You know, time is a precious commodity, honey. It’s something that we can never get back once it’s gone, and yet we waste it on the silliest things. I ain’t gonna lie, I’ve been guilty of this myself. When I was younger, I used to spend hours on the phone, chit-chatting away like a typical girl. Call waiting didn’t even help me, because sometimes I had two people on each line! My parents finally caved and got me my own phone line, back in the days before cell phones were all the rage. I had this clear banana phone that glowed when it rang. Boy, was I something else.
In my teenage years, it was all about the music, baby. I had this tape player stereo deck with two ginormous speakers that drove my parents crazy. I would listen to one cassette over and over until the tape started to chew up, and then I’d have to use a lead number 2 pencil to wind it back into place. Hours would fly by while I did this, completely oblivious to the world around me.
Let me tell you, when I was a young adult, I got so hooked on watching TV that I would lose track of time. And then, when Netflix came out, forget about it! I would binge-watch an entire season in one sitting. And don’t even get me started on Facebook. I was on it all day, every day. Scrolling through my newsfeed, checking out what my friends were up to, and getting into heated discussions with people I barely knew. It was becoming a real problem.
But one day, I had to admit to myself that I was wasting too much time on these things. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with watching TV or going on social media, but it was getting out of hand. I wasn’t getting anything done, and I was missing out on life. So, I decided to cut back.
Now, I limit myself to only watching TV or going on social media for a certain amount of time each day. And when I do go on Facebook, I only check in once in a while, just to see what’s up. It’s amazing how much more time I have now that I’m not constantly glued to my screen. I can focus on my goals, my hobbies, and my relationships. So, if you’re feeling like you’re wasting too much time on TV or social media, take it from me, it’s never too late to make a change.
I used to spend a lot of time on gossip sites and news outlets, too. It’s amazing how much time you can waste on that stuff, especially when you start getting all worked up about things that aren’t even true. But I’ve never been much of a video game person. My husband, on the other hand, is like a zombie when it comes to his PC games. He can get lost in them for days, and it drives me nuts! I just don’t get it.
But you know what? I had to take a long, hard look at myself and realize that all of these time-wasters were actually hurting me in more ways than one. They were taking away from the time I could be spending with the Lord, in prayer and in reading the Bible. If I had spent even half as much time seeking Jesus as I did scrolling through Facebook or binge-watching TV shows, I know I would be in a different place right now. I would have had so many of my questions answered, and I would have been so much more confident in my walk with the Lord.
So, if you’re like me and you find yourself wasting time on things that don’t matter, I urge you to take a step back and really examine your priorities. Are these things glorifying to God? Are they helping you to grow closer to Him? If not, it may be time to let them go and focus on what really matters. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Ephesians 5:15-17
Now, let me tell you something, when I really sat down and fact checked myself, I was super disappointed. I mean, really disappointed. Upset, even. Disappointed in myself for disappointing God. All of these “worldly” things we spend our time on are just that – worldly things. They’re all temporary. When you pass away, you can’t take any of these things with you. Memories are just that – memories. I never want to find myself in a situation where I’m saying to myself, “I wish I would have changed this…” or “I wish I could go back and do this differently.” Because once you pass away, that’s it. There aren’t any “second chances,” no do-overs, no rewinds. We have to make the most of the time we have, and use it wisely. We have to focus on what’s really important in life – our relationship with God, and how we can be a blessing to others. That’s what really matters in the grand scheme of things. Psalm 39:4-5
Now, listen, honey. I’m trying to get it right, and let me tell you, I ain’t even close yet. When you come to know the Lord, you know there ain’t no room for gray areas. It’s either you’re on His team, 100%, or you’re not. And I ain’t taking no chances with that. I can’t bear the thought of Him saying, “I don’t know you.” That would break my heart into a million pieces. So, I’m doing everything in my power to lift Him up and give Him all the praise He deserves. And I’m hoping that by sharing my journey with you, you’ll be inspired to seek Him in everything you do too, sugar. 1 Peter 1:8-9
“Hallelujah! Let us give thanks and praise to our magnificent God, for He is truly awe-inspiring and His love can fill your heart with unbridled joy!”
