A new year came quickly! I love how we call it a “new” year because it implies that we have a chance to start again; to chase new dreams, meet new goals, make new friends, and do something extraordinary! It gives a little hope.  

But sometimes we set goals that we don’t stick to, and I don’t think it’s because we can’t achieve them; I think, if we’re honest, it’s because we simply don’t put time into them.  

In Exodus 34, Moses and the Lord are talking to one another—planning for the things about to happen. The Lord says, “I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you.” (Ex. 34:10 NLT)

Not a bad promise from God right there! Performing miracles that the earth hasn’t sniffed the likes of . . . sounds pretty encouraging if you ask me.

But there’s a condition God puts in the following verses that sticks out to me: “You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about His relationship with you.” (Ex 34: 14 NLT)

This is also one of the Ten Commandments that Moses receives in chapter 20 of Exodus—this matters a lot to God. He cares about what we put our time into. He cares about our focus and our passions. He wants our love and consideration.  

And one of the greatest indicators of our attention is time.

I’m looking to put time into becoming the person I want to be in the future. I want to value my time with God and read the Bible, so I’m going to try and make the time to do that every day. I want to learn to work with wood (because every man wants to know he is handy!) so I will put time into that craft no matter how humbling it may prove.  

God wants our time. He wants to know that we are sacrificing our own cravings for a relationship with Him; that we set aside our preferred behaviors and agendas for the sake of growing that relationship.  

The power of God transforms us, and it doesn’t take all day, only a mere instant.  But, if we’re not present in the relationship, we will miss the opportunity.  

People tend to exaggerate what they can accomplish in the short term and underestimate what they can accomplish in the long term.

Stop looking for overnight success and quick fixes to deep problems. Start putting the time in to fix them.  

A new year means a new chance to focus on what matters most in your life.  Time is precious and fleeting. Use it accordingly.  

I’ll leave you with this quote from Oswald Chambers, the man who wrote My Utmost for His Highest.

“It is not the thing on which we spend the most time that molds us, but the thing that exerts the greatest power.  Five minutes with God and His Word is worth more than all the rest of the day.”

One day at a time.  

—David Ledbetter

David Ledbetter is a regular contributor to The Increase, providing monthly articles and opinions.

Check out David’s Increase profile here: http://theincreasebaseball.com/author/david-ledbetter/  

 
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