⏳TIME…….is fleeting, is irrevocable, is precious! We can’t get it back, save it or change it! We can waste it, misuse it or make the most of it! We can either become a slave to time or we can master it! Once it’s gone we can never ever get it back! Never!
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
The Word of God gives us a mandate to make the most of our time but many times at the end of the day I’m frazzled and frustrated because I’ve either wasted or misused my time! Now you are either a time person or not! Are you on time to everything or are you consistently late to work, meetings, lunches with friends, weddings-yikes!…?
For much of my life I have been between 15-45 minutes late to everything, (I’m sure I was born past my due date!), until a friend who loved me enough, called me on it! She shared with me that by being late, I was being rude, selfish and inconsiderate of other’s time! The precious Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth, came right on in behind that and convicted me of putting my wants and needs ahead of others and devaluing their time! Since then I have been intentional about not being late! I’m not 100% but I may only occasionally be about 5 minutes behind and most of all I finally see the true value of time! I don’t think I’ll be late to my own funeral now!
Since I’ve turned 60 this year I’ve become almost obsessed with time! You begin thinking about all the time you’ve wasted or misused! ! I thought about all the time I spent on the phone with my friends when my kids were little because I needed adult conversation! All the times I spent cleaning, wanting my house to always be picked up! I could have loved on them more, played with them more, taught them more!
Then you think of the time you have left! Will I see my grandkids get married and have babies, will I get to enjoy long, wonderful years with my dear husband after he retires, will I impact those around me by pouring out the love of Christ and sharing His good news of redemption, healing and life eternal? When you get older you really begin to realize that time is precious and that if we’re not intentional, it races past us at breakneck speed, waiting for no one! And there are no do-overs! But don’t wait until you get older to treasure your time!
In this age of technology and social media, which can be a great tool, it is slowly becoming a time killer! When you go to a restaurant do you notice how many people are on their phones? There is no conversation! Without conversation there can be no relationship! I confess I have been guilty of that at times! People are not being present with the person in their presence!
So what is killing your time? Is it your phone, the Internet, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TV….?
As I pondered this I began to think of all the time I’m spending trying to find the perfect Christmas gifts for my family! I was at the mall this past Sunday, so very cra cra I know, and 100’s were shopping like there was no tomorrow! I know many had been out since Black Friday running on fumes and coffee! We are all buying more stuff!
In my quiet time this morning I felt like the Lord said that most people don’t want more stuff! What they want from us is our time! Good ole sit across the table conversation! Not the shallow, chatty kind but the I really care about what’s on your heart kind! The tell me what’s troubling you and let me encourage you kind! What if we gave that kind of gift? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to schedule regular dinners, go on a trip together or meet weekly for coffee rather than buy one more scarf or shaving kit?
What if we took the time to speak a word of kindness to the exhausted cashier, offer to pay for a strangers meal or give someone in need a coat? What if we spent time seeking out the hurting and sharing with them the good news that God loves them and wants to heal their heart, meet their needs and give them life eternal through Jesus Christ?
But most importantly, what about our time with Jesus? After all He’s given us this precious gift! Isn’t He worth our spending time with each day? I know I struggle with this during the holidays, but the Lord has shown me it’s because I sometimes place a higher value on other things over Him! Ouch! That is really ugly but I know He still loves me, His Beautiful Mess, and with His help I am going to be intentional about putting Him first every day!
Well precious ones, I’d say it’s about time we take time seriously! So TAKE time! I mean grab it, treasure it, value it! Be wise, make the most of it! Don’t waste it, be a slave to it or let it slip away from you, for you’ll never have another chance to use the time today to impact your precious family and loved ones, and the world around you, with the love, hope, joy and peace of the Savior of the world-Jesus! For ⏳TIME… is fleeting, is irrevocable, is precious!
PRAYER: GRACIOUS LORD, YOUR WORD SAYS IN PSALM 39:4, “REMIND ME HOW BRIEF MY TIME ON EARTH WILL BE. REMIND ME THAT MY DAYS ARE NUMBERED-HOW FLEETING LIFE IS.” HELP US LORD TO NOT WASTE A SINGLE MINUTE OF OUR LIVES ON THINGS THAT HAVE NO VALUE. FORGIVE US FOR PUTTING SO MANY OTHER THINGS ABOVE YOU AND SHOW US THE AREAS OF OUR LIVES THAT ARE KILLING OUR/YOUR PRECIOUS TIME! HELP US TO TREASURE EACH MINUTE OF EACH DAY AND THE BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND FRIENDS YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH. MAY WE HAVE YOUR EYES TO SEE THOSE AROUND US WHO NEED YOUR LOVE, HOPE, GRACE AND PEACE! AND MAY WE TAKE THE TIME TO GIVE TO OTHERS WHAT YOU HAVE SO FREELY GIVEN TO US! HELP US TO LOVE AS EXTRAVAGANTLY AS YOU LOVE US! IN JESUS MATCHLESS NAME! AMEN
Love Always,
tarabella
john 3:30
hisbeautifulmess 