You Have to Make the Time

I wonder if most people don't make to-do lists because looking at all that they have to do each day would depress them. They would rather trudge along doing what they must without noticing what they haven't done. I have found that a to-do list helps get things done.

Putting your most important thing to do first is the best way to assure that it will get done. The other things will press you to get through it. The demands of other people will crowd out your time to get what you need done. You simply have to make the time to do the most important thing.

Jesus got up very early in the morning, when others wouldn't have seen Him leave, and went to a lonely place to pray. 

The most important thing you will do each day is spend some time with God. It is nearly impossible to do this when there are others who are demanding your time. You will have to set your own time and special place to consistently have this time with the Lord. You will have to go into seclusion for a short time to do so. You may even upset some people when they can't find you. 

You must make this time. It is something that is carved from granite. It will not exist without a great effort on your part. It will take preparation for the time. It will probably mean that you will lose some sleep. It will be a trade-off for something else that you could be doing. It is not easy.

Spending time with the Lord daily is the best way to get your life in order. If you don't do the most important spiritual thing, you are less likely to do the most important physical, emotional or intellectual thing. In other words, you are more likely to be an overweight, out of shape, emotional wreck whose greatest intellectual pursuit is watching the History Channel when they give one-sided and inflated praise for Nostradamus. You are less likely to realize the importance of following the Scriptures, being consistently in church and persistent prayer. Importance will be given to things as they look on the outside. Spiritual depth is necessary to realize the intrinsic value of things.

Your spiritual bank account will be empty without spending time with the Lord. It makes sense. If you don't make any deposits why should you expect there to be anything there? Spiritual depth puts everything where it needs to be. It makes money, cars, houses and promotions less important while making obedience, family, friends, faith and godly fulfillment more important.

Yet, you won't do it unless you make the time. I believe this comes from conviction. You must be able to evaluate whether or not you are making the time now. You must be able to answer the question: "Is what I am doing right now working?" If not, you will have to do something else. You will have to carve out a different time or have a different strategy for there to be success.

You will have to make the time.

Mark 1:35 (NIV)
   Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.