Time to redeem

 

Time: The Currency of Love

For adoptive families, time may be the hardest thing to manage. Every child needs attention, healing, and presence. The days can blur with appointments, schoolwork, and endless laundry.

But the most meaningful investment you can make isn’t in stuff—it’s in moments.

• Time spent listening builds security.

• Time spent praying together builds faith.

• Time spent serving others as a family builds perspective, and is a bonding experience.

• Time spent engaging shows big and little people they have value.

Time is not just a "love language" for some, it's a necessity for all.  (As all the love languages are important to learn how to express.)

Even ten minutes of undistracted time with your child or spouse can be a seed that grows lifelong fruit.  They might be in a really "annoying" stage, but pouring into them in these moments might also help them through this stage more quickly.  Maybe what's making them annoying is how they're expressing their insecurity.  They might have interest in toys or hobbies that you don't enjoy, but show them you enjoy them- or you want to learn how!

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12  Teach me Lord, to prioritize my time!

When we tell or show each other that we "just don't have time, are too busy, have too much work to do..." we underhandedly say, "you're just not priority."  This is super common, and has snuck into our everyday mantra.  "How are you doing?"  "Oh, busy, I'm all over the place, can't seem to slow down..."  What's your answer when a "friend" asks?  What's your answer when your kid asks?

Your calendar and your bank account reveal your priorities. Ask God to help you schedule and budget with eternity in mind.

Think of Mary and Martha; ouch, one of my most convicting biblical examples, "you are busy about many things, but she chose the best thing and it will not be taken from her."  (Luke 10:40-42)  What was the best thing that she had chosen?  Pursuing relationship.  Pursuing knowing Jesus.  Keep it simple so you can know Him and know others.  Love God, love others: it's the greatest command.

Again, He says in like 11:28, "More blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it."  We must be able to identify what is of God and what is a distraction, what is the devil getting a foothold, an opportunity to steal your time and your influence.  Read the verses before, and consider the evil spirits your little one(s) need evicted, and the time it's going to take to pour into them lest those spirits come back.  It's worth it to pour into them!  

Oh, Lord help me!

There's nothing I'm bringing up that I am not being convicted of- it's God bringing it up for me to consider.  This is God speaking to me and using this to reach others.   I can only weep with those who weep because I have experienced pain (Romans 12:15).  I can coach you through the trials because I've been there and I have to keep submitting myself to the exercises.  (James 1)  I too need to hear the Lord, and for the Lord to hear me and discipline me in these areas.  Hebrews 4:15, I have a high priest who has lived the difficulty, and shown me the way:  Keep seeking the Father.  We are all  responsible for our call, and "too busy" is not going to fly us into heaven.  I look at Hebrews 5:7-10, even Jesus had to continuously pray- seek God for strength for His mission- and continuously submit.  It is in our submission that He can reform us into His image.

Even Jesus had to prioritize His time, and His answer sometimes seemed harsh, but He knew His mission and wouldn't be distracted from it.  In Matthew 12:46-50, we read of His response when His mother and brothers beckoned for Him while He was teaching the crowds.  He knew in that moment, He had to prioritize His time with those who needed to hear Him, that they might learn to the the will of the Father, just as He did.  And as those who listened had the opportunity, and we all do, we must be changed, we must put into practice what the Holy Spirit convicts us of.  

Know your mission.

Isaiah 6:9-10, lest we be ever hearing but never understanding, ever seeing but never perceiving.   Having calloused and hard hearts, hardly hearing with our ears and closing our eyes to what He's trying to show us.  We must take the time to self-examine as He brings to our attention, so that we might see with our eyes, hear with our ears, and understand with our hearts, for we too need healing, and can be the conduit of healing for our children who have been through trauma and need the healing of the Lord.  

Adoption is for time redeemed:  that everything that child has been through can be redeemed, that this little life He's given us is valuable to Him.  Consider the parable of the sower:  Are you producing a crop that is multiplying because you are being changed by the word of the Lord and impacting those in your home?

Lord, I submit to you today.  I want to live with my eyes and ears open to You, to hear your children's needs.  You tell me how to live out Your word in this home, this family.  I am Yours, and I want to be changed for Your glory, that they too would know you.  In Jesus Name, Amen!