Dodger: Hey there! How are you? Is life treating you well? Things have finally begun calming down this past week, so Lilly and I should be stopping in more frequently for a while.
Lilly: It's good to be back. Say, Dodger, didn't you get a text message asking for help recently?
Dodger: Um...I dunno. Haven't checked...how would you know?
Lilly: Um...a friend of mine wanted to ask us some advice and said he would text you.
Dodger: Why me?
Lilly: My phone broke.
Dodger: Oh. Okay. I'll check in that case. Hmm...here's something.
Lilly: Is it a new number?
Dodger: Yep. It says, "Hi, d&l. Question. How do i keep doing prayer and the Bible? I can't fit it in my schedule, but there might be something i'm missing. Any tips? Thx!
Lilly: Interesting question.
Dodger: So you hadn't heard it before?
Lilly: Nope. That's my friend, though. No doubt about that.
Dodger: Cool. Well, let's see. I guess the answer to that isn't perhaps as simple as it sounds.
Lilly: Not when everyone's doing a hundred things a day.
Dodger: I wonder if that's the problem.
Lilly: Come again?
Dodger: Well, time management is a skill that takes time to learn, time many of us don't have. It doesn't help that there are distractions available to take up the time we do have.
Lilly: How do you mean?
Dodger: Well, for example, even if I'm doing nothing, I can still check my email, social networks, shop online, verify appointments, or watch cat videos, just to name a few options. Those tasks often consume more time than we realize, and although they aren't bad, they aren't as important, really, as setting aside time for God. Of course, this isn't to say that your friend is doing those things, or that everyone who does has their priorities all wrong, but I think we often think we have less time than we do.
Lilly: The illusion of time travel...traveling away from us, that is. Some sort of personal time and relative dimension in space.
Dodger: Sure. What it comes right down to is that taking time to read God's Word and talk to Him is essential. Even if one's schedule is hectic, reading engaging with God needs to happen, not because God will come down on you if you don't, but because He wants to be with you. You see, we often think of spending time with God as if we're setting apart a time and place for him. Considering, though, that he runs time and owns all places, it becomes apparent that in actuality God has set aside the entire day to be with you. All you need to do is accept the invitation, and when you do, you get closer to God and vice versa.
Lilly: That's pretty awesome!
Dodger: Yeah, it is. It's not like you have to super-regulate yourself. Being with God requires self-control, sure, but it's important to remember that it's not a religious ceremony, and there's not one right way to do it.
Lilly: So what do you recommend, then, for someone who hasn't found time yet?
Dodger: Well, here are a few ideas, a list that is by no means exhaustive.
Lilly: It's good to be back. Say, Dodger, didn't you get a text message asking for help recently?
Dodger: Um...I dunno. Haven't checked...how would you know?
Lilly: Um...a friend of mine wanted to ask us some advice and said he would text you.
Dodger: Why me?
Lilly: My phone broke.
Dodger: Oh. Okay. I'll check in that case. Hmm...here's something.
Lilly: Is it a new number?
Dodger: Yep. It says, "Hi, d&l. Question. How do i keep doing prayer and the Bible? I can't fit it in my schedule, but there might be something i'm missing. Any tips? Thx!
Lilly: Interesting question.
Dodger: So you hadn't heard it before?
Lilly: Nope. That's my friend, though. No doubt about that.
Dodger: Cool. Well, let's see. I guess the answer to that isn't perhaps as simple as it sounds.
Lilly: Not when everyone's doing a hundred things a day.
Dodger: I wonder if that's the problem.
Lilly: Come again?
Dodger: Well, time management is a skill that takes time to learn, time many of us don't have. It doesn't help that there are distractions available to take up the time we do have.
Lilly: How do you mean?
Dodger: Well, for example, even if I'm doing nothing, I can still check my email, social networks, shop online, verify appointments, or watch cat videos, just to name a few options. Those tasks often consume more time than we realize, and although they aren't bad, they aren't as important, really, as setting aside time for God. Of course, this isn't to say that your friend is doing those things, or that everyone who does has their priorities all wrong, but I think we often think we have less time than we do.
Lilly: The illusion of time travel...traveling away from us, that is. Some sort of personal time and relative dimension in space.
Dodger: Sure. What it comes right down to is that taking time to read God's Word and talk to Him is essential. Even if one's schedule is hectic, reading engaging with God needs to happen, not because God will come down on you if you don't, but because He wants to be with you. You see, we often think of spending time with God as if we're setting apart a time and place for him. Considering, though, that he runs time and owns all places, it becomes apparent that in actuality God has set aside the entire day to be with you. All you need to do is accept the invitation, and when you do, you get closer to God and vice versa.
Lilly: That's pretty awesome!
Dodger: Yeah, it is. It's not like you have to super-regulate yourself. Being with God requires self-control, sure, but it's important to remember that it's not a religious ceremony, and there's not one right way to do it.
Lilly: So what do you recommend, then, for someone who hasn't found time yet?
Dodger: Well, here are a few ideas, a list that is by no means exhaustive.
Dodger's Tips on God Time
- Downsize - Find things you really don't need to be doing and toss them. There might be more than you realize!
- Prioritize - Determine that you will not do a certain thing (or things) until you've had the time to engage with God.
- Early Rise - Try waking up a few minutes early to be with God.
- Be Time Wise - In your "extra" minutes (the kind you have while waiting for the school bus) try talking or listening to God.
- Use Retries - If things don't go as you planned, don't give up. Try again next time.
- Ignore Lies - You can do this. Don't let anyone, especially the devil, say otherwise.
Of course, these don't work for everyone. I've tried early rising, and, to be honest, I think that only God could want to talk to me first thing in the morning. Find a niche that works and stick with it. You'll be glad you did.
Lilly: Thanks for the ideas, Dodger.
Dodger: No problem. I'd be willing to bet our friend here has some ideas of his own. Hey! Maybe you can tell us about them! If you have any ideas, tweet us @dodgerandlilly, and tell us what you come up with!
Lilly: I guess we'd better get going, Dodger.
Dodger: Yeah, we should. Thanks for joining us! Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: TTYL!
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