Louise Gevers

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35 (ESV)

Time and faithfulness are essential elements in developing a healthy relationship with God, and are the key to how closely we interact with Him and reflect His integrity each day. When they are devoted to lesser pursuits, we create stumbling blocks that sap our energy and hinder the time we have to spend with Him in prayer, and reflection, each day. We unwittingly allow distractions and other causes the right to challenge, or subtly replace, His authority and values as the highest priorities in our hearts and we begin to disregard Him and His law of love. This has the potential to derail our hearts and unsettle our peace.

Significant relationships are sustained by a wholehearted giving of time and energy, so it’s essential to prioritise a meaningful time with God each day, before lesser demands made on our time impact on us, and our time and energy are depleted. Dynamic time with God enriches our knowledge of Him and deepens our trust. As we acknowledge our needs each day, and faithfully, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”, His Spirit inspires and influences our spirit, and empowers us to grow rich in faith and live His values. To this He, “adds all these (other) things … as well”. (Matthew 6:33)

Jesus provides the greatest proof possible that we need to prioritise our time in order to be fully renewed and empowered for each day; He sets the best example of how to do it too. Although God incarnate, Jesus needed to spend time with His Father before, and after, long days of teaching and giving of Himself, whether it was to wake before sunrise to be with Him, alone, in a quiet place, or, to go “to a mountainside to pray, and (spend) the night praying to God.” (Luke 6:12 NIV) Luke records that, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16 NIV)

Each new day is a gift to make our own. We may plan to use it wisely and well, but we can never predict the outcome; yet, if we begin each day with God in prayer, we begin well. We find Him waiting, ready to listen, ready to replace the weariness and cares we bring; ready to give us encouragement and strength for the new day. We rest in His Presence and experience again that His, “compassions never fail. They are new every morning,” (Lamentations 3:22-23) He has promised to never leave us.

What time are you giving God?

Prayer: Loving Father God, Please forgive our faithless use of time, and renew our understanding of it, to help us to grow in Your love and to be empowered to live each day in a way that honours You. Amen.