we trust the Lord and lean not on our own understanding. If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will make our path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Spend your time wisely, either you control your time or it will control you.
May God richly bless you today.
Thank you David for your words of wisdom.
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