I have recently been looking at my life and kind of taking stock. I've been feeling a little like I'm in a slump, which is not fun. You know how it is when suddenly you aren't reading your Bible as much as you used to, you're not praying much anymore besides at meal time, you feel worn down emotionally and spiritually as well as physically, when you're just "too busy"...all of the time. Yeah, that's about how I've been feeling. The Lord has been showing me this though and working on my heart. I am definitely claiming James 4:8 right now...as a reminder to me and God (not that He needs reminding...) "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you."
Well one of the things He had pointed out to me recently was how much time I spend reading or watching movies. I have read a lot of books since Thanksgiving. I was on break then and read a lot for relaxation and....never stopped. I had been convicted a little about it a few different times before but brushed it aside. Never a good thing to do. (maybe I wouldn't be in as a deep a slump now if I had adjusted my activities when I was first convicted to...) Anyway, so last week I was crying out to God in church, asking Him to draw me closer to Him, to show me things in my life to remove so I could "get" to Him. He brought up the books and movies again and this time I said yes. I haven't read a novel since and have only watched a couple of movies when it was family time (not watching any when I'm bored and feel like "popping one in"). It is amazing how much more time I have already! And how I can feel my heard de-cluttering a little bit, leaving that much more room for things like the Lord, His Word, and prayer. My mind is now more on thoughts of Him and not "what's going to happen to the character in my book next???"
You see, I wasn't "redeeming" my time the way I ought to have been. And I was hurting because of it. I'm not saying all movies and books are bad. We just need to be careful how much of your time they take up and pay attention to what they might be doing in our hearts.
How are you redeeming your time?
With Prayers,
Sarah