We all have 24 hours in a day, the only thing that is different between my time and yours is, how we spend it. I don’t know about your time but mine is split up into basically 3, 8 hour segments. One is sleeping (on a good day), 2 is work and 3 is free time. The question is, how do I spend that 8 hours of free time and is it really 8 hours of “ME” time. No way! I have many things that pull and tug at my “free time”. My husband, my extended family, my church, my friends, my home and me. Oops, God was left out of that list. I feel like some days go that way, God is an after thought.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Tick Tock time is passing right in front of my eyes. My kids have grown up, my grands are getting too big and my body is feeling the time that is passing. What have I not done with all that time?
Today a friend from work was talking about not feeling like he spends enough time with God. But then he started telling me all the things he does with God, in prayer, listening to devotions and sharing his witness by praising God to others. And I know this man, he’s a server and a steward of God’s blessings. Is he perfect, no! Does he spend as much time with God in silence as some others may, no! Is his heart desiring to devote his life to HIM, ABSOLUTELY! So what else would God expect?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-10
A Time for Everything
3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
I say to my self, I was doing what needed to be done.
I shared with him that I have the same struggles. I don’t feel that I spend enough quiet time with God! In this season of my life, I have to give myself some slack. I have my own “time for everything” list. My quiet time with the Lord may look differently than that of a women that is able to be a home maker (w/o children). My devotion time may look different from that of a women that is home and raising a house full of kids. The point is our time with God will look different according to what season of life we’re in. Give yourself some slack!
I have 8 hours of free “ME” time. Some would say that I need to use some of that time for things other than what I choose. But it’s my time! Time I can’t get back. So I choose to use it spending a little time with God and allowing Him to speak through scripture to me so that I can share what He shows me to you. I choose to sit one of one with ladies, living life together, sharing joys and trials, encouraging each other to seek God more in our lives. I choose to serve others in church and community. I choose to love my family with my time, share God’s love with them, tickling my grands and laughing out loud, singing songs & making silly faces. I pray and I share my life with Him many times a day. Right now a lengthy chat is not available. There will be time in a different season of my life to sit for a couple hours in the mornings, talking to Him and waiting to hear Him speak. There will be time to do lots of different things but for now, I have 8 hours and I believe that as long as my heart desires for my life to be devoted to praising God and loving others, then that is all that HE expects of me.
Give yourself some slack! That’s all HE wants from you too!
Ephesians 5:15-17
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Jesus too, had only a certain amount of time. He had lots to do in that short few years in his mission to save us. He carved out the time he needed to be alone with God.
Matthew 14:23
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
So, don’t be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is for you.
He has an overwhelming, never ending, reckless love for you and me.
Lord, you give me time, help me use it wisely, help me hear your leading and help me love with my time. Amen!
Rhonda Gould Coaching & Consulting 
Reblogged this on Chains of HOPE-Inspired by learned life experiences and commented:
This is an awesome reminder of time. It’s not how we use it go it how it’s spent. I was going to write that in reverse until my spirit nudged a reverse. I see now the reverse is being conformed to this world. As use is doing and spending is being contemplating resourceful and engaging. So I rewrote it to remind us that through God’s redemptive power we can be transformed into the image that God created intentionally for us and his good pleasure. Let’s allow the Spirit to renew our minds transform our visions and allow us to freely express ourselves in love, fellowship, worship and the promise
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Now you’ll have to find my reblog for my reflection to your original work. Blessings hope and cheers Nancy
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