With Thanksgiving upon us and then Christmas, I was pondering on the concept of time. As we all know, we only have a certain amount of time each day. No matter what we do, there is no way to stretch the time and obtain more hours. It is simply not possible.
I am thankful for the time that I have in my life. I’m thankful for the time to be with my family, for the time to do work, and I treasure the time I have in private with the Lord. I pray each day throughout the day and lift up the people in my life that need prayer through the year. But each Saturday, I schedule at least one hour to be with God—just He and I—with no agenda, just a desire to be with Him, in His presence. I take this time sometimes to ask Him for a lot of things (relationships, people’s health, work, wisdom, etc.). Other days, I simply worship Him and say thanks for everything in my life—the people, the things He’s given me, my work, all the books He’s given me, all my talents, and for all the opportunities He’s given me in my life. Yet other times, I take this precious moment to pour out my heart to Him in desperation, despair, anger, or confusion, or sadness—whatever I have in my heart that day. And God never changes. He always receives me with the same love, grace, compassion, tenderness, and mercy. He makes me feel loved and accepted, always, regardless of my sinful nature. I always feel forgiven and as if He extends His hand of mercy towards me. I feel the warmth of His sweet love.
I want you to also feel God’s love because He loves you too. When we come to Him with a thankful and repentant heart, He melts. His grace and love and mercy just flows out of Him like a river. And we are bathed in these deep waters of pure love and compassion toward us. There is so much to be thankful for in our lives even when things are not going our way, even when we see no way out or no way for things to get better. God always has a way that is higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).
So during this Thanksgiving celebration, I encourage you to spend time with God—just you and Him alone. And you will experience His peace and love, and all the gifts His presence gives you. This Christmas, give God the gift of your time and keep giving Him that gift throughout next year. You will never regret it!
Happy Thanksgiving!