1440 Minutes in a Day

1440 Minutes of Not Comparing but Living My Life

This month our focus of prayer is to not compare our lives with anyone else's.  To make the concerted effort has been easier than I thought it would be.   There is a sense of relief.  The relief that who I am is more than enough. 

What does God want for my life?  He wants me to be me and live my life, and not someone else's.  Every day, I have 1440 minutes to live. Do I really want to spend any of those minutes focused on what someone else has or who they are?  

There is a sense of freedom that I have found this month.  I am not comparing myself to anyone else.  It is liberating in a way.  I can just be me, and not "worry" that I am missing out on something.

Here's the thing, when I compare, I add the stress and anxiety of not having what I think I should have.  Yes, we can pray and dream, but what is the thought process behind those prayers?  Why am I praying for something that I do not have?

There is a difference.  I could covet a large house, a brand new sports car, or a million dollars. Yet, are any of those things going to make me happy, or are those things items I can't afford?  

Praying for a house of my own at a price point, or needing a car I can afford, of course.  I think that God does want us to prosper and thrive in life.  He does want us to dream and live. He gave us 1440 minutes in a day.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I have freed up a lot of minutes by not comparing. Now, I can focus on what God wants for my life.  I can focus on God and my relationship with Him. That is what He wants. He wants a relationship with each one of us.   

God expects me to be me, and although it has taken a long time, I am finally getting it. I don't need to compare myself with anyone else.  I don't have to be someone that I am not.  God's child, that is who I am.

What would happen if the actions of not comparing become a habit?  I know that I would be happier with time to do other things.  How many minutes in the day do I free up?  No, I am not going to do the math.

All I can do is pray that this month will go to the next month and so on.  One day at a time.  What does God want for my life?  I am living my life now, 1440 minutes at a time.

Dear Poppa God,

Thank you for giving us 1440 minutes in each day.  We have this day that you want us to live life.  You don't want us to spend the day comparing ourselves to others or what they have versus what we have.  Please help us to realize that You want us to live life abundantly. We are all on our journey with You, and I pray that each one of us reading this will follow Your will for our life.

In Jesus Name. Amen

Written by Laura Maxson

God’s Word for My Year - 2017

Openness is a noun, and is defined as lack of restrictions; accessibility.  It is also defined as acceptance of or receptiveness to change or new ideas.

My word for the year 2017, Openness.  I have been open to the will of God, and every day, I pray that I will have my eyes opened so that I may see what He has to show me.  He never fails to show me His glory.  Whether it is in something, or someone, I see God’s glory shining through.

The other day, I was with the person who does my hair.  There was a waiting period, and we were talking.  She shared with me what God was doing in her life.  I sat there smiling, because God was working in her life.  It was awesome.

She has had a tough life, and to see her give all that to God, was something that brings tears to my eyes as I am typing these words.  As we were talking, she was just exuding this new breath of life.  It was awe inspiring.

There are so many people on their own journey through life, and to see someone experience God, maybe for the first time, is just so cool.   She brought it up, and so for her to be comfortable with me, lets me know that the friendship we have is so much more than hairdresser and client.  She is my friend.

I hate to admit it, but for so long, my heart was closed off.  I kept people at bay, and didn’t let them fully in. I thought it was safer that way.  However, God is showing me a different way.  God is bringing people into my life, because I am open to it.  My heart is open. 

I am open to God using a sledge hammer to tear down the walls, or to chip away at the things in me that aren’t of Him.  Sometimes the chipping is uncomfortable, but necessary.  If I am open, God will keep going.

The journey of openness is sometimes filled with questions, and God is so patient with me.  He never gets upset that I question or have a momentary lapse of faith over the same thing.  Patiently, until I finally get it, He seems to always send me, either through song or reading, an encouraging word. 

This day was no exception.  He knew that I was trying to keep faith in the promises that He has given me.  Yet, I could not verbalize that there was this doubt.  It was just this feeling inside me. It has been festering, and I “tried” to give it to God. 

God knows all things though. So, He sends me a devotional forwarded to me by one of my friends, titled “God Knows Our Way, and His Plans are Good:  There’s Hope Ahead”.  The first paragraph is a verse that is one of my favorites:

“For I know the plans that I have for you.” Declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

The reason I underlined the first part, is that is how it was on the reading.  God underlined it for me.  He is saying, “Laura, I know that plans I have for you.  I’ve got this, and I’ve got you.”

It is an ever day journey with My God.  I remain open and focused on Him.  If I find I am tired, He is my strength.  As I am more open to God, the more my faith in Him will grow. I am just so thankful that God doesn’t give up in frustration with us.  He’s got me, He’s got you.  He’s got our back.

Dear Lord, I need you, every hour I need you.  You are God and I am not.  Your Will, Your Way, Your Time.  In Your Name Amen.

Laura Maxson