Reading: Joshua 24:1-24
I can't remember a time in my life when I felt like I wasn't being pulled in every direction. My "To Do" list seems like it is never ending. When I think that I have reached the end of the list, reality sets in to the fact that it is time to turn the page to another list awaiting my attention. Guilt makes its way to my heart each time that I would take time for rest and relaxation. What makes this chaos and guilt in my life? ME! I have gradually come to the realization that I constantly struggle with the sacrifice of time. Most people I know are stretched in many different directions and seem to never have enough time. We make excuses one after another as to why we don't have time to do things for the Lord. When in reality, with every excuse we make the more we are placing our own desires above the Lord's desires.We give the best of our time to this world instead of giving it to God. We constantly look for earthly answers to our complaints of being tired, broke and stressed out. We tell ourselves, “There isn't enough hours in a day.” or “If I only had more time, then I could get it done.” When actually, if we only had more time, we could . . . hmm, mismanage even more time! We want order and balance in our lives, yet, we don't want to sacrifice by giving our time to the Lord for management. We would rather take the time to complain about not having time, than allow the Lord to manage our time for us. This really hit home when my quiet time with the Lord began to diminish from two hours a day to 30 minutes a day. I would constantly be tired when I awoke in the mornings and many times fell asleep during the very time when I needed the Lord to renew and refresh my soul. The Lord gently began to show me how He wanted me to allow Him to manage ALL my time and not just the quiet time with Him. He began to show me little things in my life that were ways I was mismanaging my time. Little things like making sure my little ones get to bed on time – not 30 minutes late. Those 30 minutes were valuable in making sure that I would be able to do the things we women must do around the house before going to bed. In the pushing of those 30 minutes, my time for bed became later and later. Leading to less sleep and ultimately less time with the Lord.
Achieving balance requires more than just putting your priorities in order; it requires discipline, willpower, and determination to see things through. The Lord guided me to see how some of my actions were disturbing my balance in other areas. We are supposed to have balance in every area of our lives, from our personal relationship with Jesus to other areas like work, finances, household chores, family commitments, friends, and relaxation. The key to achieving this balance is rather simple: It requires wisdom – godly wisdom. It is when we use our own wisdom that we stay in the midst of the chaos and allow ourselves to be pulled in different directions.
Are you allowing the Lord to manage your time? Are you daily seeking His wisdom as to what His priorities are for the day? Do as Joshua encouraged the Israelite people to do right before his death. Decide today who you will serve. Realize that your time belongs to God. Every minute is His and it is our obligation to use our time, ALL of our time, for His glory. As we strive toward the goal of keeping our focus on Jesus, it is imperative that we make the decision to serve the Lord by allowing Him to manage our time – ALL our time.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to bring glory to You with every moment of my life. My time management skills fall short. I submit my time and skills to You. I pray for wisdom in managing my time. Show me when I am not using it wisely so that I may bring glory to You. Amen.
Psalm for Meditation:
Psalm 90
Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God. You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men." For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning- though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. We are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your indignation. You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence. All our days pass away under Your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due You.
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to Your servants, Your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.
