Issue 1169 – Just 5 more minutes – June 5, 2023
The blaring of the radio startled me awake. Just five more minutes, I told myself as I banged around on the nightstand, looking for the snooze button on the clock radio.
Then I remembered we hadn’t used a clock radio in years. So I clawed around, found my phone, opened the cover, looked blearily at the display screen, and reset the alarm. I could have hit the snooze, but I decided I needed more than just a few minutes later.
My head dropped back and hit the pillow. Precisely one minute later, the alarm went off again. Well, okay, it was an hour, but it FELT like a minute.
Over the years, I wonder how often I hit the snooze button or reset my alarm for just a few more minutes of sleep. The snooze button is either the greatest or most demonic of inventions.
Yes, it gives you a few more minutes of sleep, but just enough to get back into sleep and be startled again. It can cause you to reawaken in the form of sleep drunkenness, where your functionality is messed up for anywhere from a couple of minutes to the entire day.
Maybe I am the only one, but I confess to playing mental games with the clock. More than once, I set the alarm for 10 minutes earlier than need be to “sneak” in a little snooze. Of course, the truth is that that just messed up my sleep even more.
Thinking about alarms and sneaking sleep got made me how often God had been calling, and I hit my internal snooze alarm. Not to sleep, but just ignore Him for a little longer.
Just wait a little longer, God. I will get to my Bible reading. Just a few minutes more, Lord and I will apologize to that person I offended. Maybe tomorrow, God, I will work on giving up that bad habit. Are you sure the timing is right to do that? God, let’s wait just a little longer.
Just a little longer. Just five minutes more. Maybe tomorrow. Perhaps I didn’t really hear God say that. Suddenly I am running way behind on things, and I have missed an opportunity to bless someone, serve, or spend time with the Lord.
God puts someone on my heart and prompts me to give them a call or send a note. Okay, God, just as soon as I … and then it is weeks later. I then discovered that, in the interim, that person has been struggling or going through a crisis and could have used some encouragement.
I think we all do it at times. I hope I do it less now than when I first became a believer, but I am far from perfect. I am so glad that He is a loving and patient God.
It doesn’t please Him when we do that, but He knows our hearts. God still accomplishes His purpose, but we miss out on the blessings that might have been ours.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-41
Martha would have made time for Jesus after the house was perfectly in order and her duties done. The disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane would have prayed for Jesus after a little nap.
When will you take the time to listen and obey? What has He put on your heart that you have been procrastinating on?
Until next time, may we all make the time to listen to Him rather than play games with life’s snooze button.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
__________________________________________
Please like and share this post with friends and your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment.
Did you know that we have an email version? Same great content but in a different format. Subscribe today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/ gleanings-1
______________________________
All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
___________________________________________
#Gleanings #theWord #devotional #gospel #death #trinity #encouragement #Biblestudy #faith #dailyBible #verseoftheday #grace #KevinCorbin #god #life #Jesus #faith #holySpirit #YHWH #GleaningsFromTheword #bible #christian #love #Christ #Father #snooze #alarm #sleep #procrastination #blessing #forgiveness #FiveMoreMinutes #Luke10 #MaryAndMartha #obedience