Make time for the Lord

In the end, if you haven’t made time for Christ, it won’t matter what you made time for.

So much has happened since the last episode of Joy in the Journey Radio!  I’ve been released as stake executive secretary and called to the high council.  This new calling means I needed to be ordained a high priest, and so I asked my father to perform the ordination.

Of course my father came for more than a brief priesthood ordinance; he came for an extended weekend.  I see him so infrequently I spent every moment I could with him.  He rented a car, and we drove around seeing lots of different places and sharing lots of conversation.  It was a memorable time.

But I also had a conversation with my PhD advisor, who wants to see much more out of me.  That experience led me to reflect on what I have in my life and more importantly why.  Reassessing the different elements in my life somehow brought me to President Nelson’s remarks from the last General Conference entitled “Make Time for the Lord.”  In this address, President Nelson shared three ways in which we can make time for the Lord.

Focus on the Savior

The first time we should make for the Lord is to fix our focus on Christ.  President Nelson declared, “Nothing invites the Spirit more than fixing your focus on Jesus Christ. Talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, feast upon the words of Christ, and press forward with steadfastness in Christ.”

In my recent reflections, I’ve wondered how much of my focus is fixed on Christ.  How often do I talk of Him?  How often do I rejoice in Him?  How often do I feast upon His words?  How often do I feel the determination to press forward with steadfastness in Him?

I’ve focused my scripture study this year on success and the path to prosperity.  My study hasn’t yet concluded, but it’s already abundantly clear lasting prosperity comes as God’s blessing upon those who embrace true principles.  This conclusion encourages us to follow the Prophet’s counsel to fix our focus on Christ.

Later this month I’ll pivot my scripture study towards my annual tradition of studying the Sermon on the Mount to increase my discipleship.  I’ve discussed this practice before on the program, and I expect it once more to increase the fixation of my focus on Christ.  All are welcome to join me, but whether or not you do, find some way increase your focus on the Savior.

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Delight in the Sabbath

The second time President Nelson encouraged us to make for the Lord is to delight in the Sabbath day.  He taught, “Make your Sabbath a delight as you worship Him, partake of the sacrament, and keep His day holy.”  Consider that teaching.  The Sabbath is a delight when we make it one.

How do you make your Sabbaths feel delightful?  Do they feel delightful to you?  You can use that question to gauge how well you keep the Sabbath.  The more delightful the Sabbath feels to you, the better you keep the day.

And no matter how delightful the Sabbath feels to you, there’s always another level you can reach.  Obviously you can feel more delight in your Sabbath if you don’t feel any.  But if you do feel delight in your Sabbath, you can feel more.  So the question is this: Are your Sabbath day activities what they should be?  Or do you need to change something?

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Connect with the temple

The third time the Prophet pleaded us to make for the Lord concerns temples.  President Nelson taught, “Please make time for the Lord in His holy house. Nothing will strengthen your spiritual foundation like temple service and temple worship.”

Because my nearest temple has yet to reopen, I currently need to travel some distance to attend the temple.  And so I’ve been meaning to get more into family history work in preparation for when my temple reopens.  I say meaning to because I’ve done nothing more than occasionally dabble.  Clearly the Prophet is calling me to repentance.

And with that call comes an invitation to extend the Prophet’s admonition to every area of life.  With all my responsibilities and everything in my life, am I making enough time for the Lord?  We could each ask ourselves that question.  If you haven’t considered it lately, I invite you to make time to consider it.  In the end, if you haven’t made time for Christ, it won’t matter what you made time for.

So make time for the Lord.  When we make the time to consider what time we are making for what matters most, we can more easily connect with what matters most.  In that way we can establish a better balance in life.  And that will bring us more joy in our journey.

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