Thirty-Seconds Thursday

What can you accomplish in thirty seconds? Two sets of squats? Heat up a quick snack in the microwave? Order online pizza? Take out the trash? Send an email?

If you think about it, those thirty seconds are spent rather quickly. And once they’re gone, they’re GONE!

I set a timer to get a ‘feel’ of what those precious thirty seconds feels like in real time. Much to my amazement, between the thoughts in my head and the typing of these words, that timer sounded before I punctuated this sentence.

So what if we planned in advance to spend at least thirty seconds in prayer for someone else? Go ahead, grab some paper and a pen and start your list:

1. The mail carrier
2. The dry cleaning crew
3. The grocery store cashier
4. The neighbor you don’t want to speak to
5. The neighbor with the noisy dog
6. The Amazon delivery staff
7. The city police department
8. The city government officials
9. The cleaning crew at your church
10. The teachers in your community schools

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1 NLT

Your list may look different, but it’s a place to start.

If you’re like me, your prayer list typically has all your favorite people in it, right? So, what if we made the conscious effort to pray for someone ‘not (yet) on the list?’ What then? Maybe changed hearts would happen — that’s what! Not just theirs — yours and mine! And just what if — that thirty-seconds turned into sixty-seconds or even (I’m going out there on a limb now) three minutes?!

Just maybe we would have a more compassionate heart towards that person. Perhaps even want to reach out to them in a more Christ-like manner — now, that’s leaving a legacy, Girlfriend.

I make it a practice to introduce ‘new’ habits on a small scale (at first). Like getting the engine warmed up before a long trip. After several practice days, it’s now a habit. And a blessed habit, at that.

“Heavenly Father, I thank You for the privilege to approach Your Throne of Grace with such ease and openness. Thank You for bringing to my mind the hard work of all public maintenance and janitorial service workers all across my community. Their work so often goes unnoticed and under-appreciated. As I go about my daily routine, Lord, and I thoughtlessly use anything that required the use of such a person’s energy and physical strength, I ask that You please give them what they need to rest and renew for the next day. Without these unseen workers, many other services would not be possible. Bless them and those whom they bless in their households. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

As the world starts to open up and we find ourselves outdoors with greater freedom, let’s not take for granted the person behind the scenes helping to make that happen.

I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~

LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary