O. Addison Gethers e-mail address [email protected] [email protected]
twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:52 PM Subject: DAILY DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19 > How Much Time Do You Have? > > > "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that > we may grow in wisdom." (Psalm 90:12) > > > Life can be like a boxing ring. We have to learn to "roll with the > punches" by knowing when to duck, > move to the side or throw a punch. It's a constant > battle and one of our biggest opponents is time. > > Everything seems to move at a faster pace today. Family, work, school, > social activities and even > church and demand our precious time. There does not seem > to be enough hours of daylight to complete our daily chores. Our lives are > dictated by a list of > things to do. In order to rest, we have to put it on our > schedule! We often find ourselves saying, "I need more time." > > One would think that with all of our technology, we could save a little > time. But it often adds to > the load, as we e-mail people around the world, manage > our Facebook account, Twitter our thoughts and emotions, and text each > other on our cell phones > (sometimes while driving!) It is ironic, because we think > we're saving time when in reality we make it easier for the world to > bombard our lives with more > things to do and consume our precious time. > > We need to ask ourselves, "Where has time gone? And what are we really > here to accomplish?" > > It is time to wake up and enter the real arena of battle. We must > recognize our real enemy and > understand his strategy. We need to reclaim our ground and > regain our positions as leaders under the command of our King, Jesus > Christ. > > The first step towards doing this is realizing that busyness is not > necessarily effectiveness. Our > time may be consumed with activity, but that does not > mean that we are accomplishing everything that God has planned for us. God > wants us to be effective, > fruitful and peaceful, not busy, stressed and annoyed. > The Word of God is a double-edged sword and when we learn to live our > lives by His word, we can cut, > slice and divide our lives into proper portions and > begin to effectively live for His Kingdom. When we live by His word, we > are able to differentiate > right from wrong, good from bad, wide from narrow, and > straight from crooked. > > This is where time is redeemed and effectiveness is achieved. Jesus holds > time in his hands, so He > is the master of making our lives effective. Jesus was > never swayed by what men thought was right or wrong. Even well-meaning > people sought to tell Him > what to do, but He only did what He saw His Father doing. > This is the key to life! We must learn how to operate by the same standard > as Jesus. We must learn > to say "yes" to God and "no" to everything else. > > We tend to fight battles that are of no consequence, beating aimlessly > into the air. We don't > recognize our true enemies, so we don't know what battles > to fight. We must learn to redeem our time on this earth by choosing to > fight the right battles. > > So how do we know which battles are ours? How do we know how to spend our > precious time? The > Psalmist heard the Lord say, "I will guide you along the best > pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." (Psalm 32:8) > We need wisdom to know > how to use our time -- wisdom that can only come from > above. Once again, the greatest source for wisdom is the Word of God. > "Take hold of my instructions; > don't let them go. Guard them, for they are the key > to life." (Proverbs 4:13) > > Time is short. In fact, it's running out! But we can be Christians of > excellence. We can be > effective for his Kingdom. We can be consumed with a peace that > passes understanding, instead of the stress of this world. Godly wisdom > and direction will not only > bring each of us more personal fulfillment, but it > will help us better serve the Kingdom of God while making the most of our > time. > > This Week > Take stock of your days. What is consuming your time? Ask the Lord where > you should increase your > focus. Leave behind those things that needlessly bring > you stress and rob you of your time. > > Prayer > "Lord, help me spend more time in Your Word so that my life can be a > double-edged sword. Divide > those things that are essential from those that are not. > Give me Your wisdom to make the most of the time You have given me here on > earth." > > ~~~~~ > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > Also, follow my tweets on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Donnie1261 > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=.
