Enough Hours In The Day? - No.26

Matthew 6:34, “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” 

Are you like me? I have so many visions, so many ideas, and so many things that I want to do but can never find the time to do them all. “If only I had more time! I need 48 hours in every day!” I would constantly repeat. But not any more!  I will no longer let these words pass my lips.

I was convicted about this recently when listening to a preacher who was also convicted of the same thing. He shared how he spoke similar words in the hearing of a dear old missionary who answered him, “Brother, God has given you 24 hours in every day. That’s all you need!”  Those words really spoke to me! If God wanted me to have more hours in the day, He would have provided more hours. What He has given is enough for each day. I work hard, but am now learning to be content with what I accomplish each day. It is never as much as I want, but it is enough in God’s eyes. 

Perhaps you find it hard to accomplish everything each day too. Maybe you have been frustrated as I have. Relax. Don’t get upset over what you can’t finish today. There’s another day tomorrow. In the light of eternity, it’s not going to matter whether you finish your task today or the next day.

Are you a home educating mother? I know that often you find it hard to get through all the teaching you have planned for the day.  Dear mother, God only expects you to accomplish what is possible in the hours He has given you. You don’t have to get everything done. Be content with what you can accomplish. There is a new dawn tomorrow. 

It is more important to set the right tone in your home and create an atmosphere of rest, peace and harmony, than to make everyone tense by getting through something just for the sake of getting through it. True teaching is not just finishing a lesson, it is taking time to make sure the child understands the lesson. One thing well learned is more effective than rushed lessons that are not understood, will be forgotten, or which are taught in a tense atmosphere. Just do what you have time to do. That’s all God expects.

There is no need to put expectations upon yourself or your children that God doesn’t put upon you. Listen to these words from Psalm 103:14, “He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” Isn’t that comforting? God understands our frame, because He is the one who created us. He created us with the ability to work for one day, not to put two days of work into one! 

Of course, there is no excuse for laziness and negligence. It is most important to set goals and a good idea to write your list for the day. Some mothers like to write their list the night before, others like to do it in the early morning quiet before they start the day. You will accomplish a lot more with a list. But remember, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t cross off everything on your list! I don’t think that I have ever been able to do this in my whole life.  Even if you cross off one or two things, you are accomplishing something.  When my children were little, sometimes I would only complete one extra task! At least it was better than nothing at all!

Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“I thank you, Father, that in your wisdom you have given us day and night for our blessing. You have given us the night to rest and the day to work. I thank you that you have given me the right number of hours for each day. Give me wisdom to use my days wisely. Help me to relax and not get upset when I can’t do everything I planned. I love you, Lord.”

QUOTE:

 

P.S. You may like to look to look up the poem, “One Day at a Time” by Annie Johnson Flint which is on the Above Rubies web page.