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Time
Things are getting a little crazy around here. My sister is starting to drive me mad with her whole wedding. A lot of our family and friends are coming down so we have been preparing for them. And on top of that we had to move all of my sister’s stuff (how much stuff can one girl have?) to her new apartment, and plus, me and Gabe are getting ready to move ourselves. So……it’s been kind of a hectic week and I know that it’s even going to get more frantic.
It’s times like these where I really have to discipline myself and make time to pray, make time to read and make time just to spend with God. It’s hard to get away from all the distractions life has to offer. It’s hard sometimes to set aside an hour, half an hour or even 15 minutes to just spend alone with God. But, this is the most crucial thing we need to do in our Christian walks.
Going to church isn’t going to get you to Heaven. Doing good deeds isn’t going to get you to Heaven. Being a “good person” isn’t going to get you to Heaven. It’s that personal relationship with God that’s going to get you to Heaven.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)
God isn’t looking for you to be the best preacher in the world. He’s not looking for you to be the best singer or the best artist or the best leader. He’s not looking for you to give the most money or support the most organizations. He’s looking for you to be close to Him. God doesn’t want our money or our deeds. What He wants is our time. Our time is the most valuable thing we can give.
I heard a story once about a father and a son. One day the boy asked his dad, “How much money do you make an hour at work.” His dad said, “$25 an hour.” For the next few weeks, the boy saved up all his allowances and money he got. He then went to his dad again, pulled out his money, counted out $25 worth and handed it to his dad. His dad says, “What’s this for?” The son said, “I saved up all my money so I can pay you to spend one hour with me.”
Why do I believe that it is important to spend time alone with God? Because, Jesus, the perfect example of how we should live our Christian lives, did the same.
“And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.” (Matthew 14:23)
“And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.” (Luke 21:38)
“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12)
“Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” (Mark 14:32)
Where is your time spent? Do you make room on your schedule to seek God? How about in even the busiest of times? As you go about your busy week, remember how important it is that you make time for Him.
w/muchluv,
geno
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