It works well. And besides, I've been reading the Bible ever since I learned how. Everything is just kind of a review for me now. The Bible does say to be in the word daily, so I always try to make sure I'm able to check that off my Christianity checklist for the day. Read Bible- check. Pray- check. Boom. Done. Then I'm be able to breathe easy for the rest of the day.
Until this morning.
My youth pastor and his wife gave me the cutest book ever for my birthday. It's called 40 Days with Jesus, Celebrating His Presence. It's just a nice little book with a page a day that has a two paragraph devotional written from Jesus to the reader. I highly recommend it. And I'm only on day 2.
Here's a short blurb from part of today's letter:
"These quiet moments with Me transcend time, accomplishing far more than you can imagine. Bring Me the sacrifice of your time, and watch to see how abundantly I bless you and your loved ones."
And just like it is when God screams something to me, I felt a realization hit me in a quiet and gentle, yet very apparent, way.
[Bring me the sacrifice of your time].
I'd never thought of it that way before. Sure I'd spend time reading the Bible, but after I felt spiritually full, I'd close it and be done. Even if that meant only reading it for three minutes.
Nights I wanted to watch The Office, I'd pray long enough to get through the necessities (say thank you, repent for something, ask God for help, ect.) and then wrap it up pretty quick.
I'd never really thought about blessing God through giving Him my time.
But it makes sense. God wants us to sacrifice our money (10% tithe), He asks us to give Him our dreams and goals and energy. So why not our time too?
And honestly, the more I've been thinking about it, the more of a relief it is. Because sometimes, I'll read my Bible for FOREVER, and I'll still be like "Well. That was a waste of time. No heavy revys, no energy re-charge. Just a bunch of words." Especially if I'm reading something in Numbers.
But today I realized, it's not a waste of time. It's a gift of time, from myself to God. And that is never a waste.
I met with someone last month who had previously worked for one of the Presidents of the United States. This man said during meetings with the President, every person was to keep their cell phones off. If someone forgot, and it rang, the President would turn to them and say "And exactly who is more important that the President of the Unites States?"
I can just picture God saying that to me now. "Alonnah, exactly who is more important than the Creator of the Universe?" Uh... yeah. Still trying to come up with a good answer for that one.
And I know this is probably freaking some of you out. Because you feel like you don't have a lot of time to give. I understand, I have obligations too. But when I thought of this, I was instantly flashed to a story from the Bible.
Mark 12-
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
.
We all have different amounts off free time, different amounts we can give. I'm not trying to say if you're busy, you get off scott-free. Not at all. But more in retrospect, that days we have a lot of free time, well, we have a lot more time to give.
Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop.
There's always going to be other things to do. Facebook. T.V. Socializing with friends. Eating. Drawing. Reading. Cooking. Taking a shower. The possibilities are endless. If you're waiting for a time when you have nothing to do, you'll be waiting forever.
Live without pretense. Love. Drink more water. Sacrifice it.
A.Diez.
