Time--Ours and God's

I’m reading the fascinating book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I will review it once I’m done, which I don’t promise to be very soon. It is so chock full of deep thinking. I need to read and digest what she says with my “biblical glasses” on. (Thank you, Lauren, for sharing that phrase biblical glasses with me!)

Here are some excerpts from pages 64-70, on the theme of time:

• “Time is life. And if I want the fullest life, I need to find fullest time. . . . God gives us time. And who has time for God? Which makes no sense. In Christ, don’t we have everlasting existence? Don’t Christians have all the time in eternity, life everlasting? . . . If anyone should have time, isn’t it the Christ-followers?
• (two pages later) Hurry always empties a soul. . . . I speak it to God. I don’t really want more time; I just want enough time.
• (flip one page) I just want time to do my one life well.
• (another page turn) This is where God is. In the present. I AM—His very name. I want to take shoes off. I AM, so full of the weight of the present, that time’s river slows to a still . . . and God Himself is timeless. . . . I awake to I AM here. When I’m present, I meet I AM, the very presence of a present God. In His embrace, time loses all sense of speed and stress and space and stands so still and holy. Here is the only place I can love Him. . . . I have time for God.”

I thought about these statements in the light of what the Bible teaches about time. God is eternal. He is always, has always been, will always be. God IS.

We are so finite. The Bible says, For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away (James 4:14b).

God sees time so differently than we do. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8).

Yet, even though He has this endless perspective of time, God has given us time in segments. From the very beginning, God made light separated it from darkness, and called it “day.” Evening and the morning were the first day (Genesis 1:5b). Before Adam and Eve, there were days.

                       Time.

In the Bible, the word time is used to measure:

• Seasons, animal life
• Pregnancy, death, time of life, old age
• Set time, appointed time
• In His time, God’s time
• In the fullness of time
• Historic dates—the time when this or that happened
• A long time, the first time, the third time
• Good times, evil times, time of trouble
• When I am afraid
• The accepted time—the day of salvation
• Time for blessing
• Time for trust
• God’s will in time
• A time for everything
• Last times, the time of the end

How do we use our time?

How should we use time?

Let’s look at Jesus. He was never in a hurry. He didn’t brush people off or run to get to the next place. He didn’t fill up His day with too much for 24 hours, although He was always doing His Father’s will. Jesus took time to talk to people along the roadside and heal those who were sick. He preached in the synagogues. We never see Him rushing.

           

Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted approximately three-and-a-half years. His work was finished. 

How can we change our lives so that we can be more like Jesus?

• We can sit down, review our biblical priorities, and start to weed out the unnecessary time takers. It is helpful to do this with your husband’s input. 
• Pray and ask the Lord to show you what is most important. What are your true priorities? 
• What absolutely needs to be done by you? 
• Simplify. Cut out the extras. Find time for God and your family.
• Make sure your personal quiet time with God is your first priority. Take time (make time) in the present to enjoy your Lord.
• Give your husband and children special time and attention.
• Include church attendance and ministry in your priorities.

Be prepared that others might not understand what you are doing—that you are no longer The Super Mom Who Volunteers for Everything. If you have to, explain that you are trying to live less hurriedly and making time for the things that really matter. They might not understand, but you will begin to live more like the Lord intended.

The Bible says we’re to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5). Ask God to help you use your time for His glory.

                                                   

(The last five paragraphs are adapted from my book, His Ways, Your Walk.)