Gift of GodSample

Day 2: Gift of Time Do you know how you're always complaining about never having enough time to get everything done? How you're constantly stressed and putting things off? It might seem like time is something you're lacking. But if we're honest, what are we doing with much of our time? Watching TV? Going on our phones? Social media? Video games? There are plenty of essential things that take our time, like working or going to school. But God doesn’t give you more than you can handle when you rely solely on Him. He doesn’t let you bite off more than you can chew. It says in Isaiah 58:11, “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” God restores us every day so that we may be productive and do His good works. He won’t give us more than we can handle, and He gives us rest through His word. We seriously need to start thinking about what we're doing with the time we have. Our days are numbered, and we don't want to look back and think about ‘what if?’ What if I had tried that sport? What if I had listened to God and invited that person to church? What if I had been nicer to that friend or spent more time with my family? What if? God helps us counter our ‘what ifs’ with ‘even ifs.’ Saying that no matter what, He still loves us unconditionally. Now that we have acknowledged we have time that we choose to waste, how can we change? We should be grateful that God has given us time to learn and to speak and grow. He gives us time as a reminder to live out His word. God wants us to walk out our faith. He wants us to invite others to seek out His word. Imagine how many Christians there would be speaking out His truth if all of us used our time wisely. Never take time for granted. Time is a constant element God has gifted us to keep us grounded. He lets us rest at night and gives us restoration when we go to Church on Sundays. But during the week, even at school and work, it’s our time to spend with Him. He wants us to pursue Him, but that starts with accepting His gift and using it for how it was intended. Discuss: 1) What is something that you could remove from your schedule to make more time for God? 2) How can you thank God this week for His gift of time? 3) Do you think it’s a good thing that God lets us decide how we use our time? Why or why not?