THE DAYS ARE JUST PACKED!

27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days,

But the years of the wicked will be shortened. Proverbs 10:27 NKJV

You know how some verses in the Bible just become part of your everyday, living, breathing, walking around life? Proverbs 10:27 is just such a verse for me. It's a verse I cling to when I have more tasks than hours, more day than strength. It's like a mantra, repeated often, encouraging me to press on. I know everybody is busy, but church planters seem to enjoy a special brand of harried schedule. My husband is the lead pastor of a new church, and we have five children, though only three (all teenagers) live at home. So our life is filled with Color Guard practice, youth band rehearsals, football games, dances, sleepovers and countless other teenage activities. Throw in pastoring a growing movie theatre church, managing an office, counseling, study, prayer, writing, and running a household, and you have a schedule that would test anyone's mettle!

This verse speaks of the Lord prolonging our days when we fear Him. In the original language, "days" literally refers to "years of life", but those years happen one day at a time. So as we fear Him, reverence Him, and make His priorities our own, He prolongs our days. I have never seen this fail. If I will take the firstfruits of my day, offer them to Him by using that time to pray and read His word, He makes even my crazy, crowded schedule work! Ok, it's true, I'm really cheerful in the morning (which took my night person husband years to get used to). But even if morning is not your thing, you can teach yourself to rise a little early to meet with the Creator of the Universe. It's so worth it! I heard once that prioritizing your day is like packing a suitcase. You put the big important things in first, then fill the small spaces with small things. God gives us wisdom, too, in choosing how we invest our time. For those of you who have not yet added the word "no" to your vocabulary, go ahead! It feels good! Sometimes, we have to say No to some good things so we can say Yes to some God things.

If you don't already have a quiet time, give it a try this week. See if God won't multiply your moments as you give Him the firstfruits of your days.

Prayer for Today: Father, You are the giver of all of my days. I give you today, make of it what You will. Thank you for multiplying my hours, days and years for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen