More time!

For everything there is a season,

and a time for every matter under

Heaven

Eccl 3:1

.

Do you feel at times that there are just not enough hours in a day, let alone time in a day to do the things that you would like to do? I often hear myself saying “If only I had more time to do this or that,” sound familiar? The reality is, if we had more time, we would just fill it with other seemingly important things to do.

Technology has super-speeded efficiently through life, whereby we’re always trying to catch up with the next best gadget. For example, we must have the fastest and latest I-phone before it becomes obsolete, and outdated. Or, we must have the fast producing coffee machine, one push of a button and ‘hey presto’! Coffee is served. Another example, ordering products online, a click of a pay button, we receive the package on our doorstep the next day. These are only just a few of life's speedy gizmos we must have, yesterday.

Do you know that we can have compulsive disorders that can take up so much of our time— We addictively check out that last text message for the seventh time, sounds familiar? or, our incoming emails that demand our attention with great offers, or scrolling through our Instagram pages, because we don't want to miss out on any important celebrity GOSS! This addictive and compulsive behaviour could interfere with our everyday life, absorbing and sapping all our time and energy. We don't realise how much time we spend on our social media platforms each day. By the way, I'm not averse to technology or any social media platforms, I'm just saying!

Do not fear….Help is on the way!

The question is, how do we deliberately and intentionally live out daily, a simple and fulfilled lifestyle? The first thing is this, we need to slow down, catch our breath, to consider the importance of how or where we spend our time or energy towards. The second thing is this, we need to simplify our lives, when we untangle the daily grind and demands on us, by the distractions and pressures we put ourselves under, to place our energy and time in concentrating only on the important things that really, matter.

Jesus beautifully models his time on earth, having time with his Father at the beginning of each day, he would get up before the disciples would wake up. Jesus' life was very simple, but, he carved out time every day to find a quiet and solitary place away from the crowds and distractions, to be present and to listen to his Father's voice. Jesus only spoke and did miracles according to his Father's instructions. Jesus says this in John 5:19 (TPT), "The Son is unable to do anything from himself or through his initiative. I only do the works that I see the Father doing." Jesus lived a simple, but effective lifestyle, for others to follow in his examples and invitations.

Do you struggle to get up early in the morning and pray? I know I do. I think to myself, “I'm going to set time aside to pray in the morning”, so, I put the alarm on for 6 in the morning to find, that I have slept right through the alarm peeps. I've tried so many times to go to bed early, for me to rise early. Still doesn't work.

Throughout my disappointments and frustrations in trying to spend time with God early in the mornings, my heart and intentions are in the right place, but sometimes my flesh just gets in the way. I realise that God is not interested in formulations and fundamental systems, but rather, a heart that is sold out for him, a deep desire that is present at that moment. A heart that yearns to be in His presence and to hear His voice, speaking directly and presently into our lives and situations. Our heavenly Father so desires for us to spend time with him, He has so much to share with us if only we would give him the time and space for us to connect and to listen intently so that we can intimately connect and have a deeper relationship with him. Time is of the essence!

There are times and seasons when Jesus invites us to just walk with him, in the cool of the evening, when the day has been hot. Jesus loves spending time with us, whether we are washing dishes, cleaning, working, sorting out the laundry or taking the kids to school. Jesus wants to be constant and present in our everyday lives. Jesus' desire for us, is to anchor our time and devotion towards a deep, fulfilled fellowship with him.

In scripture, Jesus models how he spent time hearing from His Father, even though Jesus did not permit busyness to overrun his life, preventing him from communing with His Father, Mark 1:35, says this: Jesus gets up very early in the morning when it was still dark, and went to a quiet place, and there he spent time praying. Jesus had such a deep desire and goal to hear His Father.

What can we learn from Mark 1:35?

Jesus models a routine moment to get up early each morning when no one's around, to spend time in communion with his Father, his goal the exchanging and receiving his mandate for the day ahead. Be intentional and focused to set a time during your day, to find a quiet place or space where you can spend time being alone with God. May I suggest silencing some of those distractions from your pressing thoughts of all the things you need to be doing during your day? Maybe put your mobile on silent for a while, centralizing your thoughts upon the presence of God.

Jesus postured his heart about the concerns of his Father. In our prayer life journey, start from a place of not being so self-obsessed, but, being God absorbed. Jesus had a deep desire in his heart for connection and relationship with his Father. Jesus would find that quiet place, where he would not be disturbed. Jesus knew and understood that he had to be alone with his Father, to accomplish all that he needed to fulfil that day, knowing that he would spend time with people that he needed to spend time with. Time with his Father, was very important too, even though Jesus ministered through preaching and healing tirelessly, he postured his heart in and through praying that focused his attention on the important things that really, mattered.

Jesus created an environment to find space. A quiet and peaceful place away from all the demands and distractions. We sometimes find it difficult just to have five minutes to ourselves.

Let me introduce you to a lady, Susanna Wesley, born in London in 1669. Susanna, was the mother of John & Charles Wesley, who we know today shaped the course of history in the Methodist movement, that is still known and practiced today. Susanna was known in her time as the “Mother of Methodism. Susanna gave birth to 19 children, but sadly 9 of her children died in infancy. Though tragedy would have left deep wounds for Susanna, God gave her the strength to not lose sight, faith or focus. Susanna had postured her heart to pray, to be alone with God because it was here that she grew in stature and persistence to hear His voice and to receive wisdom. When the children would see their Mother creating space for prayer, by putting her apron above her head, they would not dare to interrupt her time alone with God.

I'm not saying here that we should rush out and buy aprons, but what I am alluding to, is this, carve out some time during your busy day to be intentional, to set apart time in listening to God through prayer and worship, not only with our ears but with our hearts too. Give God the time and space that He deserves.

Takeaway

Stand up, step out today, to slow down and simplify your life towards the things that really, matter. To make time to live a simple, and yet effective lifestyle, just like Jesus.

Let's Pray.......

Heavenly Father,

When I feel I need to be busy, help me to slow down to your rhythm and pace. Help me to simplify and declutter the distractions _______________ (pray out what they are).

Help me Jesus to live a simple but effective, lifestyle, being true to you and to your word, to not being self-absorbed on the things that don't matter, but only the things that really, make a difference.

Holy Spirit, keep me anchored and central to the perfect will and purposes of God in my life for the sake of others.

Help me to use my time wisely, in giving back my time to you. Amen!