Hey friends, how are you today? It is a chilly 49° in our neck of the woods.   Fall has finally stepped all the way into our space.  As we drove around the neighborhood, pumpkins and fall themed decorations littered most of the front yards. However, one yard had Christmas decorations. Christmas decorations, already? Then I realized we are actually less than three months away from Christmas.   Can you believe it? The year is almost at an end.  Where did the time go? 

Time moves at speed of light.

At times, time seems to move so fast, that it feels like 2024 just began a few weeks ago. But nine months have passed.  Where did the time go? How thankful I am that our Heavenly Father is the Author of time.  He is the Giver of time.  He created time.

People over tasks.

I have to remind myself to slow down, to enjoy life.  I get so involved in my tasks, that I can too easily neglect friends and family. On most mornings, I begin my day, by listing the tasks that needs my attentions.   I make a concerted effort to complete these tasks.  Sometimes, my tasks necessitate me calling this person or that person, but even there, it is to fulfill a task.  

Today matters.

If I have to call someone for ‘fun’, to keep in touch with them, I first consider my daily chores. I then conclude that today might not be the day.   There is just too much to do today.  I cannot spare the time.  Perhaps tomorrow.  But wait… where did the time go? 

Good habits are not always good.

Shhh… don’t tell anyone. There have been days when I regarded my time with the Lord as a task to be done.  It is one of the jobs that has to be crossed off the list of jobs.  In the passage of time, there is change, I think. Habitually, I begin my day with time with the Lord. 

Good habits are good for me, but good habits do not engender growth. Even the habit of a devotional time with the Lord does not generate growth. This is because it is done without intentional thought.  Good habits take time. They should always be encouraged. However, our time with the Lord should always be more than just a good habit.  

Be intentional.

Intentional time and intentional thought and discipline should be the very foundation of my time with the Lord.  Do I not yet know, that if my Lord comes first, then people will always come second? Time becomes more valuable when people supersede tasks. 

Love God, love people.

When I was younger, both in age and maturity, I thought I had endless time. I believed I had all the time in the world.  There was so much I wanted to do with my time.  During that time, I didn’t like people very much either.  I had this idea that people just not be trusted. People proved over and over again that they can not be trusted. Why should I spend time with them? Why should I love them? In my mind love and trust can not be separated.  

The beauty of time.

But the beauty of time is its herald of change.  Time with the Lord reminds me, that love for people, does not necessarily mean they are to be trusted.  Love is a gift from me to people. Let’s call her Suzanne. She has to do nothing to have my love. But Suzanne has to prove to me that she is trustworthy.   Very few people can be trusted in all things.  

You don’t have to be trustworthy to deserve love.

I know, I cannot be trusted to be on time for anything.  Almost always, I’m running to keep an appointment, for which I am already late.  Removing the trust factor makes it slightly easier to love people.  Time with the Lord tells me over and over again, my love for people proves my love for the Lord.  

God first.

The passage of time does not always herald beauty though.  When my time with the Lord becomes part of my list of chores, He isn’t first in my life. That means people cannot be second.  If He isn’t first, then who is?

Prone to wander.

Well… I suppose that would be me.  Eventually, if I continue with my thoughtless devotional time, selfishness will become me.  There is already a struggle within me to be unselfish and un-self-centered. To stop that cup from overflowing, I must be grateful for time. I also need to be intentional with my devotions.  Without the Lord, I cannot love you and good habits cannot change that.

Time with the Lord brings wisdom.

As I get older, I have learned to value time more and more.  I have learned to appreciate each new day.  I understand now that new days are not guaranteed to me.  I have learned that time is a gift. One that should be treasured. How I spend this time allowed to me should matter.  As I get older, I want to maximize the usefulness of my time.  I want there to be few regrets to how I have lived my life. 

God FIRST.

In order to ensure there are few regrets, my devotional time with Lord has to be intentional.  To ensure this, I must be aware that the God of the Universe has to be first in my life.  He alone has to sit on the throne of my heart.  The course of my life has to be directed by Him.  My actions, my speech, my behavior, my coming ins and my going outs should be under His dictatorship.  I am His. 

Now you.

Only then, can I appreciate time and give it worth.  How is your devotional time? What book of the Bible are you reading? Do you have a special place or time for your devotions? I usually sit in my kitchen, still sharing the window with Jazz the cat, with a hot cup of coffee.  Do you keep a journal? How do you want to end the year?