Like sand through the hourglass…
So our the days of our lives. I am not sure if you are as old as I am, but this was the theme phrase to an old ‘soap opera’ that has been airing for 56 years this November.
What?! Yeah, I cannot believe it either.
And those of you who don’t know the terminology, soap opera; is a radio or television series dealing especially with domestic situations and frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term “soap opera” originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored by soap manufacturers. Wikipedia
How about this; do any of you remember the 1976 hit by the Steve Miller band, ‘Fly Like an Eagle?’ The song opens with these words:
Doo doo-doo-doo
(Tick tock tick) Doo doo-doo-doo
(Tick tock tick) Doo doo-doo-doo
(Tick tock tick) Doo doo-doo-doo
Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’
Into the future
And though the song has action-provoking words, I am puzzled by the phrase: time keeps slipping into the future. Because the fact is, time is slipping into our past.
Don’t get me wrong; I am not by no means a doom and gloom person.
I am the opposite.
However, the subject of “time” is on everyone’s minds. Most people I conversate with has questions that normally start with:
“How much longer will it be before…” [you fill in the blank]?
Everyone can have their own opinion about time and even how they spend their time, but the bottom line is we each only have 24 hours in a day, and our days are numbered.
One morning when I had my quiet time, I asked Holy Spirit if I have grieved him. I instantly saw an image in my thoughts. It was of an hourglass. And as I watched the sand on the top half quickly make its way through the narrow neck to the bottom, I knew that Holy Spirit was telling me something. To my surprise, as I continued to watch this vision, and I saw my hand take the top off the hourglass and take pinches of sand from the top half and threw it out.
My heart was convicted. I knew exactly what HE was trying to say to me. I waste too much time. It is only a few moments here and a few there, jumping on social media, getting sidetracked with my messy office [just being honest here], or getting distracted by the many wonderful teachings online that make my head spin.
But bottom line, I had been given 3 specific things to get accomplished in the first quarter of the year, and a 4th assignment being something that will be an ongoing mission, till I am told otherwise.
So what is keeping me? Why do I get stalled out? Well, one reason I stall out is I am not silencing the little voice in my head that says; you have no clue how to accomplish these things. Are you even ‘qualified’ to step out in this matter?
However, if I truly believe that God is leading me to accomplish these things, HE will supply me with everything I need to accomplish them.
Hebrew 13:20-21 AMP
Now may the God of peace [the source of serenity and spiritual well-being] who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood that sealed and ratified the eternal covenant, equip you with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
This past week during my zoom bible study, we looked at Galatians chapter 5, and verse 23 in The Message Bible hit my spirit. Let me explain what the writer Paul is saying before typing out verse 23.
Paul is reiterating to the churches of Galatia that if we live a life lead by the Spirit, we are not under the law. What qualifies us is grace. There is freedom in the gospel of grace as compared to living life to the ‘law.’ That if we live with our selfish desires, we are living by the flesh [5:19-21].
Verse 22 lists what life looks like living by the spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
Then verse 22b – 23 from The Message Bible reads this way:
We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Wow, it still hits me. I have not loyally committed to those things I believe God has called me to. And as for directing my energies wisely, if that were true, I wouldn’t waste ‘time’ looking at pictures of what Mrs. Jones did on the weekend. Right?!
This is just me; I am not pointing the finger at anyone. It is just where I am at this moment. Maybe, just maybe, the enemy whispers in our ears because he doesn’t want us to accomplish the greatness that is in each one of us?
Do you know that God has given us all assignments and even prepared a way for us to accomplish them? Ephesians 2:10
We each have such a uniqueness that is essential to the world around us. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get this wrong opinion of myself; that I don’t make that much of a difference.
That is a flat-out lie from the enemy! The thing is, each one of us makes a difference. We have all been created brilliantly for such a time as this. Psalm 139:13-16 MSG
He has chosen specifically the times of history we would live. Acts 17:26 NIV
If God has something stirring in your heart to do that perhaps you haven’t heard of anyone else doing. Take courage, my fellow pioneer, take that first step, and the other one will be revealed. We need to trust that God will supply us with all we need to accomplish those assignments.
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