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Sunday, June 22, 2008

Not Enough Time?

Elder Henry B. Eyring

"We will have to make some hard choices of how we use our time. But there should never be a conscious choice to let the spiritual become secondary as a pattern in our lives. Never....

"...When we put God's purposes first, He will give us miracles....

"Those apparent prison walls of 'not enough time' will begin to recede, even as you are called to do more." -President Henry B. Eyring

I am not sure if it is because the kids are out of school and I am struggling to keep up with everything as it is or what, but when I read this quote in the Ensign, it really made me stop and ask myself what I am doing to put God first. I had a really hard time answering that as it seems He got copied and pasted to the end of my list of things to do each day. I don't know how it happened. I used to be so good. Our family scripture study has become nonexistent and you can tell this by the contention that is running rampant in my home since we stopped. My personal prayers and study time might get done at midnight when I finally crawl into bed, if I can keep my eyes open. When they are asking for volunteers in RS for anything, my hand is cemented in my lap and has no intention of raising above my head. I haven't been visiting teaching in who knows how long. I have not been to the temple in ages. Aside from the spiritual, I have let my exercise routine fly out the door too. I have so many things to do each day that I cannot fathom adding anything else to it at this point. But when I read this promise from one of our church leaders, I cannot help but trust in that promise.

jarwalnuts sand_for_sale

I read about an analogy someone presented in a relief society lesson. She had a glass jar, some walnuts and some sand. The sand represented the things that we have to do each day. The walnuts represented our daily duties to God. She asked how both of these things could possibly fit into the jar together. She illustrated by pouring the sand into the jar and filled it more than halfway full. Then she tried unsuccessfully to add the walnuts to the jar. They could not both fit at the same time. She tried the experiment again, this time adding the walnuts first. As she added the sand, it filled in all around the walnuts and this time each one fit perfectly.

As I reflected on this I realized that we cannot grasp God's ways. He knows what we don't. Where we can't do it, He can. If I add the walnuts to my jar first each day, then the rest of the things that I have to do will fall into place just fine.

I would like to know your thoughts on this. What do you do to put God first in your life?

8 comments:

Here at home said...

Here, here. Well said. I feel the same way sometimes. I don't always prioritize my time so that I'm putting God first. I often wake up to demanding kids and that's the first thing I have to take care of. After that, it's just whatever. All day I think I'm going to get around to reading those scriptures or saying my prayers and at the end of the day, I still haven't done it. Something I need to change. Thanks Bon. With that, I have some studying to do.

Here at home said...

check, and then study.

Tamster said...

Thank you for that gentle reminder, Bon.

Unfortunately, I cannot say that I DO anything now daily to put God first as I should. I would say that what you and Sharon said sounds entirely too familiar. I DO know that when I have been better in the past, I gained a testimony of putting God first because I found that He truly did help me to accomplish more when I put Him first. Why I let that slip away I do not know. I need to improve so that I may once again receive those blessings.

We try to do family scriptures and prayer, but there is room for improvement as to how we do that as well. Personal scriptures and prayer REALLY needs improvement! Thanks again, Bon! :-)

shauna said...

Are you in my brain? Are we living parallel lives? Thanks for finding the answer for me. Love you.

Anonymous said...

Ugh, currently and sadly I so very much hate to admit that I am not doing the things I need to do first each day. *cringing and hiding my face in a corner* I get up each day with the intent to say my personal prayers and read my scriptures, then I am interrupted by kids and loud foreign noises from another room that must be investigated immediately, an order for breakfast before Will "dies of starvation," the morning poopy diaper, etc. etc. The list goes on and before I know it the day is half over and I am exhausted having not got anything I needed to done. There was a time when I relied so much on my daily personal prayers and scripture study. I couldn't function without hiding in the the little 2x2 bathroom reading and pleading to God for guidance and strength to just get through another day. I'll spare further details, but say this; starting my day with personal prayer and scripture study is like paying my Tithing first before any other bill, I am abundantly blessed when I follow the simple commandments given by a loving Father in Heaven.

Thanks Bon for the reminder!

Abby said...

I think every person, even the prophet, feels that he or she can do better. I felt that same way until October's General Conference last year when Elder Oaks gave his talk "Good, Better, Best." Since I have applied that the promise that Elder Eyring said in your blog "When we put God's purposes first, He will give us miracles....
Those apparent prison walls of 'not enough time' will begin to recede, even as you are called to do more" The miracle that Heavenly Father has given me is time. As long as I do what Heavenly Father wants me to do first, I have enough time for everything else. It sounds nuts, but if He can feed the 5000 with a few loaves and fishes, He can stretch out my day so I get everything done that is required of me. I am not saying I'm perfect. Everyone can ALWAYS do more, so don't get down on yourself. Just put Pres. Eyrings promise to the test and see what miracles Heavenly Father has in store for you.

Shaney said...

Service, service, service! We start each day by asking God to help us to find a way to help or serve those around us. It is amazing how many opportunities there really are! Some may seem so small but they all bring about the same feeling upon completion. We feel that it brings us a little closer to Christ and can often set a presidence for the rest of the day. Another thing we do (because we are really bad at family scriptures) is to play the scripture CD's in the car when ever we go anywhere! This is the best cure for my road rage issues;)

HuckFinnsMom said...

Nice post and nice comments... I'm just taking it all in. Thanks everyone.