“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Luke 12:34
Luke 12:34
Multiple jobs, volunteer work, responsibility to children and family, house choirs, important errands, spending time with friends and loved ones, just being too tired; the list can go on and on for days. When I think about how much more demanding life has become as I get older I learn to appreciate the down time I have more and more. Life happens to everyone. We all have different stories and backgrounds and our time is occupied by different things but at the end of the day we ultimately give our time to the things that matter most in our lives.
This week I read a devotional from Our Daily Bread entitled “Crumbs of Time” by Keila Ochoa. Keila reminisced on visiting an old friend when they came to town. She talked about how busy their schedule was and remembered only getting to spend a few hours with this person. As she sat down for a quick, late 30 minute dinner with her old friend she thought about how much he had going on and talked about getting the crumbs of his time. That experience with her friend made Keila realize that this is how we sometimes treat God. We sometime fill up our days doing things for ourselves and neglect giving God the time he deserves. Living in a day and age where life can become demanding we can easily get distracted and forget that God is there waiting for us to spend time with him.
I myself can be guilty of this too. I remember reading this devotional last week and God speaking to me about writing about it. Then all of a sudden, I started my day and before you knew it a week had passed and I hadn’t taken the time to write down anything. Thank God for grace so that I can take the time now to share this with you, but the point that I am trying to make is that I know exactly what Keila is referring to. It’s not always time with God that suffers when we get consumed with life, but sometimes it’s the things God calls us to do that suffer when we let life get in the way. Keila went on to talk about the story of Daniel, a young man who stood firm in his commitment to spent time with God. Daniel was a very busy and important man. He held a high government position but developed a habit of spending time with God three times a day. Daniel made time for God because God was what was important to him. His position in government was important as well but it wasn’t more important than his relationship with God.
Matthew 6:33 says "seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you." Today is the day to make God first. He, after all, is the key ingredient that makes everything else in your life come together. Luke 12:34 talks about your heart and your treasure being one. When God is what you treasure, your heart will be pointed towards him. So what does that all mean? It doesn’t mean you have to start praying 3 times a day right away like Daniel did (although you could) but you should make sure that you are giving God the best of your time rather than the last of your time.
The challenge: Start your day tomorrow giving God the first part of your day. Set your alarm clock a little earlier than normal so you can pray, read, or talk to him. Write down what God says to you. Turn one day into one week. Then turn one week into one month. Continue until this becomes a habit. There’s nothing to it but to do it.
Sincerely,
A girl on fire