I’m Reclaiming My Time…

If someone told me 10 years ago that I would be sold (souled) out for God, I would ask them for a hit of whatever they were smoking. If someone told me 10 years ago that I would be speaking and teaching about God, I would tell them that they didn’t know me very well. When I realized that God had a job for me to do, I was in a transition. It was not a good time in my life and I wasn’t a young girl anymore to be honest.

I made very excuse in the book to not do what God was asking. Yet, I was compelled. While I was trying to figure out a way to bargain with God, I felt the need to read Joel. I recognize now that God had made up His mind way back then to use me. So, I sat down to read the book of Joel. All the while still trying to convince God that I was too old to be doing what He was asking. That I had come too late to the party to make any difference at all.

I read the Book of Joel several times. If you’ve ever read Joel, it first hits you as promised death and destruction. I was confused because we hear in church that every answer you need is in the bible. Remember, I was in a transition. It was a tumultuous time for me. So, to read a book about destruction was a bit confusing. I was looking for a way out of my situation. I’m glad I had the presence of mind to read and re-read.

But, I kept getting stuck on Joel 2:25. It reads: And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. (KJV) We hear this verse preached mainly in the context that God will restore your lost time. It’s a beautiful sentiment. I was in a season of loss. The verse says God will give back what I had lost. How wonderful it would be.

I got stuck, though. What God was asking of me was still on my mind. God was calling me to be a teacher and speaker. In my mind, I was a late bloomer. I couldn’t get past feeling not being as well read as I thought I should be. Like all things that put our minds on tilt, I put it in my back pocket and stopped thinking about it. I set about the task of being obedient and began to step into my calling.

Years later, I received an answer to what Joel 2:25 meant in regard to my calling. At the moment I began to walk in my calling, I had become insatiable. I binged sermons. Dug into the meanings of popular verses and sayings of the church community. Sifting through what was Word and what was tradition. Stopped listening to secular music entirely. I thought I was going crazy but I couldn’t help myself. I struggled to be honest. There are some secular songs that are my jams. I couldn’t stomach them. I fought hard. But, in the end I gave in. I resigned myself to be the crazy church lady.

My speech changed. My thinking changed. The way I walked through life changed. I was more peaceful and becoming full of joy. My children didn’t know how to approach me to the point that I had to ask God to make me approachable for my children. He did. They relaxed when they realized that I was still mom. Just mom 2.0.

Second Corinthians 4:16 says For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (KJV) I didn’t realize it then but I was feeding my spirit that apparently was starving. Years later my church bible study was studying Ephesians and we got to chapter 5. Joel 2:25 had finally made sense.

As we were doing a deep dive on chapter 5, we got to verse 16. It reads: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (KJV) We studied the importance of taking every opportunity to do the work of God. Not wasting our time on frivolous activities. Should we waste time, then we should be doubling up on our diligence in our duty for God for the future.

It hit me while we were discussing the redemption of time. When I thought I was weird consuming sermon after sermon. Studying almost non-stop. My spirit was redeeming the time I had lost. I was giving myself a crash course in the things of God. I discovered that I had the gift of the Word of Wisdom. There were topics I could not get to and God would whisper a word and I would find it.

We discussed how important it is for us to understand our duty to the will of God. Understand your duty to the will of God and reclaim your time. ~ Selah

0 Comments