Title from Psalm 102:3 (CSB)
Have you ever had your wings clipped, so to speak, at least temporarily? You know what I mean. Have you ever faced an illness or something unknown that has just sat you down?
For people who are always on the go, that can be very frustrating. There’s always so much to do. Not just things that you have to do for the smooth flow of your daily day. But things that you want to do.
There’s a true oddity occurs in those moments. See if you can relate.
Recently, I had an illness that forced me to just sit for days on end. Oddly enough, you would think that my love of writing would have saved the day. But wouldn’t you know, I developed writer’s block.
So, for most of that time, I felt like time was quickly passing me by, but at the same time, I felt like time was dragging at a snail’s pace.
That almost doesn’t make sense.
I just didn’t want to feel that my days were wasting away into nothingness.
Then my husband reminded me to find God in the moment and suggested I spend more intentional time with Him apart from this blog, beyond just studying for a self-imposed deadline.
My wonderful, godly husband was so right. When I came out on the other end, there was a blessing that I can’t describe. I would have missed it if I had not just sat before God with an open heart.
I think for believers, there are days when God intentionally stops our forward progress. He wants our attention, not in a mean, manipulative way, but so that He can help us hear His dear voice.
Let’s face it, we tend to shut Him out, don’t we? Maybe not on purpose. But time does just seem to fly, even when in a moment it seems stagnant.
What are you doing with your day?
Doesn’t all of your time—as a believer, simply belong to God?
Let me ask you something. Do you really want to know where God can use you in this life, or do you wish to pursue ambitious dreams and desires that may supplant God?
It isn’t that the joy of living can’t include those things for believers. But they have a proper place, and it isn’t first place. That is reserved for our King and our Savior.
…you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 4:14-17 (CSB)
Now, just a quick reminder. We don’t work for our salvation. That is not where this study is going.
But your life, and mine has a purpose. And I have to tell you, after sixty-two years, I so desperately want to know that purpose. I want to know it because it demonstrates that I am special to God. That I am wanted and loved.
It is important to know and obey God’s purpose for your life. And you can certainly know what that is. It does not have to be some big mystery.
All you have to do is develop your personal relationship with God.
Talk to Him. Intentionally learn and study His Word. Fellowship with believers. Be faithful.
He will guide you through each step you take and through every season of stillness.
When you feel like moving, don’t.
Why not save the time that impatience would steal and just listen?
Let God help you to be still.
These days and years will be over so soon. Don’t you want to honor the Lord with your time?
Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow
Psalm 144:4 (ESV)
Won’t you honor our Lord Jesus today with your moments and days?
One day you will stand before Jesus as a believer.
You will give an account for lost opportunities.
You will receive a crown for cherished opportunities. You will receive a crown or crowns as rewards.
Then you will lay those crowns, so willingly, at Jesus’ precious feet.
A snippet of this lovely hymn can really bring you some perspective.
And when before the throne,
I stand in Him, complete.
Jesus died, my soul to save.
My lips shall still repeat…
Jesus paid it all.
All to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow.1
Stand before Jesus on that day and be able give Him a life well lived for His glory.
- Jesus Paid it All
Elvina M Hall
CA 1865 ↩︎
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 