Just Enough Time to Do God’s Will
By Rick Warren
“All of us should . . . enjoy what we have worked for. It is God’s gift.” Ecclesiastes 3:13 (GNT)
In a 21st-century world where we’re overworked, overstressed, and over-scheduled, this may be one of the most significant and freeing sentences you’ll ever read: You have just enough time to do God’s will.
That means if you don’t feel you have enough time in your day, one of two things is true.
1) You’re doing things God doesn’t intend for you to do.
2) You’re doing the things God intended the wrong way.
God wouldn’t give you a list of things to do and not give you the time to do them. You’re either trying to do too much or you’re wasting time. There’s really no other option.
Either way, you need to learn to enjoy the moment. The Bible says, “All of us should . . . enjoy what we have worked for. It is God’s gift” (Ecclesiastes 3:13 GNT).
Too many of us fall victim to a terrible trap. I call it “when and then” thinking. We believe “when” we achieve a particular goal, we’ll be happy. Maybe that goal is graduation, marriage, or a financial goal. But you won’t be happy then. You’ll enjoy reaching that goal for three seconds, and then you’ll start asking yourself, “What’s next?” The cycle simply repeats itself.
Are you worn out, burnt out, or stressed out? God wants more for you. If you’re carrying an overwhelming load, it isn’t from Jesus. He says, “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest . . . the load I give you to carry is light” (Matthew 11:28, 30 NCV).
Every moment of your life is a gift from God. He doesn’t want you to miss a single one because you’re focused on what’s next and not on what’s he’s put right in front of you. Don’t wait for something to happen before you are happy with what you already have. God has given you everything you need for joy and contentment right now.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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