The Fight for Time
"I don't have any time."
This phrase, unfortunately, sounds too familiar to us.
It can be as innocent as a reply to someone wanting to hang out, or it's paired with a helpless sigh when the world gets a little too overwhelming and we feel like collapsing right then and there.
It is during these busy times that we end up compensating. Out of haste, we tend to put the urgent above the important. Usually, the more "urgent things" that need to get done are at the top of the to-do list, and the things of importance find their way towards the bottom, or not on it at all. We have the tendency to take charge. Because when _____ is on the line, we need it done now and we need it done right (fill that blank in on your own).
If not handled wisely, our sinful flesh takes the steering wheel. Instead of trusting God for being Sovereign over all, we subconsciously live in the mentality of, "I trust you and put my faith in you being in control over everything... just not over ______."
This is especially seen in our consistency in The Word.
With "so much to do and so little time", we wake up automatically knowing how busy our day is going to be, and end up feeling stressed before our feet even hit our bedroom floor. We justify "having a quiet time later when things aren't so busy", and somehow convince ourselves as to why we don't need to spend quality time with the one who is giving us the very energy and means of life to partake in the busy day we had scheduled.
By putting off time with our Heavenly Father, we are not only saying He isn't as important as the seemingly important thing we have to do that day, but we are also accepting discouragement. We let our guard down, which in turn, makes it incredibly easy for our selfish, sinful thoughts to swallow us up throughout the rest of the day.
On the contrary, this precious time is something we must fight for. Our days are not going to magically line up to give us the allotted time every morning to where we can wake up slowly, brew coffee, and sit in an aesthetically pleasing room with ambiance lighting. Just like anything we schedule into our day, time with The One who graciously allowed us to wake up another day must be our highest priority. This must be an urgency in our daily lives.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
-Jeremiah 17:7-8
Like water to a dried up plant, we must have our roots so saturated in God's word that we can withstand the hardest and the busiest of days. Because on the days when we have no time at all, are the days when we need to speak to Our Lord the most. By fighting for that time, we then get into a routine of setting our minds on the things above (Matt. 6:33) from the very beginning of our day.
I remember one time reading the story of Job for my quiet time. Seeing how he lost literally everything, I was taken back and personally convicted to read him say, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21-22). Throughout that day, suddenly me burning my piece of toast or getting a bad grade on a test I studied really hard on didn't upset me as much. The Lord used that precious time in the word that morning to teach me and to reveal to me Himself throughout that day of how silly my grievances can be, or how none of my losses can compare to what I gain in Christ. How much more glory does He get out of that realization then for me to be blinded by my business to talk to Him!
"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:6–7
The Lord want's you to talk to Him (1 Thess. 5:17). Like a father kneeling down to hear His child speak, our Heavenly Father inclines His ear to us and teaches us His truth from His word. What an utmost honor it is that we have the ability to hear and study the words of the One who is our intensely personal Father and our infinitely powerful Creator!
Let not the ease of access rob us from the awe of privilege.
