Burning the Midnight Oil

Burning the Midnight Oil

"The spirit of man is the candle/lamp of the Lord, searching all the inward parts". - Prov.20:27

I’m burning the midnight oil. I know they say when kids are asleep; we need to get our sleep, but I cherish these late nights though, because the only worry I have then is, how cold will the air conditioning be?

This is my quiet time. This is my time with God. I can contemplate what He needs of me. I feel like I can’t get enough and if staying up a little is needed, so be it so I could be the servant, God calls me to be.

Matthew 25:4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

I marvel that we can find time for everything else that is important to us but when it comes to God, sometimes we drag our feet or make reasons why we can't. We are called to be ambassadors of Christ, but how well do we honestly know what God wants of us and about Him and His Word if we never really take time out for Him?

Romans 7:15,"For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."

When we have a goal to really know Him, part of that is ,He is an everyday, living, breathing, reality; To have a relationship with Him, we have to take time, make time to get to know Him and develop that relationship like we would take the time for our friends and our family.
It’s not something that just happens.

God is a muscle unless used and developed, is of no good to us. Now that we’ve discovered Him, we need to exercise our relationship with Him and develop that relationship to its full potential.

I’m floored by Oswald Chambers explanation in “Upmost for His Highest”, the reason why it is so vital to make and spend time with God,” The mainspring of Paul's service is not love for men, but love for Jesus Christ. If we are devoted to the cause of humanity, we shall soon be crushed and brokenhearted, for we shall often meet with more ingratitude from men than we would from a dog; but if our motive is to love God, no ingratitude can hinder us from serving our fellow men."

For me, the late nights are worth it.

I want to understand and know God. I desire to be a better servant to our Heavenly Father. When I don’t take that time to really get to know Him, I know I will fail and fall short of what He wants me to be. I’m human after all and still make mistakes, but that means I need Him more, not less.

How can there be such thing as too much of God; it’s like saying, we have enough of our spouses in our lives. They need to be kept at a distance. How does that help our marriage grow? Didn’t they say communication is a vital part of marriages? What about our marriage with God then?

The Christian walk is a difficult walk and like hiking. If a person can walk, we are all potential hikers. What differentiates the two is the training one is willing to put into preparation for the actual hike. Hiking takes a little more effort and time but we can still all participate in the experience either as a casual walker or a hiker. It just takes time.

"...Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come..." I Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

It was humbling to read about Ezra in Ezra 7:10 and even about the Bearans, who are like dedicated hikers. They set their hearts to understand who God is. They made time no matter what to go to God .He wants the same for us. We matter that much by Him.

Acts 17:11 (New Living Translation) And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

I invite you to read Ezra 7:10 and Acts 17:11, and ask yourself, what can you do to challenge yourself to get to know God and His Word a little better and keep your lamp burning for God. What are ways that you can find time yourself to spend a little with God?

Heavenly Father, I praise You Father, for sharing Your Word with us, and desiring to have that personal relationship and that we seek You as You seek us. I pray You keep encouraging and challenging this humble servant to seek Your word and wisdom and that I am always like a newborn babe who seeks nourishment and wisdom from You. Lord, I pray that I never get too tired or too filled up on Your Word, but instead hunger always.

As always Gentle Readers, Thank you and God Bless You.