He's Still Working On Me

Stephen Covey has written numerous books, but is most famous for his study of "effectiveness," especially with respect to time management. In his book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" he presents a principle on time management that is more relevant today than ever before.

You can classify all activities in your day using a two-pronged approach on urgency and importance. The vertical axis of the "Time Management Quadrant" are things that are Important and Urgent; and horizontal are Urgent & Not Urgent. So in the four boxes, you have top left represented as Urgent and Important; top right as Important, but Not Urgent; bottom left, Not important, but Urgent; and bottom right; Not Important and Not Urgent.

So it looks like this:

                                          Urgent                                     Not Urgent

                                ---------------------------------------------------------------

Important                                                   -----                                                   Important

                                         Crises              -----              Prevention

                                                                   -----

                                  -----              Planning

                                         Emergencies   -----

                                  -----              Improvement

                                                                   -----

                               -----------------------------------------------------------------

                                  -----

                                  -----

                                  -----

                      Interruptions  -----                Time Wasters

                                                                   -----

                                                                   -----

Not Important                                            -----                                                   Not Important

               -------------------------------------------------------------------

                    Urgent                     Not Urgent

The point of using this as a reference on "time management" is again about focus. And not just focus, but being able to filter the noise of the urgent, identify the important and by determining what is truly important and focusing on that, we can therefore not waste our time.

Does Prayer represent something that is both Important and Urgent in your life?

Time is an invaluable commodity. You may think you can determine, "Well, this time in my life was worth...," but can you really place a value on time and complete the statement?

We are all allotted a specific amount of time, to the millisecond. In your last breath, are you going to be able to say, "It is finished." as Jesus did? If that is a personal desire, you need to focus on the important with respect to your time. Agreed? 

Prayer needs to be both important and urgent for us as Christians. So how do we do that?

Think about the Muslim community for a minute. The people who practice the Islam faith pray five times a day, every day. There are certain times that they pray. Prayer is not just another item on their calendar. It is protected time that they give freely, and willingly, in reverence, service and in prayer. As a community, they do not have to be reminded when to prayer. It is a part of their DNA. It is a part of their faith. It is an important and urgent part of their lives. 

What would happen in the Christian community, if we were as dedicated to protect our time each day, in prayer? "Faith" can move mountains. "Prayer" can move mountains.

Mark 11:23 says, "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea, ' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them." 

Another great point of reference is Matthew 17:20 

Matthew records as it was said by Jesus, "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

In Mark 11:23, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about the fig tree Jesus cursed, and he had also cleared the temple courts. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus healed a demon-possessed boy. The disciples had asked Jesus why they could not drive out the demon? In both of these verses, the answer is about faith.

As sinners, we will nearly always have a faith that is wavering. They goal is to do everything in your power to make your faith represent what could be defined as unwavering. Prayer, is a not only an urgent and important part of the entire equation; it is our equalizer. The solution to "move the needle of our faith" from wavering to a more unwavering manner; by definition, can only be accomplished by prayer + faith.

We will all waver, but here are a few tips as we spend more time in prayer, that we may grow our faith.

1) Have a "running conversation" with God.

It is equally as important as Christians, to have "protected time" in prayer. Perhaps for you it is first thing in the morning, or when you lay your head on the pillow at night after the day has come to a close. Challenge yourself not to prayer once, or twice or even five times daily on a schedule. What I mean by having a "running conversation" with God is that you take whatever time you can carve out throughout the entire day, and use it to pray. My time is early in the morning; outside and by myself, as I am drinking coffee. I enjoy my coffee and pray outside, as I like to pray out loud. It gives me a sense of connection. God hears my voice and I can listen for His. It is relational, in the same manner as you would have a conversation with a colleague, a friend or your spouse. God is your best friend, and your Savior! Should we not be having a "running conversation" daily; and throughout the day, with Him?

2) Embrace the fallacy of "control"

I recently had a conversation with the officiant of my wedding. I shared with him that I am beginning to realize more and more each day, how little I can "control." Control is deceptive. It is an illusion. It is a "never-ending mirage" in the desert of life.

Men; it is even harder for us to embrace the idea of reliance--by giving up control--but that is exactly the reason for the words of faith, prayer, submission and trust.

Let's ask ourselves just four questions:

1) Would you rather trust in yourself, or in God?

2) If you were to submit to the will of anyone, would you not choose God above all others?

3) How about faith? How many people on earth, do you have faith in?

4) How many mountains do you believe prayer can move?

For me, it is a struggle to keep a running conversation with God, but I am working on it.

I also know and understand, intellectually, the fallacy of control, but it is hard work to employ  

faith + prayer + submission + trust. 

I too, need to be asking myself these questions. While the answers are clear as mud, I must still put in the work to increase my faith.

I would rather trust in God, than myself. I would rather submit to God, above all others. It is great to have faith in others, but are we not all sinners? Do we not ALL fail? And while I do believe that faith can move mountains, do I really employ--with all it's power and ability--prayer and faith enough to move them.

Many of you would agree with my answers, but are you "working on it?"

Remember the song from Bible school or Bible camp, realize your inability to control even the full power of yourself, in light of your personal answers to the questions above, and remember...

"He's still working on me..."