Making the Most of Our Time.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

Making the Most of Our Time

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

This life is marked by a single choice: who or what will we center our lives around? This choice takes each of us down a path of decisions that shape who we are, what we feel, who or what we value, and what we will have accomplished at the end of our days. To center our lives around ourselves or the things of this world leads only to destruction. But, to center our lives around meeting with God fills each moment with the glorious abundance of God’s love, provision, and transcendent peace. May your life be marked by union with your Creator as we explore what it means to center our lives around meeting with God this week.

Scripture:“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16

Devotional:           

Ephesians 5:15-16 warns us, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Our time is of the utmost importance here on earth. We’ll never get back the days we spend frivolously pursuing the things of the world. We’ll never get back the time spent outside of God’s purposes of receiving and giving love. Our time here is too limited and too important to spend on burdens, stresses, sin, and worldly pursuits. If we’re going to make the most of this life, we must learn to center our time around the eternal value of meeting with God. It’s for this reason James 4:13-15 says,

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Looking at the ways in which we spend our time is one of the best ways to assess the posture of our heart. If we spend all our time working for and thinking about the things of the world, we can know that we have not yet come into a right revelation of God’s purposes for us. If we spend the majority of our time simply getting through our days trying to find happiness rather than seeking the face of our heavenly Father that we might receive sustaining, transcendent joy, we can know that we have yet to surrender our lives fully to our King.            

The great thing about the nature of time is that it is completely ours to do with what we will. We can, right now, decide to make the best use of our time according to the purposes of God as revealed to us through Scripture. We can, right now, decide to stop wasting precious minutes on that which is fleeting and temporal and instead invest our days in the lasting, eternal, and fruitful purposes of our heavenly Father.

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” God longs to teach us how to use our days wisely. He longs to give us a heart of wisdom that we might center our lives around meeting with him. You have God himself dwelling within you, ready to guide you into a lifestyle of purposeful living. Choose today to open your heart and mind to the Teacher, the very Spirit of God, and live according to his will. May you find peace, joy, and purpose in the ways in which you invest your time today.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of using your time wisely.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any ways in which you’ve been using your time unwisely. Know that he is not a God who takes away all the things you enjoy. He’s not anti-entertainment, friends, and parties. He’s a fun God who truly loves you. Don’t mix religion and the heart of your heavenly Father. Trust that whatever he leads you to change will result in the absolute most fun, fruitful, and satisfying way you can live.

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” James 4:13-15

3. Ask God to help you spend your time wisely today. Ask him to help you follow his direction as you go about the day set before you.

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7           

You can trust that God has the absolute best plan for your time. Matthew 6:8 promises, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” He has every one of your needs sorted out. He will provide for you perfectly. You can trust him with your life and know that your job, family, and circumstances will be better in the capable and loving hands of your heavenly Father. Devote your time, job, money, and relationships to him that they might be filled with the blessing of God.

Extended Reading: Ephesians 5

When You Aren’t Sure That Relationship Is Going To Make It..LYSA TERKEURST

 When You Aren’t Sure That Relationship Is Going To Make It

LYSA TERKEURST 

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV) 

I know the heart-ripping hopelessness of a relationship unraveling.

The silence. The rejection. The harsh words. The coldness. The questions. The lack of answers. The hurt.

Why is it they only call in the anesthesiologists when you are surgically cut open? When you are being ripped open emotionally, it’s no less painful.

And that’s why my heart aches for anyone who is in a struggling relationship today … wondering if they’re going to make it or if this relationship is going to go the distance. Maybe that’s you. And if it is, I’m so sorry. Whether it’s with a friend, a parent, a spouse or anyone else you love dearly, I personally know the deep hurt when one person resigns while the other is still trying. There is a panic that arises when you desperately want the other person to wake up, stop their resignation and stop all the destruction.

The situation you’re experiencing is much more complicated than simple answers I could offer here. But I do want to give you just one stepping stone upon which to stand in whatever hard relationship situation you find yourself in:

Decide today that you are worthy.

Because you are. Worthy. You may not feel like it. But a quick glimpse at Psalm 139:13-14 assures me that you are: “For you [God] formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by a loving God who cares for you. Who loves you. And I’d rather depend on the solid Truth of God than the roller coaster of fickle feelings.

You are beautiful and captivating and smart and capable. But if you are in a relationship full of dysfunction, unresolved issues and frustrating communication, I suspect you feel a little less than all I’ve described.

Broken-down relationships can really break down a woman. And if you’re anything like me, when you feel broken down, those around you get your worst. Then upon all the hurt and anxiety, you layer regret, shame and the feeling that you’ve lost yourself. You’ve lost that girl inside who used to be so positive and happy and ready to take on the world.

Can I whisper a tender truth to you? The only way to recapture her is to come up for air and remember: You are worthy because the Creator of the universe says you are.

Then you can act worthy. And step aside from the emotional yuck to make some level-headed decisions for yourself. You can’t control how others act and react, but you can control how you act and react. You can get a plan. Talk to wise people who love you. Meet with a Christian counselor who will walk this tough journey with you. You can draw some healthy and helpful boundaries inside this relationship if some are needed. You can pray like crazy for clear discernment because Jesus is the best source of help.

Jesus sees. He knows. He loves. And He will direct you as long as you stick with Him. Honest cries for help, lifted up to Jesus, will not go unheard.

I pray the relationship you’re struggling in right now survives. I pray with every fiber of my being that it does. But if it doesn’t, I pray most of all that the beautiful woman you are rises above all that fell apart, still clinging tightly to the only opinion that matters — the opinion of the One who forever calls you worthy.

Dear Lord, when I’m struggling in relationships in my life, I feel so consumed with pain and fear. Help me, please. I need to hold on to Your truth that I am worthy. And, God, please show me the wise and healing steps I can take right now. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Avoiding Compromise Dr. Charles Stanley

 Avoiding Compromise

Dr. Charles Stanley

Proverbs 2

Although the temptation to compromise threatens every believer, we don't have to give in. If we're aware of the danger and understand the downward progression and ultimate consequences, we can determine to be vigilant in obedience to the Lord.

The first step in learning how to avoid compromise is understanding why it is so tempting. When others pressure us to take part in in what we know God has forbidden, it's easy to give in because we don't want to feel rejected. But anyone who's committed to living a godly life must be willing to stand alone and face ridicule or even persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). At other times, we consent to activities that violate our conscience just to avoid conflict, but peace at any price means we have to sacrifice obedience to God.

However, the temptation to compromise doesn't always originate with others. In fact, James 1:14 says we are tempted when we're carried away by our own lusts. How many Christians have fallen into sexual immorality or pornography by desiring a second look? Greed is another motivation that drives us to compromise. If you fudge on your income tax or take a few things home from the office, you've stepped over the line of obedience to God. Our choices should be based on scriptural truth, not on our feelings and desires.

In order to stand firm against compromise, we must make God's Word the standard for our conduct. If you begin each day with the Lord in His Word, He will guide your way. Then when the Spirit gives a warning, obey immediately, because giving consideration to the temptation opens a door for Satan.

When Anxious Thoughts Tie You in Knots.. Anne Peterson

 When Anxious Thoughts Tie You in Knots

By: Anne Peterson

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7

No matter what the beginning of our year was like, once the pandemic hit, nothing has been the same. We don’t act the same, we don’t feel the same and with partial coverings over our faces, we don’t look the same. We’re not certain about what will happen in the coming months and even in the coming weeks.

So how do we face each day without worry and fear? What is the answer to our anxious thoughts? I don’t want to give you a pat answer here. But I’m going to give you the only one I’ve found helpful. Prayer. And it’s not even my idea, but it was from the Apostle Paul, who often was tempted to feel anxious.

Paul, the one who would sing as he was shackled in prison, tells us how he found peace no matter what situation Paul found himself in. We go to God.

In fact, the only one who doesn’t want us to go to God in our anxiety is the enemy of our soul, Satan. He wants us to devour all the news we can till we find ourselves tied up in knots. And there we sit, paralyzed with fear of the unknown, and anxious thoughts that fly around our troubled heads like pesky gnats.

Paul tells us to bring everything before the Lord because Paul knew God’s character. God is sovereign, which means supreme. God isn’t surprised by anything we discover. He’s omniscient which means all-knowing. He’s omnipresent, which means always present. He’s omnipotent, which means all-powerful.

Satan wants us to worry and to believe that God has forsaken us. God told us that he would never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). And we know God means what he says. He’s not a man that he should lie (Numbers 23:19).

So, what do we do when we start entertaining some of those lies? How can we get our eyes back on the Lord? We can do this by corralling our thoughts and bringing them into captivity (2 Corinthians 10:5).

I visualize something to make this concept clear to me. I gather up all my thoughts and bring them to Jesus. And he hands back to me only the thoughts he thinks are worth keeping. And I’m not surprised to find the ones Jesus hands me are those that Paul talked about.

God tells us we are to think of things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). Those are the things God wants us to dwell on. And isn’t the Lord, all those things? And don’t all those things pertain to God?

When I go for a walk I spend time singing to the Lord and bringing my concerns to him. I know God has given us access to his throne room. It’s open all the time. Like little children, we can go right in and climb on God’s lap, telling him whatever is troubling us. Nothing is too small, not to the one who created butterfly wings.

So the next time your worries tie you in knots, take them to God. Knots are his specialty.

Knots

I’m trying to untangle, Lord,
these stubborn knots I see.
But every single time I try
they’re getting worse for me.

And then I see Him smiling
as he takes them in his hands.
And I just watch with wonder
as he loosens every strand.

© Anne Peterson

A Prayer for a Confident Heart..Megan Evans

 A Prayer for a Confident Heart

By Megan Evans

"He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord." - Psalm 112:7 (CSB)

There are times when you and I must answer a phone call, open an envelope, or encounter a headline from a breaking news story that leaves us holding our breath. In these moments, fear feels powerful until we remember that we have an All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Present God. If you struggle with doubt and worry, you are not the only one. While this range of emotion is very real for many of us today, thankfully, it doesn’t have to define us—or our circumstances. Thanks be to God, we don’t have to dread bad news when we are tethered to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 112 reminds us that we can trust that the Lord will care for us in every situation. Child of God, we can hold our heads up high as we live out our days in God’s Truth and His blessed assurance. He is our confidence, and therefore, we can face our fears with a confident heart. We can live daily with a confident heart because, in Christ, we have confident hope.

This hope is not just wishful thinking but an actual trait that you and I share as a Child of God. This psalm reminds us that traits like joy, blessing, hope, and goodness belong to the family of God. In Christ, we have the promise that light shines in the darkness for us, and we will not be overcome by evil (Psalm 112:4-6). Therefore, we don’t have to live strangled by our what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. We can seek refuge in the Fearless One and rest in God’s care. Oh, how the enemy hopes we will forget this and succumb to his traps of worry and panic instead! Jesus, remind me to fully trust you in the face of my fears and foes today. 

We were never meant to carry a trembling burden of trepidation. Instead, the Lord calls us to a different kind of fear. Instead of bowing and surrendering our hearts to timidity, worry, or anxiety, we are called to fully submit to the awe and reverence of God instead. A confident heart begins with the awe of God and rests daily in His power and presence. When we trust and obey what God’s Word says, we will experience the blessing of His joy and peace that surpasses all understanding. As Psalm 112:1 says, “Hallelujah! Happy is the person who fears the Lord, taking great delight in his commands.” The next time you find yourself making a mental list of “what-ifs,” try listing the character of the Lord instead.

Praise has an amazing way of freeing us from our earthly fears by reminding us that Jesus has already conquered our every concern. Processing news through the lens of God’s Truth allows us to stay anchored to His Promises. When I fear danger, I can remember that Jesus is my Protector. When I fear future needs, I can remember that Jesus is my Shepherd. When I fear sadness, I can remember that Jesus is my Comforter. When I fear hard choices, I can remember that Jesus is my Wisdom. When I fear sickness, I can remember that Jesus is my Great Physician. When I fear devastation, I can remember that Jesus is making all things new.  How wonderful to be reminded that there is not a single piece of news, good or bad, that has ever taken God by surprise. Jesus, may I lay my fears at Your feet today. My every answer is met in You.  

Let’s pray now for a confident heart over fear today:

Father God, You alone know what this day may hold, and I put my trust in You to care for me no matter what. Anchored to Christ, I will not fear the news of today or that of tomorrow. Because Jesus has already conquered sin and death on the cross, I will stand and face my fears with a confident heart. Help me, Lord. Moment by moment, remind me to trust You. Fill me with Your joy and teach me how to walk daily with my head held high, clinging to Your promises. Grow in me a confident heart today as I surrender all worry and fear to the cross.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

Living in View of God’s Mercy..Laura Bailey

 Living in View of God’s Mercy

By Laura Bailey

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

A lesson we are trying to teach our oldest daughter is that our choices have consequences–some good and others bad. But either way, our actions and how we choose to live our lives matter. Especially as Believers, we are called to live in a way that represents Christ; our lives are to look radically different than the world around us. 

Philippians 2:5-8, through the example of Christ, Paul tells us how we should conduct ourselves while on earth.  These verses remind us that our attitude determines our actions, we should make God’s will our number one priority, and our efforts will tell the truth of our heart’s desires. It is not easy having a Christ-like attitude, accepting God’s will over our own, or even holding ourselves accountable for practicing what we preach. Living each day in a way that honors God requires complete submission of our hearts, soul, and minds takes work.

Daily sacrifice and surrender don’t come easily, even to the most seasoned believers. Looking at Romans 12:1-2, we see that offering ourselves as living sacrifices pleases God. It is an outward expression, a way we show our sincere love and gratitude to the Lord, not just by our words. So, we must constantly renew our minds with the things of God, not of this world.

So how do we live in view of God’s mercy and daily renew our minds? Paul gets very practical; he spells it out for us in Romans 12: 9-21. Paul writes that love must be sincere; we should hate what is evil and cling to what is good. He encourages us to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, and enthusiastically serve the Lord. We should share with those in need and practice hospitality. We strive to live at peace with everyone, blessing those who persecute us, choosing not to repay evil for evil. Paul concludes with instructions on how to treat our enemies; by feeding and clothing them, we overcome evil with good.

When we set our minds on Christ, daily renewing and transforming our thoughts to align with him, we are less likely to think and act in a worldly way. Instead, we naturally begin to change our perspective, aligning our choices and will to God’s. 

It seems like a simple concept, but it is hard to live out. The Bible tells us to engage in corporate worship, find biblical community, and engage with Scripture daily to keep our minds firmly set on Him. God doesn’t ask for perfection, but a heart willing to follow Him, confess and repent of our sin, and live a life of worship to our Savior. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Take time today to ask yourself the following question, does my behavior match my beliefs? Take inventory of your answer, and call on the Holy Spirit to help you as you seek to offer yourself as a living sacrifice to the Lord. 

Further Reading:
Ephesians 4:1-6
1 Peter 2:10-12