My brother Mychal challenged me with his words, sooo I took a self test from God’s word to see if I still had a heart of stone or of flesh?  Does the time I spend with God daily take out of my time or actually save me time? Are the daily devotions too time consuming or does God make up the time with worth while production in his calling?  Does God really add years to my life and life to my years, by fulfilling His calling and my purpose?

This is my self-reflective test of my heart that echoes deep biblical truth. Below is a devotional-style breakdown of each of Mychal’s questions and thoughts, supported with complete NKJV verses. These scriptures can be used for meditation, journaling, or group discussion: TITLE: Do I Really Want to Spend More Time With My Lord?1. Do I get to or got to? Is it a burden or a blessing?Psalm 122:1 (NKJV)

1 “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’”

Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)

28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Insight:  Spending time with God is not an obligation—it’s an invitation into rest, joy, and fellowship.

2. Do the worries of the world choke out my time with Him?

Mark 4:18-19 (NKJV)

18 “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,

19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

Insight:  What competes with your devotion? The Word warns that distractions can strangle spiritual growth.

3. Do I start my day giving God my first fruits?

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJV)

9 “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase;

10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”

Psalm 5:3 (NKJV)

3 “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.”

Insight:  First fruits are not just about money—they include our time, energy, and attention.

4. Do I study God’s Word like the Bereans?

Acts 17:11 (NKJV)

11 “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

Insight:  God honors those who test everything against His Word.

5. Have I hidden God’s Word in my heart like David?

Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

Insight:  Scripture in your heart becomes your defense and guide.

6. Do I pray intercession for those in need and those who oppose me?

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NKJV)

1 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)

44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Insight:  Intercession transforms hearts—ours and theirs.

7. Am I a cheerful giver, or do I withhold?

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)

7 “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Malachi 3:8-10 (NKJV)

8 “Will a man rob God?  Yet you have robbed Me!  But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’  In tithes and offerings.

9 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”

Insight:  Giving isn’t loss—it’s participation in God’s abundance.

8. Do I fast, affirm, and meditate—or just complain about time?

Matthew 6:16-18 (NKJV)

16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance.  For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting.  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Insight:  Fasting, affirming, and meditating bring reward—but not if your heart isn’t in it.

9. Do I thank Him daily for my Lord and Savior?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)

16 “Rejoice always,

17 Pray without ceasing,

18 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Psalm 103:2 (NKJV)

2 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”

Insight:  A thankful heart never runs out of reasons to draw near to God.

Final Reflection:

•   Ask yourself daily: Is time with God an appointment I treasure or a task I tolerate?

•   Pray this: “Lord, renew my hunger for Your presence and Your Word.  Let me not just say I want You—but truly seek You, early and earnestly.”

Sooo, the time I invested with God and the money I invested with God has returned to me 100s of times more, as He has the cattle on 1,000 hills and is my best investment.

Sooo, I’m not yet who I want to be, nor who I will be, but thank God I’m not who I used to be; how about you?  Blessed journey with our lord… “brother bill.”