To be successful in life it is important to organize your day, ensuring that you can do as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. Especially in our present day society where the level of attainment plays a great role, requiring even more from each individual than ever before, time is an important factor - a highly valuable commodity.

For the majority of people who have not been brought up in a wealthy family, success means hard work and many sacrifices having to be made. They do not have a great amount of free time, however, they do not seem to mind because they find fulfilment and joy in their work.

These particular things, such as hard work and having to make sacrifices, bear a resemblance to the things in the spiritual life in Christ Jesus. Paul, an apostle of Jesus, who the Lord was able to use to reach many people, says in Ephesians:

"Awake thou that sleepeth, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:14-16

If we do not do anything for the Lord, then we are like people who are asleep or are like someone who is dead. For the dead cannot do anything, nor can they perceive things or their surroundings. It is time for each one of us to wake up and to start getting involved in the kingdom of God; and yet again to become sensitive to the Spirit of God and His will.

This is the only way for us to be enlightened, that is, enabling us to receive knowledge and insight. And because we know that God will not give honour to any lazy servants, we have to get up and do something! However, it is a similar situation to that in the world: To be successful in the kingdom of God you have to be organized. Your prayer life must become a top priority again and a part of your daily routine.

We should not allow the devil to rob us of the little time which we have received from the Lord. We should also make the most of the day, whereby, we aim to maintain a balance between the spiritual and the natural things. This balance is essential, for we are living in evil times; and we will only be able to survive when we are strong in the Lord.

We will not receive strength in the Lord if, from the 24 hours per day which God has given to every individual, we only pray 10 minutes, and hardly read the Bible. Therefore, the following is to all those who want to please the Lord: Ask the Lord to show you what you can do and then do it, and invest more time in the kingdom of God! sw