Ask a young person how much time they have and they’ll probably tell you “Not much” or “I’m busy.” After eight or more hours of school, they head off to athletic practice or extracurricular activities, then come home to scarf down dinner and settle into homework. After they finish and take some time to decompress, it’s often after midnight — only to do it again at 6:00 am the next day. So much for getting the medically recommended nine hours of sleep!
How much time do you have? Probably not much more. Many of us are left exhausted after work, family, worship, and other activities. When we have time, we find ways to fill it with more work around the house or endless entertainment. But what if God was the one asking, “Can I have some of your time?”
Jesus took time out of some of his most stressful and busy moments to be with God in prayer. He gave up sleep after a full day of preaching, teaching, and healing (Mark 1:35). He stayed awake on the night of his arrest to pray while his disciples slept (Mark 14:32–42). Jesus needed to be with the people, but he needed to be with God more.
Although our families, coworkers, employers, and friends all place demands on our time — we must be with God more. Vacations are valuable ways to escape from the busyness of life. But how much of those trips make time for God? Or are they more about personal rest and recreation?
No matter how busy we are, like Jesus, we must make time to pray, study, and meditate on His Word (Ps 1:2). As the shepherds here at Karns often remind the ministers, it is biblical and Christlike to make time to rest (Mark 6:31). We must make an intentional effort to follow the model of Jesus, who took time away to pray. So, can He have some of your time?
Spencer Clark
