“The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
–John 3:3 (NLT)

I remember one day when I was doing a service at a nursing home. I asked the people to tell me a little bit about themselves, and I’ll never forget what one woman said. “My name is Nellie,” she shouted, “and I was born in a boxcar!”

What she said really made me think. We all try to carry around things in boxes that weren’t made for them. But when we do this, we find that they just don’t fit.

Unfortunately, the next step is that we often try to do the same thing with the God of the universe. We attempt to cram Him into our daily schedules, instead of building our schedules around Him. We may say, “I’m so busy that I can’t have morning devotions today.” Or, “I can’t give God anything this month. I don’t have enough money.”

But over and over again in the scriptures, God has shown us that He is not limited by our circumstances. For just as He multiplied bread, he can multiply our time. The Bible tells us that He is a loving god, and He only wants the best for us. He wants to turn our boxes into bridges, making a way when we can’t see one. He can do exceedingly more than we could ever ask or imagine, but in order for Him to work in a powerful way in our lives, we need to come to Him in humility, asking Him to rule in our hearts.

In this age of full-time jobs and multi-tasking, you may want to start by taking baby steps. You will find that even 10 minutes or half an hour of prayer and Bible study a day is rewarding. But prayer should not be limited to our quiet time alone. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Thank God for all He has done, and worship Him as you go about your daily tasks. Contemplate and meditate upon His word. Confess your sins and shortcomings to Him, and know that you can tell Him all your cares and concerns.

Having said the above, God is calling all of us to be people of unshakable faith, and to make a radical commitment to Him. But you might ask, “Where do I get that kind of faith?” And that is what I believe God would challenge us with, for genuine faith cannot be worked up. The scriptures say that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. So in order to have a close walk with Him, we must spend time in His presence.

I have heard it said that love is spelled T-I-M-E. The only way you can get to know a person and show love for him or her, is by the expenditure of time. You will find that the sacrificial gift of your time speaks much louder than mere words ever could, for a simple task from your heart can leave a lasting impression. The old saying is still true: People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

In the same way, you can show your love for God by spending time with Him, because He loves you with an everlasting love, and He desires your friendship. In other words, He doesn’t want you to feel like the time spent with Him is a duty, but rather a sweet time that only the two of you share. You will find that instead of merely taking time from your schedule, your fellowship with God will bless and enrich your life. Before coming to Him with a long list of needs, just practice being a friend to Him. This will also help you as you reach out to others, for time spent with God will begin to break down the box that you have put Him into. In other words, it will help you get outside of your own four walls.

But if you have not asked Christ into your life, let’s start at the beginning. It is like going up to someone that you have never met before. You have to take the first step. It’s the same way with our loving Father. He is holy, and He has established a standard of righteousness that we cannot possibly reach. Confess that you have missed the mark, and agree with Him that you need a savior. You will see a change in your outlook, and you will find that you have become a new person. The Bible says that once we have asked Christ into our lives, the old life is put away.

Drawing another picture, God has said that He has separated us from our sins as far as the east is from the west. Have you ever tried to walk east by going west? It is an impossibility. Similarly, God has chosen to destroy the record of our sins, remembering them no more. But if you have asked Christ into your life, and you know that something just isn’t right, I would encourage you to come back to God in whole-hearted surrender. Pray to God fervently, asking Jesus to search your heart and help you to walk in His ways. You will find that He will begin to break down the boxes again that are keeping you from experiencing a full measure of His love.

Whatever the case may be for you, we pray that you will come to Him today!

Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 377 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 260, Placentia, CA 92870. Finally, check out our online store at www.amway.com/burdicksbargains. In order to support us, please register for free on our store website before purchasing anything. Thank you!

If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 641-715-3900, ext. 874157.