Time - A Precious Gift
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In one of my recent posts I shared about a song that I've been singing and lifting up in worship. It's actually a prayer of my heart each day. "Press On" by Selah. "In Jesus name I press on - we find the strength to press on." The words are what echoes in my heart as I keep walking the path of our unexpected journey.
A relative reminded me that there was a song that was sung at our wedding 52 years ago - "In Jesus Name We Pray." She said it's a "book-end" theme for our lives. To be honest, I'd forgotten about that song. Her memory is better than mine!
As I reflected on this - and thought of the 2 songs, I realized that it's actually bookends that we need to have for each day! We commit the events of each day to Him, in His name - and we trust Him for grace through the day to press on. I often thank the Lord at night for getting me through the day, and tell him I trust him for the next day.
I am so keenly aware that I can't make it without Him. Even some of the "bravery" I had when we started this journey is gone now. I'm weary. I often feel like there isn't much "fight" left in me - although my family would probably say I'm still feisty. :) I know that I am so, so reliant on Him to keep me going! It's only in and through Him that I can keep pressing on!
The Bible tells us over and over that He is our strength. When we feel strong ourselves, the verses about His strength are nice - but when they REALLY become meaningful is in the hard times. When we're weak, weary, dragging from the long journey - the promise of His abundant strength to undergird us becomes a lifeline. It's a way He has provided for us to make it through! It's our hope, our encouragement that we'll be okay. That strength is available for the asking. It's a provision He offers to us.
At our All Nations Global Gathering a few weeks ago, I spoke on "The Joy of the Lord is our Strength." (I have posted my talk in the resources section of our website) I have found over and over that as I press into Him, as I find continual joy in who He is - that the strength I need from Him comes more readily. As I get out of bed each morning, I state the promise that His joy is my strength for the day in front of me.
Something else I've learned that is so important to me is that I don't need to fear being weak because He is always by my side. The world puts such an emphasis on strength. Being weak can feel like an ugly word. But the Bible tells us that His strength really shines in our weakness. His strength and our weakness fit perfectly. I reject any lie of fear that enters in when I feel weak.
In times of weakness, I believe He keeps an extra strong grip on us. He won't let us go! He'll be firmly by our side night and day - on good days and on hard days.
" 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses.....for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10
"You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely." Psalm 59:17
"It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure." 2 Samuel 22:33
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26
"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grown weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-41
I tried to find out how many verses there are in the Bible about God being our strength, but I couldn't get a number. I just know there are LOTS!! The scriptures above are just a tiny sampling of God's promises to us to be our strength. I take such comfort in going to His Word and speaking out the powerful verses that He will meet us in our weakness and be our strength - each and every time we need it.
In His name we pray for strength - and in His grace and strength we press on. He is so faithful!!
This past Saturday was a special day for South Africa. Our rugby team won the World Cup in the competition in Japan. It wasn't just winning a sports game - it was a "win" for the whole country. I'm not even a rugby fan, but I cried because I knew how special it was for our country. Floyd is a huge rugby fan. He would have been crying and dancing.
Siya Kolisi is the first black captain of the national rugby team. He grew up in a township of teenage parents, wondering where his next meal was coming from, and playing rugby barefoot. On his armband for the game, he wrote "Jesus." He, and many of the team, were looking heavenward in thanks. He said in an interview that the team knew how much South Africa needed this win to counter balance all the problems we are facing. "We have a lot of problems in our country. But this team is from so many different backgrounds and races and we came together to achieve one goal." He said the coach told them we're not playing for ourselves - we're playing to win for the people back home. The win is a wonderful gift to the country - perhaps even an answer to prayer.
While I wish Floyd could have been part of all this, he, instead, has had a hard weekend. His condition is low again, and he's on oxygen to help with his laboured breathing from the chest congestion. Myself, and 2 friends, were able to pray for him on Sunday. We trust what God's plan is in the midst of this. As I've said a number of times, I trust God for healing or heaven.
I've been thinking quite a bit recently about TIME. It's a simple 4 letter word that impacts all of us. We need it - we can't escape it - sometimes we wish we had more of it - and sometimes it's over much too soon. The smartest, richest, most powerful people in the world are under the same impact of time as the simplest, poorest, weakest individuals. We're all in the "same boat," so to speak.
Time is a strange thing. At times it seems to fly by - and then, at other times, it seems to move at a snail's pace. But, however we look at it, it's the most important gift we have. (Next to Jesus of course!) Time is so precious. We have a limited amount of it. We can make "more" of many things in life - more money, more friends, more fun times, more adventures.....but there's nothing we can do to make more time. That part of our lives is in God's hands.
Time is the most special gift we can give to people. Spending time with a friend or loved one is more valuable than gold or jewels. It's giving that person a portion of your life that you'll never get back. They may not always think of it that way :) but it's true. There were times when Floyd gave his time to someone - at the cost of not being with me or our family. We gladly shared him! But I'm not sure it was always appreciated. I was blessed when Floyd travelled and went somewhere to speak when someone would thank me for "sharing" him. I knew they understood the gift of time!
Years ago I wrote a book on time - "Where Will I Find The Time." I wrote about there being a season for everything from the book of Ecclesiastes. I've always been fairly organized in using my time, and I enjoyed writing about it. Now I'm in a "season" where time is more valuable than ever. I don't know what's ahead for Floyd or for me, but I want my time to be used wisely.
As I reflect and look back, I'm so grateful for all the time we've had. There are a few things I wish I'd have done differently with my time - but there are many, many things that I'm just so thankful for. I think my biggest regret is about things we still planned to do, but time ran out on us. One of those is that Floyd and I were planning a special celebration for our 50th anniversary. Instead, I visited him in the hospital room, took balloons, and put up a poster to commemorate the day.
Because of what we're walking through, I'm grateful for every minute, every hour, every day. I don't want to waste any of my time. I want to make time count. I try to be more purposeful in what I do and who I spend time with. I encourage all of us to do that. We need to treat time as the precious commodity that it is!
I'm realizing that it's never too soon - or too late to look at how we use our precious gift of time. God has made us stewards of our time, so it's our job to use it well. I know I've not always made perfect choices, but I hope I've done a good job......and I'm trying to do the best I can now in this season. Whether I have one day or hundreds left, I want to honour Him with the gift of time that He's given me.
Our "times" are in His hands, but the responsibility for how we use our time is ours alone. It's always a good time to reflect on our how we use the time God has given us!
"So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honourably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for His purposes." Ephesians 5:15,16 TPT
"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." Psalm 90:12
"We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work." John 9:4
"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog - it's here for a little while, then it's gone." James 4:14
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There's a song called "One Day at a Time." The words of the chorus give an important perspective. "Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine. Lord help me today, show me the way, one day at a time."
On our unexpected journey, I've needed to take things one-day-at-a-time. I'm grateful for every day. I ask God to help me use my time wisely with each day He's given me. I thank Him for the precious gift of time!