I Miss My Time With You

The Lord hears good people when they cry out to Him, and He saves them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and He saves those whose spirits have been crushed. Psalm 34:17-18 (NCV)

Shortly after my family moved to Ohio (I was in sixth grade), our house was broken into while we were away. My dad knew immediately as we drove up beside the house something was wrong. He cautioned us to stay in the car while he checked the situation out. The police were called and we determined what was taken by the thieves. One item stolen was my brand new flute, purchased just days before. I was crushed. Our house had been locked; nobody allowed them access. Those items were not theirs to take.

There is another thief in my life, however, this one I have allowed to enter. It's wealth of information and instant communication is intoxicating. Initially this robber did not pose as a threat. It entered my home as a tool for work and for a long time that was its sole purpose. Somehow, each little sideline of interest and intrigue it offered outside of my work began to creep its way into my work time, and the impulsiveness of my nature allowed this thief to devour my time. Have any of you seen this perpetrator? It is sitting right in front of me, on my desk; the computer.

Our lives are busy, and it is so important that we prioritize the necessities. It is a reality computers are valuable in our culture. However, how much time are we substituting feeding our impulse for fun and information over precious time spent with our loving Father? I am tired of this thief in my life and I am brokenhearted that I choose time with my computer over time with God. I am claiming the verses in Psalm 34 and choosing to utilize my computer in a way that would bring pleasure to God and peace to my life. I realize Satan uses the computer deliberately to distract me from what should be my number one relationship; that is with the Lord of All!

Larnell Harris beautifully penned a song of a conversation Jesus would likely want to have with us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtDoQUQuQBQ (copy and paste into your browser)

I MISS MY TIME WITH YOU

There He was just waiting, in our old familiar place
An empty spot beside Him, where once I used to wait
To be filled with strength and wisdom for the battles of the day
I would have passed Him by again but I clearly heard Him say

(chorus)

I miss my time with you, those moments together
I need to be with you each day and it hurts me when you say
You're too busy; busy trying to serve me
But how can you serve me, when your spirits empty
There's a longing in my heart; wanting more than just a part of you
It's true
I miss my time with you

What do I have to offer; how can I truly care
My efforts have no meaning when your presence isn't there
But you will provide the power if I take time to pray
I'll stay right here beside You
And you will never have to say...

(chorus)

Take a moment to listen to the music and as you read along. I hope and pray we all recognize the thieves in our lives and cry out to God to save us from them and their troublesome outcomes.

Lord, may our spirits be crushed and repentant as we realize what is robbing our time from You. You love us and You long to spend time with us. We need Your presence in every moment of our lives.

Janet Stutzman