Time is very important to me. I love to figure out how to do tasks more efficiently. When I was a teenager I read Cheaper by the Dozen and imagined myself becoming an efficiency expert one day. A number of years ago the realization came to me that as a Christian my time no longer belongs to me but to God. After transporting my children to school I decided to sit in my car in the school parking lot and give my day to God.
My 'to do' list for that morning included grocery shopping and some other errands - all planned out to make the most of my morning before heading home. But what if I gave my time to God? Would He have a different 'to do' list than mine? I decided to inquire and see what would happen. So there I sat in my car, offering up all my time that day to Him. "Is there anything You want me to do? I plan to get groceries, but if there is something else you would rather I do, please use my time. It's Yours." I sat and waited.
Within a short amount of time I began to think about a friend that I had not seen or talked to in many, many months. In fact, we normally connect by phone maybe twice a year, even though we live in the same city. The impression did not go away and I began to wonder if this was an assignment from God. Why not check it out? So I called her on my cell phone. What a total surprise to hear her ask, "Did God tell you to call me?" She had never asked me that before. I wasn't sure how to respond, but since I thought He might have, I said, "Well, yes." She started crying! I asked if she wanted me to come over and pray with her and she said yes. Later she explained that she was battling discouraging thoughts that morning and was crying out to God to help her. Then the phone rang and it was me. After we talked and prayed, a smile came across her face. She knew (and I knew) that it was God's perfect timing.
Then from her house I went on to a half price bookstore looking for something on my 'to do' list. There I ran into a woman from my friend's church, that I had not seen in quite some time, who was leaving for Hawaii the next day. She was trying to find a book (that I had told her about) before she left on her trip, but she couldn't remember the title. She didn't have my phone number and did not know how to contact me before she left. She was so excited to run into me at the store. (By the way, this store is about 40 minutes from my home - so it's not even near my neck of the woods). I gave her the information she needed. It was another God appointment.
I never did get my groceries that day, but I saw God's fingerprints on my time card. What a joy to serve Him with my time and to see other people being blessed by Him. I wonder how different our lives would be if we remembered every day to give God our time? How many more people would be blessed? It might be as simple as paying a fellow student a compliment, or helping someone pick up their dropped books.
John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
We can experience the abundant life that God wants for us as we give ourselves to Him and to others. When we do, I believe he will make our time more efficient, and we will be privileged to see Him bless others. Have you thought about giving Him your day? Look for His fingerprints on your 'to do' list - they are uniquely His. Try not to let the enemy steal your time with God through busyness, or let him steal the joy of serving God and others. Oh - and drop me a line about God's fingerprints on your life. Have a blessed day!
A number of years ago I was playing 'picnic' on the floor with my children, putting all my weight on my right elbow as we feasted on plastic food and chased away imaginary ants. When I got up I realized that I had pulled the ligaments in my shoulder so severely that I couldn't lift my arm above mid-chest level without excruciating pain. My right arm felt floppy, like it was no longer attached securely to my shoulder. Instantly I knew that it would require surgery to fix it, but because I had been learning to seek God in all matters physical, I inquired of the Lord what to do in order to be healed, and felt that He was promising to heal it without the aid of the medical profession. But weeks later it was still so painful that I was unable to lift my arm. Anti-inflammatory pain medication did not help at all.
I continued to pray for healing and nothing seemed to be happening. Weeks followed into months and I continued to pray. I still sensed that God was going to heal my arm, but in the natural nothing seemed to be happening. Anger started to creep in at about six months as it made no sense to my rational mind why I was still in the same amount of pain. I struggled with doubt but continued to seek God. Finally at seven months I decided to 'confront' God with the lack of any tangible sign of healing. I got up at 5:30 am and locked myself in the bathroom for privacy from my family. There I cried out to God. "You said You would heal me, but I am no better off than the day I injured my arm. I need to do something about this. I need to know whether you are really going to heal me or not!" I am embarrassed to say that I was somewhat less than polite with God, out of frustration, but He was gracious to me. The Spirit of the Lord very firmly spoke to my spirit, "You ARE healed. Now start thanking Me for it." The firmness was convicting, not condemning. I was assured, although my human reasoning still could not quite grasp the concept of thanking God before receiving the healing.
For the next two weeks I obediently thanked God for the healing that seemed as distant as it was the first day I prayed. Then on a Saturday evening as I laid my head on my pillow, the Spirit of God again spoke to my spirit. "Tomorrow your arm will be healed." I awoke the next day and my arm was totally healed. I could raise it over my head, swing it around in circles and lift objects - all things which had been absolutely impossible the evening before. During our church service that morning a woman gave her testimony of being healed from a skiing accident that left her paralyzed from the neck down. This was the first time I had ever heard a testimony like that in our church. God's timing for my healing was amazing.
Mark 11:24 says, "For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will (get it)."
God has many ways of healing our bodies - through the laying on of hands, being anointed with oil, through the prayers of friends. Sometimes He heals instantly, miraculously. But many healings are progressive, over time.
Be encouraged if you need healing. Keep seeking God. Read and meditate on the scriptures that talk about healing and believe that you will receive your healing. Here are some starters:
Jeremiah 30:17 I will restore health to you, and heal you of your wounds.
I Peter 2:24 He (Jesus Christ) personally bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.
There are many others, so dig into your Bible.
Oh, and I am totally for seeing physicians. So please do not misinterpret this testimony as being against medical treatment. I was absolutely willing to do that, but God made it clear that He would be the Physician in this particular instance. If He had not been clear, I would have made an appointment for medical treatment right away.
To all who love the Lord -- Be encouraged! My goal is to post true stories from real life that highlight how awesome God is and how He works daily in our lives.
To those who do not know Him yet -- I hope that you will see Him in the testimonies that you read here on Faith Builder -- and get curious about who He is.
Feel free to comment. I trust you will do so with respect. Have a blessed day!
Sonbeam3
Time is very important to me. I love to figure out how to do tasks more efficiently. When I was a teenager I read Cheaper by the Dozen and imagined myself becoming an efficiency expert one day. A number of years ago the realization came to me that as a Christian my time no longer belongs to me but to God. After transporting my children to school I decided to sit in my car in the school parking lot and give my day to God.
