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April 27, 2009 - Time

Why do people like the outdoors so much?  What drives a person to hunting or fishing as a past-time?

For many the serenity of an outdoor experience can offer numerous to think through problems, relax your mind, get caught up on prayers, and to listen to God.  Scripture tells us that Christ spent many hours in quietness.  His meditation time was special and allowed him time to commune with his Heavenly Father.

The psalmist said, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). If we are to listen to God, we must be quiet and let Him do the talking. Too many of us, when we pray, simply read off a list of requests, get up, and walk off. Instead of listening to God, we only report our requests to Him. How can God speak to us if we don’t take time to listen?  I’ve experienced that quietness is essential to listening. If we are too busy to listen, we won’t hear. If we spend night after night watching television, and then try to listen, we will find our minds jammed with interference. It takes time and quietness, like a hunting trip, to prepare to listen to God. “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him” (Ps. 62:5).

That is why so many people through the centuries have sought seclusion in the deserts, mountains, or monasteries. There the noise of civilization vanishes and the Voice of God doesn’t have quite so much competition. Such silence, however, can be found in the quiet of a living-room sofa late at night or at the kitchen table early in the morning. The place isn’t important. The decibel scale is. God’s Voice is still and quiet and easily buried under an avalanche of clamor.

Communication with God takes time.  If you’re like me it seems like there is never enough time to do the things that are most important.  John Wesley was a wonderful model of how to manage time effectively, spiritually and to the glory of God.  His prayer time was a priority and extensive.

Recently I received the following list of what God might ask us about how we used our resources – especially our time. 

TEN THINGS GOD WON'T ASK

1...God won't ask what kind of car you drove,

He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

2...God won't ask the square footage of your house,

He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3...God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet,

He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4...God won't ask what your highest salary was,

He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5...God won't ask what your job title was,

He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of our ability.

6...God won't ask how many friends you had,

He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7...God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived,

He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8...God won't ask about the color of your skin,

He'll ask about the content of your character.

9...God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation,

He'll lovingly take you into heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.

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