In the Day before us...

In the Day before Us 

A lot has changed since the electric clock was invented in the 1840s. We now keep time on smart watches, smart phones, and laptops. The entire pace of life seems faster—with even our “leisurely” walking speeding up. This is especially true in cities and can have a negative effect on health, scholars say. “We’re just moving faster and faster and getting back to people as quickly as we can,” Professor Richard Wiseman observed. “That’s driving us to think everything has to happen now.”

Moses, the writer of one of the oldest of the Bible’s psalms, reflected on time. He reminds us that God controls life’s pace. “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night,” he wrote (Psalm 90:4).

The secret to time management, therefore, isn’t to go faster or slower. It’s to abide in God, spending more time with Him. Then we get in step with each other, but first with Him—the One who formed us (139:13) and knows our purpose and plans (v. 16).

Our time on earth won’t last forever. Yet we can manage it wisely, not by watching the clock, but by giving each day to God. As Moses said, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (90:12). Then, with God we’ll always be on time, now and forever.  - Our Daily Bread for today, January 14th 2020

I always read my Bible, then a few devotionals then Our Daily Bread.  It's oftentimes interesting how they sometimes all interconnect.  Some from one fits right in with something from another. 

This morning Blackaby was talking about the fact that quite often many Christians run to the response that what they are going through is Spiritual Warfare when in fact they are really going through discipline.  Scripture does say that every child that He loves He disciplines. Hebrews 12:6 "For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

I certainly fall into the category of one whom He disciplines. I have seen and experienced Spiritual Warfare.  I also have seen and experienced being disciplined. 

The Disciples were themselves through both in their working towards becoming like their Master, Jesus.  

They went through times of encouragement from Jesus and endured times of rebuke.  My life has been no different.  As Blackaby points out, and I heartily agree, there's times when your actions catch up with you. It's not Spiritual Warfare but chastisement.  You reap what you sow isn't from some third world philosophy.  It's from the Bible. Galatians 6:7-9 "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary"

As long as there is breath in me I know that I will have seasons of both.  

This does tie in with the part from Our Daily Bread in this...we often don't exercise enough patience in life.  The world we live in today isn't what it was 5, 10, 15, 20 years ago.  Society seems bent on forcing and pushing into the future at breakneck speed.  Peace is elusive to most. It's why the term Road Rage came into play. It's why people spend thousands of dollars to cram in a vacation into a short period of time. 

We often get in a panic if we aren't on time by our own clock let alone the real clock. 

I often go through times of wondering how I got to be where I am.  How did it happen?  Did I do something wrong?  Was something done right? Is this something that I need to think about?  

Jesus indeed speaks to me every day.  He's my friend, but He also is my Savior and Lord.  There's times when I can picture Him shaking His head at me.  The 'here we go again' look.  I dislike those times because it's hard!  I end up going back through a lesson all over again.  

Our society tends to teach that consequences can by optional.  God says otherwise.  Consequences can alter our days either now or down the road.  When we least expect it God reminds us. 

The peace we seek comes but at a price. 

As this opened up with, we would do well to learn how to slow down and abide with Jesus.  A song by Steven Curtis Chapman has words of encouragement and I think a little chastising too. "Be still and know that He is God. Be still and know that He's our Father"  Our impatient world can often trip us up. I know that it does me.  

Think about today and about the speed of your life.  My thoughts this morning may seem jumbled but at least to my mind they point to one thing.  Be right before Jesus in all things and time will happen at the right speed.  Stress tends to alter perceptions and there's an endless supply in our world.  

My prayer this morning is this...may I obey in all that I do.  I know that I am my own worst enemy.  I also know that Jesus knows my heart.  Now...to breathe...