"What To Do With The Time Given"
  by Mrs. Sojourner

 Matthew 5:13-15 ^(NIV) Matthew 5:13-15 ^(KJV) Matthew 5:13-15 ^(AMP)

The movie, "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring," based on J. R. R. Tolkien's book, has an interchange between Frodo, and Gandalf that jumped out at me when I heard it recently.

         Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of          this had happened.
        Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. ^{(emphasis added)}

Pondering the above interchange, some scriptures came to mind.

¹² When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, ¹³ he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" ^{(Esther 4:12-14 NIV) (emphasis added)}

¹⁷And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. ^{(Revelation 22:17 KJV) (emphasis added)}

¹⁹ . . . I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ²⁰ That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give  them. ^{(Deut. 30:19b-20 NIV) (emphasis added)}

Our Heavenly Father put us on this earth at this specific time for specific reasons. We have the right and ability to choose how we use the time and position we've been given by his overwhelming grace.

We may not have chosen and/or preferred some of the circumstances  we face, but we must remember that Jesus promised Believers that he would never leave them (us). Spend time daily studying the Word and praying to find and confirm what the best use of the time we've been given, because we Believers are here as Christ's Body to be salt and light.

Remember...

We need to always focus on Christ!

The blessing of our Lord on you and all that is yours by blood, adoption or assignment!

Pray for the government leaders in your country.

 Heads of State, Military, Civil Authorities, Law Enforcement Officers, etc..

 Please pray for the people listed here!!!    (The Sojourner)