“I Just Don’t Have Time”
As a Christian Counselor, this phrase is the one I hear the most when talking with people about their issues and what they can do to help resolve them. As I listen to all the reasons they don’t have time, I’ll often change the subject to things they like to do or TV programs they watch on a weekly basis. I might even have them do a daily timeline of what they do each day for a week and bring it back to me to discuss the things that are taking up all their time. In all the people I have worked with, not one time has reading the Bible been on a timeline each day or listed as an issue that is done except on Sunday. In my working with these individuals, what will always be my first question; “Why do you not read the Bible daily or even every other day?” Of course, I get that response – “I don’t have time.” Then I may ask how they expect to know what God’s will for them and their family if they are not reading His Word. Some of my favorite answers are, “I listen to Christian music and it gives me the inspiration I need” or “I pray every day for guidance”. Well...it’s great that you listen to Christian music but that’s like going to church and leaving after the choir sings and before the preacher delivers his sermon. It’s great that you pray every day, but how do you know what your praying is in line with God’s will if you don’t know God, and the only way to know God is through His Word.
It seems sometimes that we are just looking for people to constantly feed us with what we need instead of taking the responsibility of feeding ourselves. Let’s just say that we are looking for food stamps from Jesus. I’m sorry to tell you, Jesus doesn’t give food stamps and if you want to be fed and know God, you must begin by reading His word. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 1:1-4:
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names. (NLT)
God speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ who speaks to us through His Word; the Bible. He reveals Himself to us through His Word as we read and meditate on what we are reading. The Bible speaks much about meditating on Scripture and the importance of it in order to live a more pure life; one of knowing God and His will for us and peace.
So we go back to the phrase “I just don’t have time”. As I discuss the individual’s daily activities, I always key in on TV shows. The conversation goes like this:
Me – So, is Grey’s Anatomy more important the reading God’s Word
Client – Well no! But I need down time and it gives me pleasure to watch and relax at night.
Me – Okay – I know you have a DVR or On Demand subscription, couldn’t it be watched at a time later?
Client – Yes – but it’s not the same. I won’t be up to date on what happened at work tomorrow when everyone’s talking about it.
Me – Okay, I understand, but let’s pray and ask for God’s guidance on this right now. (We pray and ask for the presence of the Spirit to come amongst us and help us solve the time dilemma)
Me – I then pull an empty chair out and set beside me. I tell the client this chair is for the Holy Spirit and as we go through your timeline, I want them to explain to Him why each of these things are more important than Him.
Client – (deer in the headlight look)
Me - “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” (2 Cor. 5:10, NLT)
Yes, I know I am using the tactic of guilt and shame, but I am also being real. I have found in my counseling, when I can get a person to set a daily time to read Scripture, there life will change over time. They will begin finding peace in making decisions, allowing them to have more time. Their life priorities change and they become focused on what is important to God, not this world. I do realize it is one of the hardest things to do, but it also ONE thing you can do that will have the BIGGEST payoff in your life, and daily struggles of life.
So – how do you find the time? First, you must make it your first priority. I suggest reading before your day starts in order for the Word to be with you and penetrate your day. When I was working a job that required 14 hour days, I kept a Bible in my car and for lunch, I would drive to a local park to feed on my lunch and the Word of God. It became something I looked forward to each day as it would bring me peace during the middle of a stressful day. For others, reading at the end of the day works best. It allows them to calm down and be able to sleep with peace know that God is there. The point is...we can make time for all the other things we want to do, why can we not make time for what God wants us to do? To answer that question, we must look into our own heart and motivations to see where our true alliance sits; with things of this world or with a relationship with Christ. I pray that your this story helps you to search your heart and help you to prioritize your life by putting Christ first and finding the time to “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalms 46:10)
As a Christian Counselor, this phrase is the one I hear the most when talking with people about their issues and what they can do to help resolve them. As I listen to all the reasons they don’t have time, I’ll often change the subject to things they like to do or TV programs they watch on a weekly basis. I might even have them do a daily timeline of what they do each day for a week and bring it back to me to discuss the things that are taking up all their time. In all the people I have worked with, not one time has reading the Bible been on a timeline each day or listed as an issue that is done except on Sunday. In my working with these individuals, what will always be my first question; “Why do you not read the Bible daily or even every other day?” Of course, I get that response – “I don’t have time.” Then I may ask how they expect to know what God’s will for them and their family if they are not reading His Word. Some of my favorite answers are, “I listen to Christian music and it gives me the inspiration I need” or “I pray every day for guidance”. Well...it’s great that you listen to Christian music but that’s like going to church and leaving after the choir sings and before the preacher delivers his sermon. It’s great that you pray every day, but how do you know what your praying is in line with God’s will if you don’t know God, and the only way to know God is through His Word.
It seems sometimes that we are just looking for people to constantly feed us with what we need instead of taking the responsibility of feeding ourselves. Let’s just say that we are looking for food stamps from Jesus. I’m sorry to tell you, Jesus doesn’t give food stamps and if you want to be fed and know God, you must begin by reading His word. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 1:1-4:
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names. (NLT)
God speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ who speaks to us through His Word; the Bible. He reveals Himself to us through His Word as we read and meditate on what we are reading. The Bible speaks much about meditating on Scripture and the importance of it in order to live a more pure life; one of knowing God and His will for us and peace.
So we go back to the phrase “I just don’t have time”. As I discuss the individual’s daily activities, I always key in on TV shows. The conversation goes like this:
Me – So, is Grey’s Anatomy more important the reading God’s Word
Client – Well no! But I need down time and it gives me pleasure to watch and relax at night.
Me – Okay – I know you have a DVR or On Demand subscription, couldn’t it be watched at a time later?
Client – Yes – but it’s not the same. I won’t be up to date on what happened at work tomorrow when everyone’s talking about it.
Me – Okay, I understand, but let’s pray and ask for God’s guidance on this right now. (We pray and ask for the presence of the Spirit to come amongst us and help us solve the time dilemma)
Me – I then pull an empty chair out and set beside me. I tell the client this chair is for the Holy Spirit and as we go through your timeline, I want them to explain to Him why each of these things are more important than Him.
Client – (deer in the headlight look)
Me - “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” (2 Cor. 5:10, NLT)
Yes, I know I am using the tactic of guilt and shame, but I am also being real. I have found in my counseling, when I can get a person to set a daily time to read Scripture, there life will change over time. They will begin finding peace in making decisions, allowing them to have more time. Their life priorities change and they become focused on what is important to God, not this world. I do realize it is one of the hardest things to do, but it also ONE thing you can do that will have the BIGGEST payoff in your life, and daily struggles of life.
So – how do you find the time? First, you must make it your first priority. I suggest reading before your day starts in order for the Word to be with you and penetrate your day. When I was working a job that required 14 hour days, I kept a Bible in my car and for lunch, I would drive to a local park to feed on my lunch and the Word of God. It became something I looked forward to each day as it would bring me peace during the middle of a stressful day. For others, reading at the end of the day works best. It allows them to calm down and be able to sleep with peace know that God is there. The point is...we can make time for all the other things we want to do, why can we not make time for what God wants us to do? To answer that question, we must look into our own heart and motivations to see where our true alliance sits; with things of this world or with a relationship with Christ. I pray that your this story helps you to search your heart and help you to prioritize your life by putting Christ first and finding the time to “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalms 46:10)
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