Matters of the Heart – Part 2: Who Is Your VIP…?

A Facebook friend recently posted the following:

If you can’t make out the image, he had a busy 2013 school year, however, on his tight timetable, he added a 1:00-2:00 am slot called “GIRLFRIEND”. A comment attested to him daily mentioning that he had to go because he had a VIP appointment that he couldn’t be late for. The dude was hilarious!

You have probably figured out where I am heading so let’s go! Earlier this year, I was quite full of it (excuses) when it came to reasons why I couldn’t spend more time with God.

1. I worked a full-time job that sometimes required long hours.
2. I had just started my Masters and needed time to study, conduct research and complete quizzes and final papers.
3. I had my slam-bam-thank-you-ma’am Bible reading and prayer time.
4. I had all the dreams I was chasing and this blog.
5. I had church on Sunday and my B-Group during the week.
6. I had hustles that I did on the side.
7. As a single woman, I had to have a personal life and make time for me, family and my friends.
8. I needed to stay on top of my personal reading goals and favorite series.
9. I had to handle chores and personal errands.
10. I had to sleep.

See?! 10 things and I only have 24 hours in a day! I just didn’t have the time to add anything else to my plate… Yet, I found time to binge watch a series, that I heard was lit, in one night! Yet I found time to read a 200+ page book that was never on my reading agenda but I was compelled to check it out. Yet, nightly, I found time to have long conversations with one of my new friends. See, I told you I was too busy.

What I implied but didn’t have the guts to say out-loud was that I was too busy for anything that did not stoke my heart’s desire. I was too busy for truly intimate time with God because He was not one of my VIPs. What my Facebook friend and I, by my own actions, showed is that:

We always make time and sacrifices for the things and people who are important to us. If God is our VIP, we will make the time for Him.

I Made A Choice…

A few weeks into 2020, God reminded me of a truly busy season I experienced a few years ago. I was going to university full-time. This meant I had exams, quizzes, classes at all hours of the day and final papers to complete. I was working part-time. I was serving in numerous ministries at church. I prepared for and taught a 2-3 hour CSEC (a regionally examination) English Language class twice per week. I marked all the assignments and exam papers that came from my class of 15-25 students. I hung out with my friends, completed my chores and stayed on top of all my favorite series and books. Despite all this, I had committed to attending and participating in all my regular weekly church services…and I did.

One night, a lady came up to me and told me: “The Lord will bless you because you have been faithful.” And I must say that He did! I kept on top of everything that I listed for 3 years straight. Plus it taught me an incredible lesson about time and calendar management that I find invaluable in my professional life.

With that reminder, I decided to commit one (1) hour each day to what I affectionately call my “God or Jesus time”. I was so serious that He made it into my calendar and all my close friends know what 11:30 pm to 12:30 am means for me. (whoooshh! I gone!) 🙂

…And I Have Not Regretted It…

You remember the 10 things I mentioned above? I’ve been able to keep on top of all those and do even more. I’ve even found extra time to do other items that I had not planned for. In the words of my friend:

When you sacrifice for God, He will make ways for you, in ways you could never have imagined.

I’ve also gotten benefits that I had not anticipated. As I spent that time with God, my heart’s desires changed. I begun to realize that there were items on my initial list of 10 that were not as important as I thought. Some things got removed, others got added and the vision for others got reshaped to align with my mission in life. And above all, Jesus became a steady Rock in my life.

The Point? I assure you there is one… 🙂

Actions expresses priorities. – Mahatma Gandhi

God gives us three major gifts: time, talent and treasure. When we love God, we joyfully and sometimes not so joyfully (at times when I’m exhausted – being honest here) give Him our time, talent, and treasure because we consider Him a priority (VIP).

When you do this, a strange thing happens: Somehow, when we sacrifice for God we are able to strangely retain what we sacrificed and have the increase and the blessing too. Or in the words of Proverbs 11:24 – “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty”.

You say you love God? Show Him! Commit a portion of your time to build and maintain an intimate relationship with Him. Make Him a VIP; a “now” priority instead of “later”. Give Him your heart and watch Him add all other things unto you (St. Matthew 6:33).

Side Note: It is generally amusing to see how we can run around like headless chickens to accommodate a request from a human VIP. A request or a visit from this person cause us to immediately drop what we are doing to focus on the VIP. Strangely, we refuse to make even a little effort for the One who should be the ultimate VIP of our lives and who only desires an intimate connection with us so He can guide us to our best lives.

Let’s Chat!

Thank you for stopping by and reading. Does God have your heart? How much time are you committing to spend with Him today? I would love to hear about your commitment in the comments section, below. 🙂

“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favour and give you peace” – Numbers 6: 23-26

XOXO
Chañel

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I am a dynamic young lady who loves the Lord and seek to have a joy that no one can take away. My all-time favourite thing to do is gaining discoveries by design from My Father during our time each day. Reading, learning and trying new things falls behind in a close second place. My dream is to use my God-given talents to positively impact as many people as possible. As a proud Wolmerian, with a zest for life, I adhere to the “Age Quod Agis” motto in that whatsoever I do, I always do it to the best of my ability.