"...let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks...Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." -from Ephesians 5:3,4, & 16.
"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." -Colossians 4:2.
If there was ever a time for prayer, it is now. Keeping busy is easy to do, and is in no way a redemption of time by itself. We need to re-evaluate, re-prioritize our time management in ways that are pleasing to God.
"The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath." -Proverbs 15:24.
How is your prayer life? What do you commit to Him who is supposedly the LORD of your life? We can, of our own strength do nothing, and desperately need the Holy Spirit to do with us what we cannot (John 15:5)- that is why He was sent!
John Welch was a christian minister who lived at the end of the 16th, and early 17th century. He believed that any day was wasted, had he not spent 7-8 hours in prayer and scripture study! After his death it was said of him, "He was a type of Christ." Satan has made sure that we never have such time to give today, but really- where are you at? What priorities of time do you place above Christ? Why will you call Him Lord, if you do not the things that He says? See Luke 6:46.
"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." -Luke 6:12.
"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."
-Luke 18:1.
"Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." -Acts 12:5.
"Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord...continuing instant in prayer;"
-Romans 12:11,12.
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverence and supplication for all saints;" -Ephesians 6:18.
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." -Philippians 4:6.
"...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." -from James 5:16.
"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." -I Peter 4:7.
Our God is the provider of all our need (Philip. 4:19), the giver of every good gift, and every perfect gift (James 1:17); He has promised to "add all things" unto us, when we "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." - from Matt. 6:33; please read whole passage, 6:24-34. By the way; the bold, underlined, and italicized type in the listed scriptures has been added for emphasis.
Only too many today live by the heretical maxim, "God helps those that help themselves." Nothing could be further from Biblical truth! God wants us to obey Him, yes- but that is not the same as "helping ourselves." If your professed "dependance" on God only goes so far as your own, or others' abilities, you have no faith! See Hebrews 11:1 for confirmation.
"He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." -Psalms 147:10,11.
Many sterling efforts have been made by mankind, both the saved and the unsaved, but unless those works are truly founded upon Christ, those labors are vain (I Cor. 3:11).
Recently a woman named Diane Nyad, 61 years of age, attempted to swim from Cuba to Florida; a distance of 103 miles. She actually made 2 attempts, about a month or so apart. I pick on this only for an example, and not a particular bashing of her person. We live in a sports-obsessed society which values athletic prowess to an unholy degree.
What would she gain, had she succeeded? Worldly esteem? Self-satisfaction? Her name in a record book? The world, and all of its libraries will be burnt up (II Peter 3:10).
She said that this venture cost $650,000!! At the time I read this, she was still seeking funding for the last $500,000; she said that if she wound up with a $500,000 debt, it would be "worth it." Where are her priorities? Does she know that people are going hungry, and losing homes? Really, she was only feeding her own ego- her self-love (II Tim. 3:2). What does Jesus say to this?
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat...naked, and ye clothed me not...Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred,...or naked... and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment..." -from Matt. 25:41-46.
What we need to do, first and foremost, is to PRAY. Deny yourself, and your worldly priorities, and come apart to the Lord in fervent prayer. I honestly hope that your wake-up routine doesn't involve just barely getting out the door without devotions- really, if that is you, your eternal soul is in serious jeopardy!
Try commiting one hour per day to the Lord in prayer, for starters. Bible study should be in addition to this, and be certain to always begin your day with devotions. Take the brief Bible examples of 3X per day to pray, as found in Ps. 55:16,17 & Dan. 6:10. Remember that you are in the Lord's presence throughout the entire day! Is your behavior pleasing to God? Do you spend more time in front of the television, than before God in prayer? If you are loving your life too much here in this world, you will not be going to Heaven (John 12:25; Luke 14:26).
Remember also that GOD must be leading you, and not vice-versa. Our society values "keeping busy" above almost all else. God says that all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Is. 64:6)! We need to ask the Lord to search our hearts (Ps. 139:23,24), that we may be continually renewed in sanctification. After this, we must wait for His lead (Is. 40:28-31); not moving forward until we are sure it is God's time. Much like the Israelites obeyed God through journeying only when the cloud had lifted from the tabernacle. Whether it would be 2 days, a month, or a year, they waited for Him (see Numbers 9:17-23).
Finish by joining with me in reciting part of a prayer by Moses, found in Exodus 33:15,16;
"And he (Moses) said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us?"
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