WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
OCTOBER 8, 2022
TOPIC: MAXIMIZE EVERY MOMENT
BY T. O. BANSO
“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4 New King James Version).
In the context of this devotional, the word “maximize” means make the most of, make the best use of, take full advantage of, or get the most out of. Time is a very precious resource and, unfortunately, many people waste it. Before they realize it, so much time has gone unused for anything productive. How time flies! The best use of time is to invest it in something beneficial, positive, or valuable.
Some people waste the time on their present level while eagerly expecting a new level. They could be idle because they are waiting for admission into school, employment, visa to travel, or such things. Sometimes, people wait longer than they had thought and don’t make the best use of their waiting time. But those who have a good understanding of life don’t waste their waiting time.
You may not like what you have now or where you are, but you can still make the most of it. You may be waiting for the fulfilment of a prophecy or a promise by someone of something better but don’t waste your time now. Even if the prophecy or promise will be fulfilled soon, don’t let your time go uninvested. Face the reality of where you are and enjoy the moment by maximizing it. Do the best you can where you are and with what you have.
Everyone has a limited time to live on earth. You don’t have all the time in the world. Therefore, you must prioritize and make the most of your time. The psalmist said, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 New King James Version). What does this mean? The New Living Translation presents the scripture thus: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”
David also talked about the brevity of human life thus in Psalm 39:4: “ Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for but a moment more” (The Living Bible). Your time on earth is brief. Therefore, make the most of it. The New Living Translation puts Psalm 39:4 this way: “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.” Your life on earth life is brief; you can’t afford to waste it in idleness, frivolities, or useless pursuits. Those who waste their time waste their lives and they regret it later.
Maximize every moment. Make the most of it. Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (New King James Version). The New International Version puts it this way: “Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Wise people maximize their time even in their relationships with others. “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5 New King James Version). To redeem the time means to make the best use of time. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5 New International Version).
This does not mean you should overwork yourself or you shouldn’t rest. Psalm 127:2 says, “It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, fearing you will starve to death; for God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest ” (The Living Bible). Work and rest! Greed makes some people not rest. Know when to stop working and rest. “Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit (Proverbs 23:4 New Living Translation).
Make the most of every opportunity. Use what you have well. Use it for the glory of God and the good of humanity. Don’t let what you lack hinder you from using what you have. Don’t waste any day. Make the best use of the current period in your life. The experience you garner will be useful later. David is a good example. He maximized his time as a shepherd boy. He was faithful in taking care of the sheep. His experience as a shepherd became useful to him when he confronted Goliath.
Before taking on Goliath, he recalled how he had killed a lion and a bear and declared by faith that Goliath, “this uncircumcised Philistine”, would be like one of them (1 Samuel 17:34-37).
Also, David didn’t allow his pains, sorrows, mistakes, and challenges to be wasted. He wrote them in the psalms, and, today they’re a blessing to readers in different situations of life. Don’t waste the present stage you are in life. Extract the lessons God wants you to learn.
Look at Jephthah, the son of a harlot and a man with great leadership ability. He was rejected by his brothers who said he would have no inheritance in their father’s house because he was the son of another woman. But God blessed him with what would make the nation of Israel need him. When Israel had a problem that they couldn’t solve, the elders of his tribe, Gilead, came to beg him in the land of Tob where he had fled to. Jephthah was the solution to their problem.
Prior to that, Jephthah made the best use of his rejection! He didn’t go to commit suicide after leaving home as some people today would have done. Some worthless men didn’t mind his leadership so he became their leader (Judges 11:3). Despite his rejection, he kept on using his strength elsewhere until the elders of Gilead came to beg him to come and lead them in the war against the people of Ammon. He eventually defeated the enemy.
Maximize the moment. What you are doing today may be preparing you for the future. Don’t waste your time. Learn what you’re supposed to learn. Do what you’re supposed to do now. As Daniel said, God changes the times and the seasons (Daniel 2:21a). You will not be able to do certain things when the time or season changes. That’s when people would say, “Had I known, I would have…”
Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4 New King James Version). Do what you’ve got to do before the night falls and you won’t be able to work again. The time is short. You don’t have all the time in the world. Let every second count.
You must get the most out of your every moment. No matter how unsatisfactory your present condition or experience is, you can make the best use of it. Don’t stay idle just because you’re expecting something better. Invest in today while you’re awaiting the new thing you’re trusting God for. Stop making excuses. Don’t just be daydreaming about a utopia. Maximize every moment.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, teach me to realize the brevity of life, so that I may grow in wisdom. I receive wisdom to maximize every moment in my life in Jesus’ name. Holy Spirit, help me to face the reality of where I am and enjoy it by maximizing it. Help me to do the best I can where I am and with what I have. Father, I pray that all your children will be very careful how we live; we shall not live as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity In Jesus’ name.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
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