David Jeremiah Devotional Today- David Jeremiah devotional archives
David Jeremiah devotional archives. Claiming the Time
For many of us, our lives are jammed full of things to do, places to go, tasks to tackle, and obligations to meet. The world is moving faster than the speed of social media, and time is flying through our fingers like rope from a runaway sail. What can we do about it? Let me suggest a good dose of Psalm 90, which is one of the greatest treatises ever penned on the subject of time, eternity, and the span of our lives.
The Eternity of God
Psalm 90 was written by Moses, making it the oldest datable Psalm. It begins with a mind-boggling affirmation: “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth… from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (verses 1-2). The Bible tells us God existed before the mountains were made or the world was formed. He is the Creator of time, above time, unaffected by the passing of time. He inhabits eternity. I can’t explain that. It’s a truth beyond our finite minds to grasp. The Bible tells us that from God’s perspective, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. In other words, the new year before us is like 365,000 years to God. How do we explain that?
The Brevity of Life
Moses went on in Psalm 90 to contrast God’s eternal nature with the brevity of our lives. David Jeremiah devotional archives has it that he compared us to grass, which springs up in the morning and is mowed down in the evening (verse 6). Other biblical passages reinforce this. Job 7:6 says our days are “swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.” First Chronicles 29:15 compares them to a shadow. According to Psalm 78:39, our lives are like a wind that passes and doesn’t return. James compares them to a mist or vapor that appears for a moment and then vanishes, and Isaiah says we’re like daylilies that bloom in the morning and fade in the evening (James 4:14; Isaiah 40:6).
This is extremely depressing for those without Christ. Lord Byron, in his poem “On This Day I Complete My Thirty-Sixth Year,” bemoaned: “My days are in the yellow leaf; the flowers and fruits of love are gone; the worm, the canker, and the grief, are mine alone!” Shakespeare’s character Macbeth was equally distraught when he said (in updated terms), “I am sick at heart… My life is withering and falling away like the yellowed leaves of autumn.”
That’s pretty depressing, isn’t it?
It’s so depressing that Jesus Christ came to do something about it. The whole purpose of the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ was to provide hope to the world and everlasting life to all who receive Him by faith. Peter said to Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Jesus Himself promised, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28).
The Gravity of Time
That leads us to consider the gravity of time and the urgency of claiming our moments and using our minutes wisely. In Psalm 90, Moses went on to say, in effect, that since God is eternal and our earthly lives so brief, we’re to count our days and present God with a heart of wisdom (verse 12). We’re to make each day count for eternity.
David Jeremiah devotional archives will enlighten you on, How do we do that when our lives are filled with obligations? How do we manage our time so we’re accomplishing what God intends? Time is a gift that comes to us from a royal source each day, bright and sparkling, absolutely untouched and unspoiled. Each day we receive a fresh, new supply: 24 hours; 1,440 minutes; 86,400 seconds. How well did you invest your time last year? What can you do better in 2015?
First, remember that God has placed us on earth with a set of assigned tasks, and our time doesn’t belong to us—it belongs to Him. Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (NIV). Psalm 139:16 says, “In Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me.” God has planned our work and the days required to accomplish it. Our times are in His hands, and so are our tasks. This mindset is at the core of our stewardship of time.
Second, we must de-clutter our schedules. If your life is jammed with activities, there’s a good chance you’re doing some things God really hasn’t assigned. Those who have grown rose bushes or fruit trees know a little pruning is needed from time to time. The same is true for our calendars. Look at your obligations for the new year. What can you delete? Is there something good you can leave out, allowing more time for the best?
Third, take advantage of small segments of time. Sometimes it’s hard to devote a whole week to a project, or even a day. But it’s amazing what we can do with fifteen minutes here and an extra moment there. It’s not that we’re to become workaholics who never rest or relax. But just as we don’t want to throw away our spare change, so we want to make the most of the loose coinage of time. Henry Ford said, “It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste.”
Fourth, make sure you take time for the most important things. Sometimes we need to stop and take stock of our lives and make some changes in our priorities and agendas. When God manages our calendars, He always leaves room for Himself. Make sure you order and arrange your days so you’ll have time for Bible study, prayer, and a regular appointment with Him. When we seek Him first—even the first thing each morning—everything else will fall into place and be added to us (see Matthew 6:33).
My friend, Rob Morgan, talks about this in his book, Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late: Biblical Strategies for a Lifetime of Purpose. According to Rob, God assigns our work in one-day units.
“We’re not always doing great things,” Rob writes in Mastering Life, “but even the smallest duty, if Christ assigns it and we accomplish it, is greater in God’s eyes than building the pyramids or acquiring a vast domain. As we undertake each day’s work for Jesus, we can lay our heads on our pillows night after night knowing we’ve been about our Father’s business. The next morning we arise to a new God-planned day; and we find joy in the journey. The child of God never awakens to a day unplanned by heaven or unattended by the Lord. When the alarm goes off each morning, we roll out of bed knowing we have a divine purpose, plan, and presence. There are no blackout dates on the calendars God keeps for our lives. There are no mistakes in His almanac. There is always enough work for the days He has given us; and exactly enough days for the work He has assigned.”
Those words hold the secret to managing our schedules. Judging from David Jeremiah devotional archives, I hope you’ll claim the time and live life to its fullest. Instead of being a slave to the clock, you can gain mastery over the hours. You can seize the wisdom to serve the Master with all your moments and all your days.
BY DAVID JEREMIAH