Tick tock . . . Tick tock. . .
I could watch the second hand go round and round, letting minutes slip into hours. When I finally snap out of it, one question echoes: “Did I make the best use of my time?”
Character creates desires and desires create decisions. This truth reverberated on me during morning devotions, settling into my half-awake mind like a gentle revelation. Our character shapes what we want, and what we want determines how we spend our time in this short life.
If I remain disconnected from God’s love, my desires turn inward. I could spend hours in mindless entertainment, chasing temporary satisfactions that leave me feeling hollow. “Apart from me,” Jesus said, “you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV). How often I’ve proven this true, pursuing joy with my own devices only to find it slipping through my fingers.
I experienced how something transforms when we seek the Lord first. His love fills the empty spaces in our character, and like an overflowing cup, our desires begin to spill outward. What started as a self-focused question “What can I get?” gradually shifts to “What can I give?” As Proverbs 11:25 promises, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (NIV).
This overflow of God’s love reshapes not just our desires but also our decisions. Instead of simply letting our days go by through meaningless pursuits, we find ourselves drawn to acts of service, using our gifts to build others up (1 Peter 4:10). Our hours begin to be filled with purpose—encouraging a friend, volunteering for a cause, or simply being present for someone in need.
Character creates desires and desires create decision. But it all starts with letting God’s love transform our character and it all comes back full circle.
jessa 