These days we are bombarded with opportunities that entice us to invest our time and energy. Each day the voices of urgency cry out for every available moment. So many causes promise that time spent on them will reap great rewards; how can we recognize God's voice among so many competing voices? A fool makes unwise choices with his time. With every new opportunity that comes along, the fool chases off in a different direction, not questioning whether that is the best choice. - Blackaby
Just look around you. If you watch television, you can't go but a commercial or two without hearing about what you deserve. The car, the truck, the face, the house, the vacation. Take your pick.
Blackaby is oh so right in this entry for today. I intentionally get up when I do in this before-the-birds-are-awake hour because I know that it's important for several reasons. One is like Blackaby says about the demands on my time. The other is God honors me by showing up at our time together to talk to me, to do as I had prayed several years ago now. That prayer being "Show me more".
I removed television and movies from my life. I removed sports teams from my life.
I would rather read about the things of God than immersing myself in useless things like those.
To be honest, Readers, I was shown that those things are idols. I do not bring glory to God by vegitating in front of a TV. Or a movie that doesn't remotely remind me of God. I don't bring Him glory by getting passionate about a Sport. Quite the opposite happens and no it's not all in good fun. It causes anger issues, it causes strife. It causes people to turn on people. It does nothing to further the Gospel when it brings out the worst in people. You have any idea how desperately sad it is to be told by someone, after they hear you aren't a fan of 'their team', that they will pray for you about it? That's a horrific thought that someone would even joke about something like that. What if someone who doesn't believe in Christ would hear that? I was reading in 1 Corinthians 8 today about Paul's take on idols. About if he even might give the perception of acceptance of one before an unbeliever he would never do whatever it was again.
We live in a world where the Spirit world is treated like Science Fiction. We live in a world where the things of God are treated like Science Fiction. That that sort of stuff written in the Bible might have happened centuries ago but doesn't happen now. We live in a world rewriting the Bible to be all inclusive so that all religions can be in 'harmony'.
We live in a world where it is exactly like Jesus said. Would He find the faith when He returns?
True faith in God is becoming exceedingly difficult to find. As Blackaby says the demands on our time are formidable.
You get up, so much to do before heading out the door. You are in your car, there's only so much time to get to where you are going. You get there and then it's down to the minute of your time until it's time to go home. Then you have a strained time getting home because of people not paying attention and causing you to waste time. You get home and are still on a time schedule. You need to eat. Possibly have appointments. Squeeze in this or that...then realize that it's time for bed but you don't because there is more to do. You lose sleep because of the pressure on your mind about what got done and what didn't.
Sounds a lot like the story of Mary and Martha doesn't it?
That's the world view of 'success'. Sacrifice to be able to retire. Yet we have institutions that keep pushing the retirement age out farther. So no you can't slow down.
Yet what was the practice of Jesus with His Disciples? To get away to some silence and solitude. To get off the beaten path and spend time with Jesus.
What was Martha told? Mary had chosen wisely and it would not be taken from her.
Notice my hypothetical person about never once slowed down. Never once stopped and remembered to include God in his or her day.
I don't miss television or movies. I don't miss a lot of things when I ask God for more. He has the real Universe to show me, why should I want what is fake?
Yes I have things that I need to do each day. Work beckons. There's things around the house that need done. But I always begin the day with my Bible reading and devotionals. Time with Jesus here and likely in the car on the way to work. Throughout the day I find ways to listen to praise music. I have experienced entering the Throne room of Jesus in a song while at work before. It was amazing! In my mind I was singing to my Savior and He showed me He was listening.
I share prayer requests with others while at work. God is always with me, no matter how big the day is. I keep my hand in His.
So think about that. Think about your life.
How busy are you? Have you given Jesus the scraps of time from your day, if even that at all? Have you given Jesus anything?
As I have said on other occasions, these writings are not entirely my own. God brings the subject matter and I write what He forms in my mind. Every day without fail He does it. He charged me with writing it and sending it out to the world.
His Words were, "I am going to give you things to say, it's up to you to write them and send them out." You have no idea how amazed I am at what comes out.
My prayer request stays the same. "Lord, show me more."
He shows me more in His Word and shows me things to let go of. I am His workmanship. What about you?
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