I read more slowly and for shorter stretches of time, but I still believed that the month the books are checked out for was far more than enough time to read them. I thought that until Leah reminded me that the books are due Friday, now just two days away. I am not even close to finishing the books, and one of them can't be rechecked. There were several days when I could have read for 30 minutes or an hour and didn't. If I had I would not be feeling the pressure of the deadline. And that's how I am far too often when I know that the deadline is there.
If you're anything like me, you can relate to the above or at least see yourself in similar situations. I work best under the pressure of a deadline..... That test isn't for three weeks. I'll study later. Oh no, the test is tomorrow I have to cram. Some of us learn to function under these conditions. We overload and put off and race the clock on a regular basis.. We learn to juggle things and manipulate systems and situations to buy a little time here and a little time there. It becomes a way of life.
But what about those situations where you know there's a deadline, but you don't know when it is. That situation where you know if you don't get free it's going to eventually kill you. If you don't stop what you're doing you're eventually get caught. Jesus is coming back. We don't want Him to find us napping, out of uniform with no oil in our lamps.
The problem is that word eventually. It sounds so far away. It might be today or it might be ten years from now before the due dates. So it's all too easy to say I'll get help later. It's not that bad yet..... I'll stop tomorrow. Let me just enjoy today.... I'll start walking with God and serve Him fully eventually, but I want to live for myself just a little, a little longer. We can hear the clock ticking the countdown, but we can't see the numbers. You don't know how much time till the deadline is passed and it's too late to change, to get help, to be set free.
Jesus knew our nature, and so, He told us the due date. Now is the time. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Today is the day of salvation. Whatever chains are holding you captive, chemicals like drugs and alcohol, behaviors like irresponsible overspending or porn, emotions like rage or self victimization, whatever it is that has you bound, Jesus can set you free. You are the captive He came to save. There is freedom and power available today. Grace freely given can be freely received, and with that grace we can walk free of the sins and selfishness and addictions of the past, we can finally find ourselves able to walk with God and obey Him. But don't put it off. Sooner or later, for each of us, the clock stops ticking, the due date arrives, the final breath is breathed. Once that happens, where we stand is where we stay. Captive or free? The choice is yours.
Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.
If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment