This morning as I was sitting here, realizing that —”Wow… it’s May 1st…“
I heard a phrase,
“The time has not been wasted!”
And so I decided to press into that a little bit this morning.
When looking at the calendar, it sure feels like much of this year—this very “promising” year of 2020 has not quite taken off as many of us would have hoped or expected.
There is a part of me, the part of me that loves to accomplish things, to check things off the list, to keep the ball rolling with my tasks… this part of me says, “Oh man, it feels like a lot of the year has been wasted and lost.”
But I feel like I am hearing Him say that this time has not been wasted.
God is not wasteful. He doesn’t waste things, and He doesn’t waste time. He uses it wisely, and in a way that only He can, but He also teaches us to use our time wisely…
“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.'” John 6:12 (NIV)
“Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” —Ephesians 5:16 NLT
…and I love to see the other translations of this:
“These are evil times, so make every minute count.” (CEV)
“…making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (ESV)
“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” ( V 15-16 KJV)
And then into verse 17:
“Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” (NLT)
“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (NKJV)
It’s comforting to remember that God is not wasteful.
That He always has a way of making use, a way of making something beautiful. ✨
So I have to ask this…
How can I do the same?
How can I keep an attitude like this? How can I keep this same thing in mind and within my heart?
To not “waste” is to:
Create, to strengthen, to help, to improve, to gather, to collect, to save, to preserve, to grow, to bloom, to build, to rise….
And that’s what I believe God is doing, and has done, within this “interesting” time.
It may not seem this way on the outside, but I believe that He’s doing it, and that it’s happening.
It’s just His way, and it’s just His heart for His children. He’s for us, and He’s doing “stuff” within the time that we’ve had, and He’s been drawing us nearer to Him within it. There are many things we need from this time that we’ve had, this strange and “still” time…
He’s done stuff, and He’s doing stuff, but doesn’t it feel that all of this is soon coming to a close, and we’re just on the verge of the next season, the next steps? Doesn’t it feel like we’re beginning to wrap this up, and about to move into the next, new thing?
Like a butterfly that is about to emerge from its cocoon. ?Like a baby bird that has been raised and nourished and strengthened and is now almost ready to take flight. ?
What have You built within us, Lord? What is about ready to emerge? Help us to receive all that You have planned for us to receive within this time. Let us not miss out on a single thing You have, because You know what we need.
Thank You, Father.
-Heather ?