"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.." - Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV).
"Where did all the time go!" asked a certain parent soon after their last born left the house to take up a job upcountry. The older three children were already out of the house, two married, one working overseas. The children were all strong in Christ. "Since I can't bring the time I had with them back," the parent reflected. "At least for all the time we had we made sure they knew Christ!"
Time has been described as a "continued sequence of existence and events that occur in irreversible succession from the past, through the present into the future"! Just as we see for this parent once time has passed you can't win it back. Apparently there are certain things in life you can win back, if you missed. Like going back to school. There have been cases of octegerians who missed school retracing back their steps in class. Certain objects of pleasure missed out on can be acquired, years down the road, perhaps then more affluent and with means.
There are though certain aspects of life which once they are past us, there are gone. For example, the time a parent has to spend with his children and raise them in the fear of God, is one for a specific definite period. Some parents go to the extreme of picking on making money as the most important, necessitating their long absence from home. But time does not wait. One day they return all rich and ladden with goods. But the children are then grown up and perhaps already out of the house. Whatever magic tricks one has you can't win back the lost time. It was gone forever!
For this reason may the Lord grant us wisdom to know how to use our time purposefully. "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12), is a reality check that time we have is not forever. Each of us must therefore seek to use time wisely, into things of lasting value, for once gone, time is irreversible.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that you teach mean to value the time I have and spend it meaningfully in things that matter while the time is still there, before all is gone, this I pray in Jesus's name.
Related upcoming events
-
03/05/2024 - 04/05/2024 All day“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Every now and then one could be gripped with fear because of certain events sweeping before one’s life journey. It could be the finances that are stretched and incomes are no longer certain. Perhaps it is one’s job under threat. Perhaps it is a dreaded health report card. There could be fear about outcome of a matter under judgment and what it might mean to one’s future.
Fear has been elsewhere described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Every life will experience fear at one point. Whenever we are faced with fear it is natural to look for something to grasp on. Sometimes we run for shelter wherever we can find. Perhaps we might seek out a friend for quiet confidence.
But there are those situations when there is no shelter in sight. There are also those cases where those we thought would understand our situation once we share our pain return only hurting and critical feedback. In such moments we might then turn and look within ourselves only to find the energy has all been sapped by this gnawing fear. We feel down and the urge to rise and move on all gone!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) the word of God through prophet Isaiah assures us. But why? It is because the Lord has been there. He himself was faced with fear before his crucifixion but He looked to God.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote when faced with fear always remember, “Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find a way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference.” Psalm 91:2, says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” So, when faced with fear, look to God to strengthen you. By looking to Him, the Lord will encourage and lift up your spirit, and make a way out of nowhere!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender to you any fear that is in me for I know by looking up to you, you will always make a way out of nowhere, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
