Living a life of purpose means we must gain a new perspective on time. Satan wants to steal our time, while God seeks to redeem it. The psalmist writes:
But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God,” My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies, from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
Psalm 31:14-16 NIV
Once we place our lives in God’s hands through faith in Christ, he gains control of our time as well. Now it’s the world that doesn’t understand what we’re doing. What to the world seems a waste, a pity, or a failure, to God becomes an opportunity to serve him, to give him glory, to give testimony to his faithfulness.
In his unfailing love, we experience his favor. His face shines on us in the simplest of tasks, in the attacks of others, and even in death.
Think of the story of Stephen. When dragged before the Sanhedrin, they falsely claimed all manner of evil against him, but Luke tells us:
All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 6:15
Elisabeth Elliott wrote,
“My times are in thy hand…” has become a part of my life.
Discipline
She chose to make Psalm 31:14 a part of her life because she recognized every moment she lived was captured by God. Stephen obviously knew this truth as well, even in facing the attack of his enemies.
Have you surrendered your times to God, or are you still trying to keep them under your own control? Make this verse your prayer today, allowing God’s face to shine on and through yours.
Grace and Peace