Your Time Is Not Your Own

Saturday, August 1

James 4:14 (NLT)

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”

Devotion

In our final At The Movies movie, I Can Only Imagine 2, we are introduced to the true story behind the song “Even If,” written by Tim Timmons. Tim wrote this powerful song while battling cancer. At the time, his wife was pregnant with their first child, and he had no guarantee that he would live to see his child grow up. He did not know how many days he had left, but he chose to trust God through the uncertainty.

When Tim shared the song with Bart Millard, he reminded him that he was not the only one facing struggles. Bart was carrying the weight of parenting a son with diabetes and trying to protect him from every challenge. Through a conversation with his manager, Bart realized he had to release control and trust God with his son’s life and purpose. He could not prevent every hardship or make every decision for him.

We all face battles, and we must choose how we will respond. Will we allow fear and uncertainty to control us, or will we hold on to the faithfulness of God?

Bart was searching for a song that could follow the success of “I Can Only Imagine,” not realizing that Tim had already written one from a place of surrender. “Even If” was a reminder that God is faithful regardless of the outcome.

The truth is, none of us know how many days we have been given. Our time belongs to God. The psalmist prayed, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Psalm 139 reminds us that God has already written our days before we live them.

Our time on earth is temporary, so we are called to make every moment count. May we trust God with what we cannot control, use our time to honor Him, and faithfully live out the purpose He has given us.

Today's Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of each day You have given us. Teach us to number our days and to live with wisdom and purpose. Help us surrender our fears, our plans, and the things we cannot control into Your hands. May we trust Your faithfulness in every season and use our time to bring glory to You. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Apply It Today

We are not promised tomorrow, but we can choose to faithfully live today. Release what you cannot control to God, and ask Him to help you use your time, relationships, and opportunities to reflect His purpose. 

Resources

• God’s faithfulness is not limited to one moment in history, it continues in our lives today. Watch “That Time, This Time, and Every Time” and be reminded that the same God who moved before is still working now.
• Your story is a testimony of God’s faithfulness. Share with us how He has moved in your life—because when we testify, we remind others and ourselves that God is still working. Share Your Story.