Hello, my friends, how are you today? It is a cloudy 12° day in our neighborhood.  The sun gave a glimpse of a beautiful sunrise in the horizon.  But was quickly eclipsed by the heavy, dark clouds.  The squirrels and birds have sought shelter because there is more than a foot of snow on the ground.  As I sit at the window, after my time with the Lord, I wonder what this day brings with it.

Do you think I’m a nice person? Most people may say yes. I usually try to leave that impression with those I encounter. I smile when I greet people, I often offer compliments to them. With most people, I don’t expect much from them, so they rarely disappoint me.  People love talking about themselves or their family. I try to remember points about them so that we can engage in conversation. Although I am not necessarily a ‘people person’ I have learned the art of being ‘nice’.  Do you still think I’m nice? 

I would have to say, it depends.  My ‘niceness’ usually depends on the behavior of those around me.  My niceness also depends on my expectations of those around me.  My ‘niceness depends on my feelings or my moods.  So many outside factors affect the measure of my ‘niceness’.  

With time, I’ve realized something about people.  Most people, including myself, we are not ‘nice’ people.  My relationship with the Lord determines my relationship with others.  Profound, right? A new revelation? Of course not! The Lord said it first.  We know how to love others because God loved us first.  I’m not a nice person, not by myself. Not without the Lord.  I can try but test me and the claws will come out.  As my relationship with the Lord is strengthened, my bonds with people will also be strengthened. People are not ‘nice’, they are not ‘good’. The truth is we are nice to people who are nice to us.  If we are betrayed… 

I can be ‘nice’ and do ‘nice’ when my relationship with the Lord is treasured and intentional.  

As I get older, I’ve learned to value time more and more.  I’ve learned to appreciate each new day.  I understand now that new days are not guaranteed to me.  I’ve 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’ve lived my life. 

In order to ensure there are few regrets, my devotional time with Lord has to be intentional.  I have to spend time with the Lord. This is necessary to love others unconditionally, even those who try my last nerve. 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. 

Here are five reasons we should spend time with the Lord.  

1. Because parenting is impossible without God! As Christians, the Lord has commanded us to raise godly children, Malachi 2:15; Proverbs 31:28. The standard is the Word of God.  The best gift we can give our children isn’t education, isn’t money, although the world would like to say otherwise.  It is the gift of salvation, of knowing the Lord Jesus as their Savior. It is teaching them to love and trust the Lord completely.
2. Because loving EVERYONE is impossible without God! John 15:12; Proverbs 31:20. Those love people verses! What are we to do?  People are not always kind, they take pride in belittling others, and some are downright mean!  Huh!  Nice, you say? Our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, perhaps because the Lord knows that none of us are good.  No, not one!
3. Because marriage is hard!  We need the Lord to be ‘nice’ wives and husbands. Ephesians 5:22; Proverbs 31:11. Submission was a dirty word to me, for quite a few years when I just got married. ‘Nice’ was not around when I didn’t get my way.  We’ve been married for almost thirty-two (32] years, and I need to say, our Lord is still working on me.  He rewards obedience to His Word.
4. Because becoming honorable people is impossible without God!  Proverbs 31:10. In Proverbs 31:30, we read that the woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  That’s where it starts.
6. Because establishing ethical work habits is impossible without God! Ephesians 4:28; Proverbs 31:15. Working for people who appreciate what we do, makes the job enjoyable.  It also encourages us to do our job well.  But when the conditions are not pleasant, having that daily personal time with the Lord is essential. It helps us to give our best despite challenging circumstances.

That time with the Lord is a privilege.  The Lord desires that we spend time with Him.  He wants us to know Him, so that we can trust Him.  He wants us to devote ourselves to Him, to find pleasure in His presence. Because we have to interact with others, we should spend time with the Lord.  Because life throws us curve balls, we should spend time with the Lord.  Because we cannot control our surroundings, we should spend time with the Lord.  And believe it or not, we need to daily be in the Word of God and prayer. This is because we are neither ‘nice’ nor ‘good’.  I promise you, the world will thank you for it.

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?