1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. 15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
Ecclesiastes 1-15 (NIV)
This week signifies the end of one decade and the onset of a new one, the closing of one year to make way for a new one. The opportunity for a fresh start. A time for new goals and a new purpose. For myself it comes with personal accountability. I take the final two weeks of the year to review the goals I set for the year and how I did in achieving them.
I also take the time to reflect on the things I want to accomplish in the New Year according to God’s will for my life. And as you are writing your resolutions or goals, I stopped by to remind you that time is a gift from God. He doesn’t owe us any days, or hours, or minutes, and yet he gives them to us generously. Because time is a gift, it is never justifiable to waste presuming God will give us more.
This New Year will come with its challenges. A new terrain, new obstacles to cross, and new milestones to set. Remember last season you already had your routine. Whatever they were, good or bad, you had them. This new season, if you continue with the old approach, you might surprise yourself. Let this new season be one where God starts a new work in you.
Each season, or year, is different from the others. Some are meant for things to grow, and others for things to die off.
What Time Is It In Your Life?
So as you prepare for the New Year, I have one question for you: What Time Is It in your life?
For some of you, it is time to die unto yourself so that you can be reborn in Christ
Maybe it’s time to uproot your fears and plant new ideas and new dreams to watch them bloom in the New Year
For some of you, it’s time to kill those friendships or relationships so that you can heal yourself from the past hurts, broken promises or toxic behaviors that are keeping from you from your God given potential
Maybe for you it’s time to tear down those bad habits or time thieves in order to build a new narrative for your life
Some of you have cried for too long, and it’s time to count it all joy and laugh again.
It’s time to bury and mourn the person you used to be so that you can rejoice in the man or woman you are becoming.
Some of you have scattered hurts and slights with broken relationships across your life. It’s time to gather yourself at the feet of Jesus so the healing can begin.
Some of you are searching all over for the power and strength when it’s time to realize that it lies within yourself.
You are holding on so tightly to the pain that you can’t even receive the blessing. Some of you need to let the past go and throw it away.
For some of you, it’s time to mend some fences and tear down your ego.
Some of you are talking too much when you should be listening more.
Some of you can’t experience the love of God or all that He has for you, because you’re holding on to so much hate.
Some of you are at war with others, when the battle you’re really fighting is with yourself.
What time is it in your life? What will you do with the next minute, hour, day or week that you have. What will you do differently in the New Year to honor the time God has given you? How will you treat those around you knowing you may not have much time with them? One of my favorite things to say is: if you have a problem money can fix, then you don’t have a problem. There is no amount of money to buy you more time. Live as if you don’t know the moment or the hour that God is coming for you; because the truth is…you don’t.
Let’s take these last few days of the year to examine honestly our heart, mind, and habits in order to see where we waste time. And let’s pray and work at making sure the time given to us in the New Year is used to the best of our ability. It is my sincere hope and prayer that you go into this next year with 20/20 vision focused on the Son, the one constant in our lives. May you honor Him with the time that He most generously gives you.
Excerpt from church speaking engagement. Title Nod: What Time Is It? (The Time)
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