Looking for God's fingerprints...

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!