Month: August 2026

The Worry of Time

by Ms. Rita's Minute

2 Peter 3:8

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 

Photo: Joshua Sortino

Have you got time? Are you pressed for time? In any event, do you know who isn’t in a rush? Jesus. Sure, when we simply don’t have time, or urgency is at hand, the Lord will sustain us, providing prompts of wisdom. Sometimes, ahead of time, if we’re likely to listen (and even sometimes when we aren’t). At least this has been my experience.

Moreover, the Lord has been faithful to warn me about major events in my life years in advance, either through dreams or a sudden knowing in my heart. But I must admit I wasn’t always ready to receive the information. However, He has proven His amazing kindness by sending me little reminders so that I wasn’t totally blind sided or unprepared for the events. The Bible tells us that God will teach and instruct us in the way to go and counsel us with His loving eyes upon us.

In addition, I’ve found that God is a God of order and peace, not confusion. He has precise ways and times of doing and arranging things in each of our lives. Further, He’s a good Father who wants us to have what we need. So, He’s provided wisdom to make life easier to navigate. He doesn’t just throw His children into situations without help, though it can appear that way for a time and season. Nevertheless, sometimes, when we reject His ways for us, He will allow us to do things our own way. Only to see us later humble ourselves and truly seek Him for His solutions with obedience. 

Thankfully, our heavenly Father leads us in the paths of righteousness. He’s even provided His own Holy Spirit to live in us as our Helper. He assists us with decision-making and other duties. Yet we must exercise faith, trusting that we can hear Him clearly and He knows the best time and method for any action we are challenged to perform.

The Lord knows us at the core of our being, better than we know ourselves. Hence, we must be willing to accept that truth and choose His ways over our own, knowing that with everything there is a time and season. The more we come to know Him, the easier it will be to yield to Him as we find Him trustworthy and loving in our day-to-day interaction. Hence, the reason we must pray and study the Bible in order to become more familiar with the way He thinks, noting His actions in various situations in the lives of His people and enemies. 

Rest is His way for us. He has never instructed us to worry or be anxious about anything happening in our lives, but commands us not to worry about tomorrow, as tomorrow will worry about itself! So, because having enough time can play such a big part in our stresses and worries, we can be safe and secure in casting our cares on the Lord as He promises to sustain us, since He cares so much for us. There’s no greater caregiver!

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Scripture references: Job 43:14-16, 1 Corinthians 14:33, Psalm 32:8, 1 Peter 5:6-7, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Matthew 6:34, Psalm 55:22.

Confirming Calling and Election

by Ms. Rita's Minute

2 Peter 1:3

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.“

What does it mean to confirm one’s calling and election? Apparently, the Apostle Peter thought it important enough to remind believers of these actions even though we may know them and be firmly established in the truth.

When we confirm our calling and election, we are putting into practice those godly habits God has made available to us through His precious Holy Spirit. This behavior is meant to keep us from stumbling.

Possessing His awesome promises, we are able to experience His divine nature. Walking out what God has placed in us, confirms or assures us of a life changed by God. We prove our relationship with the Lord by our God-given spiritual growth through action.

The traits of our growth stated by the Apostle Peter, in 2 Peter 1, are listed as:

to faith

add goodness; to

goodness add knowledge; to

knowledge add self-control; to

to self-control add perseverance; to

perseverance add godliness; to

godliness add mutual affection, and to

mutual affection add love.

He assures us that if we own these qualities in increasing measure, they’ll keep us from being ineffective and unproductive. This reminds me that though Jesus has already redeemed His believers as His own, we still have some growth, practicing, or exercising to do.

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Scripture reference: 2 Peter 1

Another One

by Ms. Rita's Minute

2 Corinthians 13:5

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”

Well, I’ll be adding another candle to the birthday cake of life soon. Hence, I’m pondering what I can do better in my life. For me, it’s a time to reflect on where I am in my walk with God and others.

The Prophet Moses tells me to number my days to gain a heart of wisdom, teaching me my time on earth is limited and I should spend it wisely, while King Solomon reminds me to avoid all extremes, which indicates opting for balance, choosing humility rather than haughty perfectionism or reckless sin. Also, the Apostle Peter reminds me that a person is a slave to whatever masters them. So, I’m remembering I need to be mindful of what and who I submit to.

It’s wonderful how patient the Lord is. He is long-suffering and merciful, as we human beings are not easy to deal with. Yet He doesn’t want anyone to perish. When one is loved as much as He loves us, perhaps it isn’t so hard for Him.

Sadly but thankfully, He puts up with our many distractions, lovingly as a good shepherd and with discipline, guiding us on the right paths. Though often seemingly satisfying to our souls, distractions can be a weight or hindrance to better things for us. If not prayerful, we can get caught up, trapped, or delayed by many things, good or bad, if we yield to them.

The Apostle Paul’s teaching on his focus can also be ours. He did not view himself through a lens of perfection, but, forgetting his past, would choose to focus on what Jesus had next, pressing on to reach the end of his life’s race, receiving the prize for which God, through Jesus, was calling him.

Everyone has their own unique interests; things on which we spend much time. Yet though I cannot see Him physically with my natural eyes, I’d like to ensure that God and His way of living have priority in my life. There is still much of Him available for me to access, know, and hold close by faith working through love.

Time spent with Him in prayer, Bible study, and relating to others is all a part of getting to know Him and growing in Him. His desire is that, as Christ’s ambassadors, we help others to know Him. This involves discipleship, baptism, and teaching, taking place in various ways, from informal to formal.

How much do I love the Lord? Only He knows for sure. Yet Scripture tells me I am to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. That’s a whole lot, “the most,” and best, and He deserves it!

I know I’ve fallen short in some areas, but as I continue to seek Him genuinely and consistently, He’ll get me together. Thank God, with Him, all things are possible, and it’s not by our own might or power, but by His Spirit.

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Scripture references: Psalm 90:12, Ecclesiastes 7:18, 2 Peter 2:19, 2 Peter 3:9, Philippians 3:14, 2 Corinthians 5:20, and Matthew 28:19-20.

Heavily Gifted

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Romans 5:17

“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”

As God’s beloved sons and daughters, we are new creations in Christ Jesus. We aren’t the same as we were before knowing Him, as we’ve been reborn, receiving the gift of righteousness through our Lord and Savior. Therefore, when we work out salvation, we are merely walking out the new life Christ has already given us. The Bible reminds us that Jesus suffered to sanctify us through His own blood. So, now we have graciously been given His gift of eternal life!

By the power of another gift, His Holy Spirit, Christ now lives His life through us, as we are changed from glory to glory. We’ve been crucified with Christ, and no longer live as we did before, but Christ lives in us. Hence, the life we now live is by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Amazingly, we no longer have to see in order to believe, as we live our lives by faith, not by sight. We realize that without faith, it’s impossible to please God. In addition, we’re transformed by the renewing of our minds with God’s word, and His law is fulfilled when we love others, as love does no harm to a neighbor.

Moreover, we realize that without the Lord, we can do nothing because it is God who works in us to will and do of His good pleasure. As the Body of Christ, He has given us various gifts and talents to carry out His will. So, whether functioning as a hand, arm, leg or foot, we are each a part of the Lord’s Body.

Thankfully, God has equipped us with weapons of spiritual warfare that are mighty through God; spiritual armor to withstand the wiles of our enemy. We are not alone through life’s challenges or attacks, and our heavenly Father has provided many precious promises regarding our welfare. He has not only heavenly gifted us, but I’d say heavily, gifted us. There is so much He has freely done for us. Who is like the Lord?

Now, we can rest in knowing we belong to a Savior who will one day return for us to take us home to live with Him forever. However, until then, we are to occupy until He comes.

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Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 5:17, Hebrews 13:12, Philippians 2:12, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:2, Romans 13:10, 2 Corinthains 5:7, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 11:6, Philippians 2:13, Romans 12:6, 2 Corinthians 10:4, John 14:2-3, and Luke 19:13.