Close to where I live is a local shopping center that services my neighborhood, most days the parking lot is full of people and their vehicles. For those that drive there is a rush when you pull into a parking lot and find that perfect spot or the lot is somewhat empty and you have the choice of spots. Constantly throughout the day, the traffic is moving' however once the stores are closed then the lot empties out. When this happens you can see all the stall lines drawn on the pavement, which probably took someone weeks to plan, where all those vehicles could go to use the space efficiently.
Now imagine our life is laid out like a parking lot. Each morning we wake up and all the stalls of our day are empty and there is no traffic jam or congestion between; thoughts, people, priorities, work, animals, appointments, feelings, doubt, family, stress, failures, disappointments, events, etc...
"You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24 - Contemporary English Version)
Usually, we fill up our parking lot before we even leave the bed or house. It is so full we have no room to breathe or relax and those traffic jams continue through the day and sometimes become a pile-up where something or someone is waiting for a stall in your life to open up and there are none.
"People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. (Romans 8:5 Contemporary English Version)
How many times do you leave a parking stall open for time with God or with his word? Is he constantly in those traffic jams of your life, waiting for you to open a spot for him? While you fill your daily parking lot with other things. How long has your parking lot felt empty and lonely even though you have it stuffed to the rim with things? How long will you listen to God honking his horn for an open spot in your life, before you open one up for him to park and leave it open as assigned parking to him?
God's vehicle is one of peace, it is driven by your father in heaven. One who forgives your sins and holds no judgment, he can wash you clean. He alone should have access to the first spot each day. Once you open that spot for him and keep it open he will never leave. When your feeling congested in your day God will be in that parking spot you left open for him. He can help direct the other vehicle of your life so that those traffic jams can become less congested and so that your not parking in front of your failures and disappointment. Each day brings us a new opportunity to leave that spot open and make God a priority.
"I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. If you don't stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire. (John 15: 5-6 Contemporary English Version)
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