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Time for a Quiet Time?
Do you ever feel like there just isn’t enough time in the day to do what is being “demanded” of you?
I know I do. I’m sure your schedule is very different from mine. Yet there is that struggle to find the
time to fit one more thing into your already overloaded schedule. Some of you felt that way this past
Sunday when I passed out the ‘Read the Bible for LIFE’ daily readings. “Pastor Jimmy, don’t you know
I’ve already signed up for the ‘Read the Bible for LIFE’ study, I have family responsibilities, work deadlines,
kids to take to all their extracurricular activities, meals to fix, clothes to wash, spousal time, grocery
shopping, home repairs that need to be done, neighborhood watch meetings, exercise at the ‘Y’, doctor
appointments, overtime, and on and on the list goes.”
“Pastor, I don’t have TIME for a quiet time!” That’s an excuse! Every one of us has 168 hours in our week.
I think the real question is; How do you spend the time you have?
Matthew 6.33 (NLT) says: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be
added to you.”
It is true that you do not have time for everything. Nobody does. You have to make time for what really
counts. It’s not a matter of time; it’s a matter of priorities and values. The key to making time for daily
devotion is to make Jesus and His Kingdom the priority in your life.
Matthew 6.33 (see it above) says put God first in your life and you will have more time. Actually, whatever
you need more of in your life, give God first place in that area.
It is true that your quiet time and getting to know God should be the #1 priority of your life. Why? Because
you weren’t put on this planet to mark things off your to-do list. You were made to spend time with God.
To be able to have a quiet time with God is a tremendous privilege you and I have been given. Just think
that the Creator of the universe has invited you and me to spend time with Him every day.
If your favorite actor, musician, singer, or athlete asked you to spend time with him or her, would you say;
“Sorry, I don’t have time?” I doubt it.
So why do you say “no” to God’s invitation to spend time with Him? You are missing out on so much
when you do.
Guess what? You can spend time with God and His Word as you wait on your child to finish basketball
practice. Or you can spend time with God and read the Bible on your lunch break. The ‘Read the Bible
for LIFE’ daily readings I began giving you on Sunday will take you about 15 minutes a day to read. Ask
God to show you where you can spare that 15 minutes each day. He will.
You have the time (168 hours) for what you need to do. Maybe you need to seriously evaluate just how
you are using your time? Is it really necessary to watch that TV program or surf the internet?
168 hours. Yeah, you’ve got the time.
Until next time,
Pastor Jimmy
P.S. See you this Sunday as we continue our journey of ‘Read the Bible for LIFE’. You can still be a part
of one of the small groups (two meet on Sunday morning at 9am, one on Sunday evening, one on Monday
morning, and one on Thursday evening.)
