Dr. Richard Blackaby spoke to a group of business and professional leaders in Iowa about the time his father Henry was invited to speak to CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. He was surprised to see such high-ranking corporate executives gathered together, especially given the scope of their responsibilities and influence.
Dr. Blackaby Sr., well known for his books Knowing God and Bible studies, challenged these people. He advised each of them to consciously plan and schedule what he called “leisure time with God”—both Bible study and prayer.
You can imagine how many of them reacted. One CEO, after hearing this proposal, expressed his thought: “Henry, this is unlikely. You have no idea how busy we are.” Dr. Blackaby replied, “Well, you have no idea who you are about to meet. If you did, you would have found the time.”
Three months later, the same CEO again told Dr. Blackaby about the problem. He said that by making the decision to spend leisurely time with God every day, he found that his days became much more fruitful than ever before!
This leader was perhaps the first person to learn about the positive, even tangible benefits of continually devoting time to God, studying the Holy Scriptures, and praying. The famous theologian Martin Luther, a man who faced many challenges himself, said: “The less I pray, the more difficult it becomes; The more I pray, the better it gets.” Another time, Luther made this honest but paradoxical observation: “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer every morning, the devil will gain victory during the day. I have so much to do that I cannot cope without spending three hours a day in prayer!
Psalm 137:4 says, “All the kings of the earth will glorify You, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth.” God is worthy of sincere, unhurried time, regardless of our status at work. In addition, we can get practical benefits from this. Here are just a few of them.
We can gain the right perspective. Faced with multiple pressures, deadlines and demands, as well as conflicting messages coming from our culture, it is easy to lose track of what is right and appropriate. Spending leisurely time with God, especially at the beginning of the day, reminds us of what is important and who we ultimately seek to serve through our work. “My heart says from You: “Seek My face”; and I will seek Your face, O Lord” (Psalm 27:8).
We can find the wisdom we need. Many of the problems we face throughout the day, especially those we didn't anticipate, require not only knowledge but also wisdom to properly solve them. We can get from God what we need. “For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).
We can appropriate God's power. It's easy to go through the day relying on ourselves, confident that we can handle any situation. However, they are often simply unable to do this. But through time spent with God, we can receive His strength and guidance. “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Copyright 2023. Non-Traditional Business Network. Adapted with permission from UBN Integrity Moments, a commentary on faith at work. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is faith in action, serving the international small business community.
Questions for reflection/discussion
NOTE. If you have a Bible and want to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 1:7, 3:13-15, 12:8, 16:21; Colossians 3:17,23; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Difficult task
Good intentions are of little value if we do not follow them and strive to put them into practice. Sometimes the best way to ensure we accomplish what we set out to do—like spending leisurely time with God—is to have an accountability partner. This is a person you trust and care about you, who will remind you and encourage you to carry out your good intentions. Do you currently have someone you can turn to and rely on to hold you accountable? If yes, share your desire with this person. If not, then pray hopefully and ask God to send someone to help you as a spiritual mentor.
