JANUARY 2015
In this issue
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How to Make Zero Progress This Year charles r. swindoll
6 Are You a Good Steward of Your Time? robyn roste
What are the Keys to Answered Prayer?
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11 Putting off Procrastination leland klassen 14 The Gist: Time Wise steve johnson
8 Active Ingredients steve johnson Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Chuck is the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Texas. His international radio program Insight for Living has aired for more than 35 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ. Copyright Š 2015 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NLT. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by Laura Vanderwel. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.
by charles r. swindoll
ith the dawning of a new year comes a deluge of resolutions, reminders, and exhortations. They all follow similar how-to themes—how to increase your efficiency, how to make every moment count, how to lose weight, how to invest your time wisely and productively. Well, just for fun, I’d like to take the opposite tack. I’m going to tell you how to make zero progress this year. That’s right, if you follow this advice, 2015 will be a huge waste of time. Let’s get started, shall we? First, worry a lot. Start worrying earlier in the morning and intensify your anxiety energy as the day passes. Short on a supply of things to worry about? Check the evening news on television or the Internet. You’ll have enough bad news, doomsday reports, human tragedies, foul weather, and late-breaking calamities to keep your heart and mind churning all through the night.
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How to Make Zero Progress This Year continued from p. 3
Something I have found helpful in my own worry world is to do a lot of reflecting on my failures and mistakes. If you’re a parent, think long and hard about what you should or could have done for your children. That will give guilt the flashing green light it’s been waiting for. To add a touch of variety, you might also call to mind some things you should not have done. Regret fuels worry in many creative ways. Do you need a few other categories to camp on? How about all the things you don’t like about your spouse, your job, or your church. Hanging around negative people is another secret you won’t want to forget this new year. They spread worry like germs. If you plan all this just right, believe me, you’ll be loaded with a full pack of worries long before February comes. Start now! Those potential ulcers need fresh acid. Second, make hard-and-fast plans with unbending and unrealistic expectations. Hey,
why not? All of 2015 lies in front of you. Your datebook is empty and ready to be filled with detailed plans. Of course, you’ll need to ignore that little throwaway line in the book of James, Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. (James 4:13-14, emphasis added) Forget this verse, and chisel your expectations in stone, convinced that things will turn out exactly like you plan. Third, fix your attention on getting rich quick. This is a great one. With this mindset, you’ll fit right in with the flim-flam that’s gushing out of most self-help seminars and conferences. Make certain to get your ideas about money from the secular bookshelves, and definitely don’t pay attention to men like Solomon, who wrote: Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle. (Proverbs 23:4-5) I mean, what does Solomon know about money and contentment and consequences . . . and wisdom? Fourth (and this is a great one), compare yourself with others. Another surefire timewaster for 2015. Not only will you ricochet between the extremes of arrogance and
discouragement, you will spend another year not knowing who you are. If external beauty happens to be your thing, comparing yourself to the latest Hollywood hunks ought to help you men… and those gorgeous models plastered on the covers of checkout-counter magazines will do nicely for you ladies. The next 12 months will be a humdinger so long as you keep your gaze on the horizontal. Fifth, lengthen your list of enemies. Playing the blame game will keep your wheels spinning during 2015 more than any other activity. Your skill at this game should improve with age because the longer you live the more ammunition you will have. With a full arsenal of suspicion, paranoia, and resentment, you can waste endless evenings rehearsing your feelings of resentment as you stew over those family and friends who have made your life miserable. OK, so there you have it! Five proven time-wasters. Put these suggestions into motion, and your new year could set records in wasting valuable time. But on the other hand, who wants to do that? No one aims to make zero progress—it just happens. So, let’s get started in the right direction. Beware of the time-wasters! Instead, pray more than worry. Be flexible. Give more. Be content with the way God made you. And let the oil of forgiveness loosen your grip on those grudges. In other words, make this year your most productive ever. That’s my plan!
Charles R. Swindoll serves as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.
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by robyn roste
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always thought I spent my 24 hours per day pretty well— I took time for work, play, friends and family, and had enough left for rest. So of course just as I was feeling proud of my time-keeping abilities, I got a new job. It was for a consulting firm—one that billed in 15-minute increments. Since we
charged our services out to several companies at once, we took careful track of each phone call, each email, and all other work we did. One day a client called to dispute a bill. I watched my boss go over the charges, point by point, and compare them to our logged timesheets. It was an important lesson for me in work and in life. Just as
my boss back then needed to be accountable to clients, I need to be accountable for how I spend my time. Have you ever logged your life? At first it feels overwhelming and needless, but if you submit to the process it can be liberating. Here’s why: When you’re accountable you can stand behind your actions without fear or shame. You know you will be able to face any dispute because you've kept careful record. You’re certain you are being a good steward of your time. Often we connect being a good steward with money or tithing but it's so much more. “Stewardship” refers to the management of affairs, property, or supplies with proper regard to rights of others. When we use our time well, we can be confident our days will be meaningful. But Moses says it better, “So teach us to consider our mortality, so that we might live wisely” (Psalm 90:12 NET). Life is short, each day we have is a gift. It would do us well to remember this. There’s nothing wrong with playing or relaxing or having fun when we know our actions are pleasing to God. However, there is something to be said for wasting time or over committing. Our hearts always seem to let us know when there are better ways to use the hours in a day and when we aren't being good stewards of our time. One other thing to keep in mind is how we react to stewardship. We can look at it as something we have to do, and resent it, or we can see it for what it is—an opportunity to give God our best. Whether it's time, money, food, or other resources,
stewardship is not only about accepting personal responsibility for taking care of something entrusted to us, but having a cheerful attitude about it. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV).
“When we use our time WELL, we can be confident our days will be meaningful.” When I look back at my time at the consulting firm I am glad I had the time-tracking experience. It taught me how easy it is to waste time, and showed me I didn't use my minutes as well as I thought. It was humbling. This month I challenge you to look at your time stewardship. Sure, logging every second of every day is extreme but if you were to track your time—even for a day or two—you might be surprised by your spending habits. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
Robyn Roste is the Living Bridge Media manager at Insight for Living Canada.
by steve johnson
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e hear a lot these days about the active ingredients in our medicines. These are chemical substances that actually make the medicine do what it is supposed to. For example, the active ingredient in Tylenol is the painkiller acetaminophen. The rest of the elements, like food colouring and corn syrup, are inactive ingredients carrying the active ingredient. Without it you can take all the Tylenol you want, but you'll still have a headache. This is called placebo—a pill with no active ingredients. To test the effectiveness of active ingredients in medicine people are given placebos. In some cases the perception that the medicine is real, called the placebo effect, improves the patient's condition. The brain may actually bring about improved physiological effects, but there is nothing in the pill itself that heals. There is an analogy here as it relates to personal time with God—often called devotions or quiet time. For some, devotions are like a placebo. People go through the motions but since there are no active ingredients, the effect is minimal. They may even think they are growing spiritually, but in reality there is little spiritual impact.
Along with many Christians I admit that my devotional times are hit-or-miss. It often seems too difficult to carve out time for Bible reading and prayer. And when I actually do, those times can be sterile and mechanical. I've told myself countless times I just need more discipline to make it part of my routine. For a while this works, but then routines are broken and I am back struggling with it. Do devotional times in and of themselves result in a vital, healthy relationship with God? I have to say no. The Pharisees of Jesus' day were steeped in the Word and spent much time praying, but Jesus still reserved His most scathing words for them.
“The Pharisees of Jesus' day were steeped in the Word and spent much time praying, but Jesus still reserved His most scathing words for them.” Do we need devotional times at all then? I have to say yes. In the gospels, I see Jesus' example of spending mornings and evenings apart from His disciples to commune with His Father.
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Despite their devotion, Isaiah 29:13 was true of the Pharisees “—These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men” (NIV). What makes the difference between a vibrant personal time with God like Jesus had and a pharisaic religious exercise? Using the above analogy I believe that devotional times are the inactive ingredient, the carrier of the active ingredient. And like Tylenol, you can have all the devotional time in the world, but without the active ingredient, you still come up with an empty religious exercise. So what active ingredients in a personal time with God make it one that produces spiritual growth? There are actually two active ingredients and both are heart issues. The first active ingredient is a heart that hungers and thirsts after the living God. The Psalmist wrote, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Then he asks, “When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42: 2). Many times I've recognized that I didn't desire to meet with God because I didn't thirst for Him. And when that has been the case I have
prayed for the Lord to give me that longing after Him. Graciously, He does. The second active ingredient is a heart that desires to actually live out the Christian life. When I move from a passive Christianity to one where I seek to think and live Christianly on a daily basis, then reading and prayer will happen. I won't have to force it. My devotional time changes when I actually try to fulfil the commands of Scripture. Taking my faith and relationship to God seriously moves personal time with Him from being a nice idea one can take or leave, to being a matter of necessity—needing Him in and for everything. As Jesus said, “…If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We so easily forget how helpless we really are. By writing this I don't pretend to have consistently achieved a personal time with God that is always spiritually refreshing and beneficial. Perhaps I have only diagnosed my problem more accurately. But in my case, that is the first step to making sure I have the active ingredients. Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.
by leland klassen
hen I was a young man (and I use the term “man” very loosely here, I was still a boy at heart) in university, I wasn’t the most studious guy. In fact, I once had a professor diagnose me as possibly having some sort of learning disability. He even had me take a test to see if his theory was correct. So, I took the test and sure enough, he was right. It turns out I did have a learning disability—I believe the technical name for what I had was called lazy! To be honest with you, I didn’t finish the test. It was like four pages long—no thanks.
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Putting off Procrastination continued from p. 11
Anyway, even though I loved my university years and eventually got my BA in Anthropology at the University of Saskatchewan, there were some classes where I didn’t put in the kind of effort that I should have. One such class was statistics. I took the course because I always loved stats and thought it would be a fun way to get some of the credits I needed in the sciences department. Well, I was wrong, which statistically is something that happens quite often ironically enough. I didn’t enjoy the class much. Well, I’m assuming I didn’t, I didn’t actually attend very often. So near the end of the semester, when it
came time for the final exam, I was in a lot of trouble. I had a really bad grade going into that last test and what’s worse, I didn’t know anything about statistics. However, I did come up with a plan. I was going to ace that final exam, redeem myself, and prove to my professor that I had indeed learned all about statistics despite not being there half the time. Did I mention my problem with procrastination yet? I meant to, I guess I just didn’t get around to it yet. Well, I did (do) have a problem with procrastination, and I waited too long to start studying for this final. It was the night before and I literally had to learn an entire semester worth of work in one night. Luckily for me I had a caring roommate who knew exactly what I needed to get me through the night…caffeine pills. I know it was a ridiculous solution but my roommate assured me they were safe and would keep me awake so I could study, ace my exam, and subsequently pass the course. To be honest I didn’t think it sounded like a good idea either, but I didn’t think I had a choice at that point. So here is what happened. Well, actually I can’t really tell you much about that night, because I slept through most of it. I kept waking up and taking more pills hoping they would help, but the moment I started reading my textbook…it was off to la-la land once again. The next day was test time and I do remember that day, way too vividly. I bombed my test sooo bad. I couldn’t even remember stuff I did know about stats. I also remember having the worst stomach ache of my life. FYI caffeine pills are horrible and they don’t
work. Had I actually paid attention in my stats class I would’ve known it was statistically impossible for me to pass the course given my mark going into the final anyway. I think. To verify that I’d have to ask someone who’s taken a stats class because we’ve already established that stats is just not my thing.
“Luckily for me I had a caring roommate who knew exactly what I needed to get me through the night…
CAFFEINE PILLS.” It wasn’t just that I didn’t prepare well enough for that final, it was the whole semester of work (or lack thereof) that sank my ship. Not only did I waste my study time that night, but I did not use any of my class time wisely. That’s why I failed. Colossians 3:23 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” We are to do everything as if we’re doing it for the Lord. I didn’t used to look at time this way, but I do now. And for full disclosure, this is two nights before the deadline to have this article written. So, although I didn’t learn stats, I did learn I needed to use my time wiser. And although I’m getting better I’ve still got a way to go…just not with caffeine pills anymore.
Leland Klassen is a comedian living in Abbotsford, B.C.
by steve johnson
TIME WISE Do you want an improved life? You might be surprised to learn most often the only thing standing in your way is you—more specifically your attitude. The articles in this issue of Insights are about attitudes, how we view things, and how God wants us to view them. Of the issues mentioned, (circumstances, the future, money, comparison to others, hurts, time, procrastination, devotions) which ones do you find yourself struggling with? (You may need to go back and re-read them.) Attitude affects everything! Having the wrong attitude is counter-productive. Having the right attitude leads to a productive and meaningful life. So how do you change your attitude? My advice is broken into three R’s: reflection, review, and response. REFLECTION – 3 points to ponder: 1. The Bible declares God’s perspective— the attitudes He wants you to adopt. This is the true perspective undistorted by sin. The first step in changing your attitude is knowing what God’s view is.
2. You have response-ability—you are able to choose your response. You may not be able to control what happens but the one thing in life you can control is your attitude about it. 3. The attitudes you choose will determine whether your life is meaningful, productive, and God-honouring. Change your attitude, change your life. REVIEW GOD’S PERSPECTIVE The Bible has a lot to say about the situations we find ourselves in. Here are some key verses regarding the topics we’re talking about this month. 1. Circumstances. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done,” (Philippians 4:6). 2. The Future. “Look here, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.' How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone,” (James 4:13-14).
3. Money. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil…. Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others,” (1 Timothy 6:10, 17-18). 4. Comparison to others. “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else,” (Galatians 6:4). 5. Hurts. “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others,” (Colossians 3:13). 6. Time. “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do,” (Ephesians 5:15-17). 7. Procrastination. “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people,” (Colossians 3:23). 8. Devotions. “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?” (Psalm 42: 1-2).
RESPONSE – Change your attitude, change your life. Changing our attitudes has more to do with our response to our circumstances than anything else. Here are five ways to respond when faced with a challenge. 1. Make a deliberate choice to believe God’s view in Scripture is the true one. Faith is a choice, not a feeling. 2. Memorize the verse relevant to the issue you struggle most with. This reinforces your choice and transforms your thinking. 3. Spend some time each day reflecting on the verse you have memorized. Carefully consider each word in the verse. 4. Continue to revisit and reaffirm your choice to believe that God’s Word is the true perspective regarding the issue you struggle with. 5. Share with others what you have chosen to believe and the different perspective you now have regarding the issue you have struggled with. How has God helped you change your perspective lately? I’d love to hear about it. Can we support you with prayer? Please let me know. Send an email to info@insightforliving.ca with your stories and prayer requests. You don’t have to struggle alone, let’s support and encourage each other. Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.
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