How did we get to the place where our lives don’t have TIME for
talking leisurely to friends?
going for a walk in the woods?
playing catch with your son?
spending a whole afternoon reading a good book?
pursuing a hobby?
teaching your little girl how to bake cookies?
listening to someone who needs an hour or two of your time?
“Oh…Hi there God! Gotta go, bye.”
What has happened to our lives where we don’t have the time to talk to God?
join a small group? go to church? pray?
Is it over-scheduling? Or maybe it’s adding things and not taking anything away?
Or is it all about what we choose to do?
No doubt it is all of these things. I struggle with the decisions of how I use my time. This is a HUGE issue for me and I am guessing that it is a challenge for a lot of you.
Christianity Today shared the results of a busy-ness study in 2007:
The busy life was found to be a distraction from God among Christians worldwide. Around 6 in 10 Christians say that it is “often” or “always” true that “the busyness of life gets in the way of developing my relationship with God“.
In North America, 62 per cent of women reported busyness interfering with their relationship with God compared to 61 per cent of 
men. Professionals whose busyness interferes with developing their relationship with God include lawyers (72 per cent), managers (67 per cent), nurses (66 per cent), pastors (65 per cent), teachers (64 per cent), salespeople (61 per cent), business owners (61 per cent), and housewives (57 per cent).
This was a study of people who said, “Yes, I am a Christian.” I don’t think things have improved.
Before I fell in love with God, my life was all mine. I did what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. I might have gone to church semi-regularly. But, joining a bible study, helping with a ministry, visiting a friend or relative RARELY happened. Those choices definitely had to be ON the schedule. Far in advance. And, I had to WANT to do them.
Yuck, that sounds selfish!
In the past year or two I began to seriously wonder what all my busy-ness was about. It’s funny how you can deceive yourself into thinking you are doing the best you can or that you really can’t control what is expected of you. Boy was I wrong!
There can be enormous consequences of being too busy: losing touch with friends, losing track of family happenings, losing connection with your Creator. Your family and your friends realize that you are busy – so they don’t call, they don’t ask you to join them.
God knows you make choices about who gets your time. So He waits.
Suzanne
September 14, 2011 at 3:23 am (15 years ago)Maybe you can think of a way to break the chain…break that summer habit of spending time on your life first. Yes, you are incredibly busy AND very organized (thank You God!)I know how much having that close relationship means to you. Maybe putting a post-it saying, “I miss you, God.” or “I’m all ears, looking forward to our time, Your BEST Friend.”
Faith
September 7, 2011 at 7:40 am (15 years ago)Hi Suzanne,
Anyone who knows me knows how busy I am. I would say that I have no problem doing some of the things you mention. I don’t feel guilty spending four hours gardening or spending a lot of time with my nose in a book. I visit people, listen, converse (sometimes for a an hour or more), cook, bake, and a multitude of other things. Where I fall down, and every year it’s the same, is taking time to pray consistently during the summer months! I get way too lazy about that. I know that sounds strange. I do a lot of praying, studying, etc. from September-May, which is when I teach Bible study. Come summer…… arrgh! It’s way too sporadic for my liking. I’ve better a little better this past week but still…..
Very timely message! Thanks.