MY Time

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  Ephesians 5:1-2

Whew!  It’s been a while since I’ve written! Hmmm….funny how that happens when you’re planning a wedding and getting married and going on a 2 ½ month tour across Canada and the USA serving the Lord… just the usual sort of things, you know…but somehow time just kind-of slips away.  ;o)

I’ve been praying though that the Lord would help me to get back into blogging more regularly…so we’ll see how it goes.  But we aren’t going to be on tour again for another few months, so hopefully I’ll be able to make time to blog, amidst all the classes here at  U.M.B.I. and everything that entails.

My post may be a little on the short side today, as it’s just something I’ve been realizing just today, but I thought it could possibly be an encouragement for some of you to pray about, and you may realize that it’s been something in your life that is bigger than it should be, as I think it has been in mine.

So, what am I talking about?  Well…just today I think God is showing me that “my time” has been an idol in my heart.  I often have a list of things that *I* want to get done or see happen on any given day…and if the progress in those things is interrupted in any way, I feel that I great injustice has been done.  Even if something happens that occurs at the same time every day, and/or has been scheduled and planned, and I know it’s going to happen…but I feel that it is taking away from the time I could be getting something else done, or if is just so happens that I am still working on something else when the time arrives for this other thing to happen, there often is a great struggle going on inside of me.  And of course, I usually put aside what I was doing to hold to the previous commitment or new request for my time…but I do it in such a way and with such an attitude as if I have been wronged in some way, but that I am condescending to put aside my desires anyway, and I deserve the full pity of all mankind. *sob!*

I have been thinking of my time as “my own”; something that no one should be able to tamper with – something I jealously guard.  And, while it is a good thing to use our time wisely, and not to waste it, we must also come to the realization that “our time” really is not our own.  Every second we receive is a gift from the Lord, and it is to be used for His glory.

Our lives are actually meant for sacrificing.  The most fruit has come from the lives of those who have been willing to put aside the things that they might want to do so that they may give up their time to serve the Lord and others, and their lives become a living sacrifice of love to the Lord and from the Lord to others.

Christ gave himself up for us – so we also should give ourselves and “our time” up for Him and for others.

Lord, thank you for giving me the time that you have – help me to give it back to you.  Take away my selfishness and replace it with your love, so that, when “disturbances” come, I would view them as opportunities to serve you…and that I would even be glad for them, and look for more opportunities to be a blessing.  Help me to be able to discern the difference between being wise with my time, and being selfish.

Amen.