CREATE TIME FOR GOD:
There is a scripture I would love to start with in this article today. It is found in the Book of Ephesians 5:16-17
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Just as it was in the days captured for us in the scriptures so also is it today in the world we live in, where evil has become the order of the day, the scripture above admonishes us to be wise, it goes further in telling us to a clear understanding of what the will of God is.
As humans we are often times carried away with so many things in this world that we no longer have time for God or the things of God. We occupy ourselves with things of the world that eventually does not add any value to our lives. At such instances we are consumed by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. These three (3) indicators can hinder one from creating or having time for God. We can see that in Matthew 4:1-10. What we have there is the account of how the Holy Spirit of God led Jesus Christ to the mountain to be tempted. Everyone of us has 24 hours in a day, within this time frame, it is always good to ask ourselves this question; what time have we as individuals allocated to God?. Another question I would like to ask is “do we realize we are in a haste to rush out to the activities of the world, through out in the course of the day we become so preoccupied and eventually when we return back home we have become too exhausted for anything. So then you discover God is no longer in our plans. Take note if you don’t plan for God, you will become a plan for someone else.
I have listed four cardinal arrears everyone of us can leverage to create time for God and continually walk the the perpetual victory that Christ brought for us.
1; Prayer: Luke18:1 tells of how the Lord Jesus admonished that prayer is very important. “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” Creating time for God in the area of prayer, ensures we do not become a prey to the adversary. Jesus made it a habit of His to arise early and pray. There were occasions that He prayed through out the night and what preceded were avalanche of miracles upon miracles, signs and wonders following Him. God wants to hear our prayers and not complaints. In Daniel chapter 6, the Bible tells us how Daniel prayed 3 times a day even when his enemies conspired against him. Then tenth verse says :
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Another question I would love for us to ask is – How many times do you pray to God? Is it only when you are facing a crisis or a storm?, I do not think that should only be the time to call on God.
2; The Word: The scripture declares in John 1:1.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This same Word has given birth to us being born not by the will of man but by the Word of God which lives and abides. Therefore if you become a child of God, by being Born Again you cannot survive in this world victorious without the Word of God. Your life becomes dependent on the source and the Word is your source of being alive to God. If I were to ask us now; when was the last time we spent quality time with the word?. I’m talking about consciously studying, reading, memorizing, meditating and asking the Holy Spirit for direction?. I am not sure if everyone would be able to say categorically say the same thing that this has become their daily routine. Rather what one may find is that we do create time for other things for example the social media. Think about this, if we can discipline ourselves by developing passion and appetite for the Word, we will begin to experience the manifold wisdom and expression of godliness in our lives. Take a look at Proverbs 13:13 “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” Take advantage of the reward in the Word of God and make progress in your life
3; Assembling to Fellowship:
A very known Bible verse that talks about the coming together of God’s children. Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
It is important to create time to gather and commune with other fellow believers. The Bible says behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Are you aware that there are people gathered right now in the name of evil, unscrupulous things, atrocities, conspiracies etc. When you assemble in His name through that assembly someone can receive salvation, deliverance, healing, joy, peace, settlement, restoration, encouragement, pleasant surprises etc. Always remember when a stick of broom is singled out, it becomes very vulnerable, easily broken, both once same stick of broom is lodged in the midst of other sticks to form a bunch, it becomes very difficult to break the broom.
My brother and sister don’t stay away from Gods’ assembly. Don’t draw away from Him. More than ever before, now is the right time to be part of the assembly of God as we see the days approaching.
4; Service: The Psalmist tells us Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling in Psalm 2 vs11. So many of us are in the habit of placing emphasis in the services we render to men compared to the attention we give to the service of the Lord our God. Majority of the people today would go to any extent to serve man just for favor, for connection, for money, for promotion, for anything and everything as the list goes on. There are those who are ready to compromise, loose our integrity in the attempt of rendering services to mere men. The time has come for we to review and examine how we are serving God. These pertinent questions demand answers; Are you serving the Lord by witnessing about Him to your environment and spheres of contact? How much of the gift He has deposited in us have we used to effectively champion God’s course? If I may ask you specifically, since we are still in the first quarter of the year, how have we served God so far in this year 2022. What are the strategic plans that you intend to explore while serving Him this year? These are questions that you alone can answer and I dare say it is your choice to review them and find sincere and honest answers. Here are practical ways in which we can serve God; with your offerings, payment of tithes and first fruits, you can serve God by reaching out to the less privileged, visiting those in the prisons, helping out widows, helping out in your local assembly. God is waiting for you, the time to act is now, do not fold your hands, drag your feet when it comes to serving God. It’s in the place of service that you’ll receive your reward.
Finally as I conclude this article one of the most effective and acceptable way of serving the Lord is by surrendering to Him completely, peradventure you have not made Him your Lord and personal savior , look at what Jesus said in John 3:3. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. Therefore we encourage you now that you have read these words that you give your life to God and find time for God, yes you can and I believe you would. God bless you.
