Psalm 31:15 says, “My times are in Your hand;” Note the plural: “times” and not singular, “time.” Puritan Thomas Brooks writes,
Times do belong to providence as well as issues; and as God is the God of our mercies, so he is the Lord of our times: ‘My times are in thy hands,’ saith David, Ps. 31:15. Not only the times of his sorrows, but also the times of his comforts; not only the times of his miseries, but also the times of his mercies; not only the times of his dangers, but also the times of his duties, were in the hands of God.
This shows that every point and period of time depends upon the hand of God. Think about that for awhile. The depth of that truth is exceedingly deep and its water is refreshing. Since time is of the Lord, every minute and hour of each day is a gift of His sovereign grace. Each minute, each hour, of each day a gift crafted with sufficient time for what we need–for what matters.
The relevance to prayer? Since God appoints the times of our day, which includes what our days SHOULD include, naturally He would include a portion of our day to be spent in communion with Him. He knows that we need to meet one-on-one with Him, whether we do or not. (Jesus knew this) Therefore He appoints enough time in each day to be refreshed in fellowship with Him; to be built up by His Spirit; to learn truth to guide us and protect us; and peace to enjoy life. Are you with me on this? He has included within the 24-hours of each day time to be spent with Him. Let us be careful not take that portion of time and spend it on ourselves or on something else, as if “that” something else is more valuable than time with our God and Savior.
Oh, that we would not sell the time that God has appointed for us to grow and receive extra grace. Oh, that we would not put more value on hobbies or entertainment or laziness. Oh that we would not spend the appointed time on appeasing our fleshly lusts or pride of life, when there is living water to drink from within the proverbial closet of prayer, alone with Adonai.
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Brooks, T. (1866). The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks. (A. B. Grosart, Ed.) (Vol. 2, p. 215). Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert.
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