While I was preparing for my devotionals an e-mail came flying in and because of my ADHD, I first have to look what it is. It’s a You Version advert, one of the biggest online Bible platforms in the world. The subject of the advert: No time? No worries. 5-minute Daily Plans.

It shocked me. Have we become so busy that we can only spare five minutes somewhere in the day for God? How much fuel to give us strength for the day will we be able to collect in five minutes? That kite’s not going to fly if we have so little time for devotionals.

I don’t think we actually realise what is going on in the spiritual world. If we really knew what was going on, there wouldn’t be any 5-minute reading plans in the world. No, it would’ve been 50-minute plans.

There is a war going on. A terrible war in which the devil is fighting very hard and pulling out all the stops to get you off God’s road. Five minutes per day is not enough to prepare you for war. If someone is sent into battle with five minutes’ training per day, there is a 100% guarantee that he will lose.

I can still remember the training I received as soldier and gunner. We were drilled hard. Literally and figuratively. We were chased through bushes and over mountains to become top fit. We had hours of training every day. They brainwashed us to think the way they wanted us to think.

All knowledge about the enemy was drilled into our heads day after day. But even more, we knew exactly how our guns and cannons worked, because we knew when the paw-paw struck the fan, our lives depended on it.

We had one year’s training before we were shipped out to the border to go and make war.

5 minutes per day would have been catastrophic!

I suspect the world is looking the way it is because people are trying to prepare for the war out there in five minutes per day. I suspect you are also struggling because you might not be spending enough time in your day on the war.

³Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ …

The simple fact that all of us receive the rank of soldier means there’s a war out there somewhere. That’s a fact. We must steel ourselves for that war. We must make sure that we are ready and that we have a chance to win the war.

And no, we don’t have to be afraid, because God’s Spirit is fighting with us. But I think it’s only fair that we do our part too and not leave all the battles to the Spirit. So, make a point of preparing yourself for battle. Make time for God and study his Word. It’s here where you will receive the best training as a soldier.

This reminds me of that old hymn – let’s sing it again and again today:

Onward Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!

Scripture
2 Tim 2:1-7

Reflection
How much time do you give to God every day?
Is it enough for the war?
What must you do differently?

Prayer
Lord, I know that five minutes per day is not enough to prepare myself for the spiritual war that is raging. Please teach me to manage my time effectively. Amen.