A time to kill is not a new concept. A lot of people know this phrase from Ecclesiastes chapter 3. Others know it from the bare facts of their own lives. There are times in your live when you’ll feel rotten and useless. These are some of the most profitable times in your life because you use them (more than any other period) to develop your character. When the phase is over, it’s time to kill the negative and move on. Using this same principle, you can also kill the shackles and hang-ons you carry around which keep you from building confidence to achieve your dreams. Ecclesiastes Chapter 3: 1-13 (NIV) says:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
As humans we’re given the exquisite ability over all other creatures to understand and relate to the concept of time.
An elephant doesn’t know, nor can it appreciate the fact that it lives longer than a hyena. Even if it lived only as long as a flea, the elephant would still go about its business walking through the jungle in search of food and water. It would still wash itself with its tremendous, extended nose and die and be buried by the members of its group when it was time.
A dog’s heart does not yearn for fulfilment in retirement. That the place deep down in its soft middle does not crumple when his continued efforts to build a successful career flop down around his feet in his forties. He does not shed a tear for the happiness of his children and he cannot appreciate grey hairs and old age. He cannot fathom the ideal of self-confidence and doesn’t care how stupid he looks, as long as his master comes back home to him.
As humans we look ahead at the start of each year because this is the only way we know to measure the quality of time passed. To God, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years, like a day. In January we chart with good intentions, to make the best of the time we’re given. We pile on un-kept, halfway resolution after resolution without killing some of the things in our lives responsible for holding back these planned advancements.
This is my wish for you today: find the time to kill. Kill hate and laziness. Kill time wasting and lying. Kill negativity in its infancy because only by throwing off the things that hold you back will you be able to heal, thus achieve your goals.
Animals we’re not. Time is gifted to us alone. Let us take heed and use it well.
How do you use your time to kill and what do you want to kill today? Please share with us in the comment box below. If you like ‘Time To Kill’, please share it on your social networking sites. Thank you.
Anne, it’s no wonder that Scripture often uses the analogy of dying to ourselves, that He (God) make create new life out of that which has been killing us. My slant on this article is to take time to kill the sinful parts of me that stand in the way of being who He wants me to be. It takes His Power and my decision to act by surrendering myself to Him.
Steve Borgman recently posted..How To Enhance Your Visualization
You’re correct, Steve. We can only become what God wants if we kill the parts of us which are standing in the way. A lot of these include pride, anger, deceit and ego. I think these are the hardest to give up because they really strip down the fluff and get to the essence of who we really are. We sometimes don’t want others to see that person, do we?
I have to jump in to this Steve and Anne! I am on the same page as you guys! Time is a funny thing..it is a perception. I too believe in God try my best to walk in the path He has set forth for me.
When I think about it, every moment is filled with the opportunity to do God’s work. You can just be walking down the street and smile at someone and acknowledge that person. It is all those little moments of time and our actions that make us walk in God’s path.
We do need to kill those parts you have mentioned above Anne. In doing so, we will achieve a more peaceful existence within ourselves.
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..My 100th Blog Party
Definitely, Donna. Little things do mean a lot, sometimes more than we think. One thing is for sure, these little things mean more to the person we do them to, than they do to us. A smile takes nothing, but it gives so much. We need to kill the pride and ego that lets us think we’re better than others. I work in the TV business, and I meet a lot of people who consider themselves stars. This means they’re so far up their own egos, they’re blinded by the dust of a person they’ve become
I like the way you use this analogy Killing those things in our own lives that would seek to keep us down, is so important. Negative thought patterns and behaviors is so important to become all one can be. Thank you for your post. Sally
sally brown recently posted..The Key To Self-Love – How Do I Love Me? Part II
Thanks for your visit Sally. Welcome to the site. I know you’ll find it helpful enough to visit again. See you soon.
Hi Anne,
wonderful and inspirational post. What I find is that the human mind is set on future goals and we never get to really enjoy what we have right now. It would be nice to kill that tendency.
Mariella
Mariella Lombardi recently posted..I Am Obese – My Husband Is Obese. How Do We Help Our Kids Have A Healthy Diet and Lifestyle?
Mariella, I think we’re all battling with that tendency to varying degrees. I pray regularly to have my eyes opened to see the blessings God has already given me, as opposed to continually ask for more.
Hello Anne,
I thought your post was beautiful and so inspiring. I really wanted to take time to pause and read some parts twice. Your message and analogy brings to mind how much we are always looking to enjoy the “next moment” instead of truly being, feeling, longing the present moment. Great share!
~ Nathalie
Thanks, Nathalie. I’m glad you could stop by and join the conversation. Thanks for your input. It’s really satisfying to know you found it inspiring.
i want to kill failure and bad moods by becoming stronger
i love the concept
thanks for the post Kate
farouk recently posted..Falling in love with your abuser
I think that failure itself can make us stronger, Farouk. My last article, ‘Will it Make Or Break You’ talks in detail about this. Thanks for stopping by.
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Hi Anne,
This was a very powerful post and I loved the messages in it. I thought it was great how you used the new year as a way to make us reflect on how well we have done on achieving our goals, and using the rest of the year as an opportunity to do so.
There is always the risk that unless we break the very barriers that are stopping us in the first place, then we will never make much progress.
Thank you for your post.
Hiten recently posted..How to say no to problems
Hi Hiten, I think too many people concentrate on waiting for the new year so they can make resolutions. Before long, many of these fall away – abandoned. I think we need to make a decision and do something now. Waiting for the new year is really just finding ways to procrastinate.
Thanks for your post. It’s so bulls-eye for me. I just left a situation that so negative in me.Whatever God is in store for me, I’ll be grateful always. I am enjoying every moment I have from now on.
Hi Mary. Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad I could offer some support in your difficult time. I recommend also reading https://getconfidence.net/will-it-break-or-make-you/ ‘Will It Break Or Make You’ I think this post will be really helpful.
Welcome to ‘How To Build Confidence’ and thanks for your time.