Dear friend,
Sorry it has been awhile since I have written a blog post. I juggle many things, and too often the blog gets put on the back burner.
Today, I wanted to share another journal entry with you. This journal entry was inspired by the microwave.... weird right? I was heating up my coffee in the microwave, and as I was standing in the kitchen waiting for the coffee to be heated I got slightly anxious as I saw the seconds quickly slipping away toward zero. It made me think about how each second that passes I will never get back. Every tick of the clock will never return. Each minute that passes by is now history and never to be lived again.
Time is something we have that we can never hold onto. It keeps going even when we don't want it to. And in reality, our time really isn't ours. It is a gift from God that we are called to steward. Even the little moments of each day are important. These small moments are important because they add up quickly.
Think about all the small moments here and there that you scroll through social media. That adds up to a lot of time. Let's say that you go on social media one hour a day. This adds up to 7 hours a week. At the end of the year that is 365 hours that you spent on social media! After five years that would be 1,825 hours!
Time is ticking away. What we do with our time matters. My life is not my own. It belongs to Him. So that means my time is not my own either. Every breath is a gift from God, so I want to live each day for Him and for His glroy.
So... back to the microwave. I was anxious and I was wondering why. Why was I anxious as I saw the time slipping away? Maybe because deep down I put my hope in the things that could happen within this time. I put my hope in the dreams I dream, the memories I make, the food I eat, the money I make, the people I open my heart to, the posts I share on social media, and the affirmation of friends and family. I put my hope here, in this world, in the time that is ticking away and cannot be held onto. Which is ironic. Because why would I put my hope in something that is so obviously slipping away?
As we live on this side of Eden, our flesh will naturally long to put our hope in this world and in the pleasures of this world. But I want to remind you (and myself) of these beautiful truths from God's Word. I want to encourage you to take the time to slow down and let your heart and mind soak into these truths:
Psalm 39:4
[4] “O LORD, make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
[5] Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
[6] Surely a man goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
[7] “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in you. (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
[1] For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
[2] a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
[3] a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
[4] a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
[5] a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
[6] a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
[7] a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
[8] a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace. (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 3:11
[11] He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 5:18–19
[18] Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. [19] Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 3:14
14 I’ve also concluded that whatever God does, that’s the way it’s going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God’s done it and that’s it. That’s so we’ll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear. (MSG)
Psalm 90:12
[12] So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom. (ESV)
James 4:14
[14] 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. (ESV)
Psalm 31:14–15
[14] But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
[15] My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! (ESV)
Ephesians 5:15–17
[15] Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (ESV)
How beautiful is it to know that God has given us time and so many good gifts and blessings to enjoy? He wants us to enjoy friends and laughter, food and drinks, falling in love, and every season with all its colors and smells. He wants us to enjoy cozy blankets, reading books, singing our favorite songs, and even our time at school and work. But ultimately, our hope needs to be in God. It needs to be in Him because He will outlast time. He will outlast the gifts and blessings on this earth. He always was and always will be. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. We can put all our hope and trust in Him because He is God, and He is Our Rock who will last forever.
I cling onto these words that the psalimst declared in Psalm 39:7 - "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you." What are we waiting for? Time is ticking away. It won't stop ticking away. The good things in life will fade. The best days of our lives will become distant memories. Even our lives are quickly fading, like the vapor from a teapot. God has put eternity in our hearts. Let's cling onto Him, our Eternal Heavenly Father and put all our hope in. For, "this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love" (Romans 5:5 ).
In my Coffee and Bible Time Prayer Journal (in the Scripture Tab), I wrote down all of these verses and prayed through them. I also wrote down the little poem I wrote on this topic! I love using this prayer journal to help me reflect on scripture and pray through it! You can get a prayer journal today here! :)
If this blog post encourages you and you would like to reach out to me please email me at info@coffeeandbibletime.com ❤️ I may not be able to get back to all emails but I will try. Also, share with a friend if this touched your heart! :)
Love and blessings,
Ash