What Could You Do If You Didn't...

Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are.
Ephesians 5:11 The Message

We live in a day and age where there are SO many things to distract our attentions and take up our time. I find myself 'held captive' sometimes - my evening wasted or at the least, non-productive because I was distracted. I challenge you to think about it honestly for a moment.

I'm not throwing condemnation or chucking guilt at anyone, but how many minutes in a day do we fritter away? What could we have accomplished had we intentionally utilized them? If we laid aside the TV, or web-surfing or the games on the cell phones for one night - just one night...

How many people could we touch with love by reaching out in a quick call?

How many 'Thinking of You' note cards could we sign, address and stamp?

How many people could we pray for? How many lives would be changed?

How will we know what we could do, unless we just try it and see?

Prayer:

Father,
           Grant us Your perspective on our lives and times and what little things we can give You in small return for what You've given us. Let us become fully aware and conscious of what could be done in the little moments when given to and guided by You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

* Sit Still

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Luke 5:16 NLT

I'm about to write a sentence that could very well be nominated for the understatement of the year.

Life is busy. (I'm hearing a mixed chorus of Duh... Ya think? and No kidding!)

Listen, satan doesn't have to entice us into sin - all he has to do is keep us preoccupied. It's way more effective at keeping us ineffective and subtle enough to make us think we're not sinning. 

Jesus - King of kings and Lord of lords - often left the crowds and all the happening events where He was the main attraction and got alone with God. He knew He needed to be uninterrupted to formulate His thoughts and prayer and He had to be able to hear the still, small voice of God. How could He have done what the Father instructed Him to do if He couldn't hear the Father?

How often I've heard, Oh, I don't watch the TV, I just have it on in the background - for noise... Can you hear Him over the teaser for the latest episode of Survivor? How about over the commercials for the latest drugs and their many possible side-effects?

When was the last time we sat STILL for 15 minutes  - no phone, no music, no TV in the background, no computer screen glaring, waiting for us to return to it... sat STILL before the Lord with the express intention of praying without interruption or just waiting to hear His direction? Just askin'...

Prayer:

Father,

        Shine Your Light of Truth on the time thieves in our lives. Help us to understand the great value of being still to know who You are. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen