Happy St Patrick’s Day 🍀!!
I hope you had a marvelous weekend serving Jesus!
This week’s devo is “Redeeming the Time” written by Amber Bosje! Please take the time to read as she shares her heart with us today!
Make it a GREAT week on purpose!
Redeeming the Time – Amber Bosje
Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. As I write this, two chubby robins are having a lively conversation in our back yard. It seems as if all the neighborhood birds awaken on the same day, joining together in a beautiful symphony!
When I was younger, I thought it was only “old people” that talked about birds. My grandma knew most every species and their calls – the chirp of a sparrow, the whistle of a robin, the coo of a dove, the squawk of a goose. And when she heard their calls, her eyes would light up as she described them to me. At the time, I didn’t pay much attention, assuming that when I was “old” I would appreciate it more.
Well, here I am! And now the songs of God’s amazing creatures are fascinating. As missionaries, one of the unique privileges of living in several different parts of the world is the opportunity to hear and see rare bird species. In New Zealand, I would take my morning walks to the sound of Tuis who are known for their complex, beautiful calls. And the Kokako which has a melancholy, almost haunting sound, that would make one think they were crying. In Thailand, you can hear Lapwings, Asian Koels, and Mynas. In fact, I’ve gone as far as downloading the Merlin Bird ID app on my phone, just so I can record and identify bird songs around the world. Pretty sure that officially classifies me as “old” now.
Springtime makes me think of new beginnings – and hope. The long, cold winter has now passed, and buds are emerging on our maple tree standing beside the fat robins. The sun is shining brightly again, and we can even sense a lighter spirit in folks as we pass them outside or in the grocery store. I think the seasons come and go faster the older I get, and I want to be careful that I am “redeeming the time” that God has given. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Teach us to number our days… I just got out a calculator and discovered I’ve been alive for 20,692 days. That’s a lot of days! What have I done that will matter for eternity? What am I doing on a daily basis that will matter for eternity?
Ephesians 5:15-21 exhorts us to walk circumspectly and to redeem the time because we are living in evil days; to walk wisely, and understand what the Lord’s will is; to be filled with the Spirit of God; to sing and speak – psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs out loud and in our hearts TO GOD; to give thanks for literally everything; and to submit ourselves to one another in the fear of God. Just those verses alone are such helpful tips for “applying our hearts unto wisdom.”
How many days have you been alive?
What have you done that will matter for eternity?
What are you doing on a daily basis that will matter for eternity?
Jose Ortega Gasset said, “Tell me what you pay attention to, and I will tell you who you are.”
We always have time for the things we put first. It’s the clearest indicator of our priorities. This Spring, may I encourage you to hit the reset button on your time? I’m talking to myself as well. I don’t always redeem the time as I should, and I want to be intentional about what I pay attention to… about what I put first.
Here are some practical suggestions:
1. Prioritize your time with God.
Even 15 minutes a day every morning in God’s Word can set the tone for your entire day. Psalm 1:2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Our delight is: what we desire, what we take pleasure in, what we pay attention to. When I delight in God’s Word in the morning, I can meditate on it through the day and into the night. It’s been said that “What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while.” I would love to have 1-2 hours in the Word of God every day, but I don’t. If we can prioritize at least 15 minutes and do it every single day – it will make a difference. Do some research on how to study the Bible, and then do it faithfully – a little bit – every day. And then one day you’ll realize you’ve been spending more and more time in His Word because you don’t want to put it down.
2. Identify time wasters.
We’re all guilty of wasting time. We’re human. In this day and age of smartphones, we see how deeply integrated they’ve become in our daily routines, and how they’ve affected our habits and relationships. Tony Reinke in his book, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You, says that on average people touch their phones about 2,617 times a day! For millennials that number rises to more than 5,000 times a day! How is that even possible, you may ask?! Of course, smartphones can be used for a lot of good; that’s not the dilemma here. But ask yourself – as I am – what did I use my phone for today that will matter for eternity? Did it redeem my time, or rob my time?
3. Serve the Lord and others with gladness.
Pray for 10 missionary families.
Play a game with your children.
Take your pastor and his wife out to dinner.
Call or visit a shut-in.
Do a Bible study on forgiveness.
Make a meal for someone going through a hard time.
Text verses of encouragement to a friend.
Take a prayer walk.
Make a hospital visit.
Invite a new church family to your home for a meal.
Offer to babysit for a busy, tired mom.
There are so many ways we can serve the Lord and others. These are just a few suggestions to replace the time wasters. What other ways can you think of to redeem your time?
4. Rest.
Psalm 46:10a says, “Be still, and know that I am God…” It is in my “be still moments” that the Holy Spirit has encouraged, refreshed, strengthened, convicted, and drawn me closer to Him. To be still literally means: to stop, to be idle, to be alone, and even to slacken. In Genesis 2:2, God “rested from all his work.” In Exodus 16, the children of Israel rested on the seventh day. In Numbers 9, the children of Israel traveled when God moved the
cloud, and stayed put when He stopped it – they “rested in their tents.” Most of our lives are crazy busy – too busy – and we need to take time to be still with God. Mary and Martha – the sisters whom we all know – were busy serving together, but when it was time to be still, Mary stopped and chose “that good part” with Jesus.
5. Live with eternity in view.
II Corinthians 4:18b says, “…the things which are seen are temporal…” (they only last a little while) “…but the things which are not seen are eternal.” My husband has often said that, after our day of salvation, the two most important days in our lives are today – and that day – when we stand before the Lord. What will you do today that will matter for eternity? So that, on that day, you will be so glad you did.
https://www.sappsolutely.com/devotions/time-with-god-amber-bosje
