Can you "MAKE" Time?

Such a weird concept... I mean, MAKING time? There are only 24 hours in a day. Twenty-four. Can you really make more time? YES!

"Really..." you might say flippantly. "Prove it."

Okay.

Now, I'm not talking about adding more hours to your day, though you will be able to squeeze more day out of your hours if you budget your time correctly. To budget your time, keep the important things first and the most pressing things important. Remember to budget time for your family lest you lose them. They are more important than getting that newer, better job or cooking that special gourmet meal that takes four hours just so you can look perfect in front of your in-laws. But, I'm not talking about any of that either. 

Today, rather than speaking about making your days longer, I'm talking about making longer your days.

"HUH?!!"

Did I lose you? Let me explain. Actually, let's go to Scripture and let it explain. I Kings 3:14 says, "And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments... then I will lengthen thy days." Proverbs 3:1-2 basically tells us the same thing when it commands us. "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."

So, can you "MAKE" time? YES! And, God gives us the recipe! We are not only to keep His commandments, but (according to the second verse) also keep them with our heart rather than just to obey them.

Can you name the commandments? Many can at least name a few. Even if you can't, there are two commandments upon which all the other commandments hang. If you know those two, if you follow those two, you can lengthen your days.

"What are they? Spit it out already!"

Matthew 22:35-40 tells us, "Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 'Master, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said unto him, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 

God also tells us that He looks on our hearts (I Samuel 16:7) and that's it's our motives that matter (Proverbs 21:2). He said that He purifies our hearts if we let Him and that He will change us to be more like Him if we will allow Him to. So, not only will He give us long life in exchange for loving others and for loving Him, but He'll make that love possible!

So do you want that Fountain of Youth, those long days upon the earth? Do you want to "make" more time? Love the Lord God with everything inside you, and love those around you--enemy or friend.

Lastly, the whole reason we are taught things in our lives, the whole reason we learn things at all (at least it's true for me) is to pass it on to our children. Teach your children the way of God. Teach them these two most important two commandments, on which hang all the laws and the prophets. Teach them how to hide those words in their hearts. Teach them how to "make" time themselves. Not only will it be a blessing to them, but it will bless you as well. 

God Bless!

Nishoni Harvey

P.S. Make sure to make time for your children and make time for God! Also be careful to make time for your spouse so your relationship might flourish! These should be the highest of your priorities when you budget your time to squeeze more time from the 24-hours God has given you every day. Time with your family should also fill plenty of the life God has given you, plenty of the long days He will bless you with upon the earth. You can MAKE time. Make the most of what He gives you.