Daily Devotional

February 2024 will not have the normal 28 days, it will have 29. Most of us know that Leap Year happens every four years. But what you may not know is, that approximately every 100 years, a leap year does not happen. A leap year did not happen in 1700, 1800, and 1900, but it did happen in 2000.

Why does leap year occur? Because the earth’s orbit around the sun takes more than 365 days to complete. According to Fox Weather, the earth takes 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds more than 365 days to orbit the sun. That extra time each year is the reason for a leap year. If we didn’t add that extra day every so often, the seasons would begin to fall forward, and in a few hundred years, a North American summer would start Dec.1st.

I always thought it would be fun to be born on Leap Day because then I would only be 14 years old (you do the math). But then I found out that the odds of being born on Feb. 29th are only 1 out of 1,461, so the chances of that happening were pretty slim.

The other reason I love Leap Day is because it gives me a day off from my One Year Bible readings every four years. A good time to get caught up if I’ve fallen behind.

But on Leap Day this year, I want to consider my routine and schedule. I want to evaluate how I’m using my time. King Solomon wrote “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) A good reminder that God is always on time.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is time is always changing. Oh sure, we all have the same 24-hour day, but how we use each day varies from person to person.

As followers of Christ, each day is a gift from God, and He wants us to use our time wisely. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:15–16 "_¹⁵ Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, _¹⁶ making the most of your time, because the days are evil."

Are you using your time in a way that aligns with God’s will for your life? Remember, most of God’s will for your life is found in His Word. So, when God tells you to love one another, do you fit time in each day to love others? Or if you sense God leading you to become a nurse, for example, are you on the educational track that will make that become a reality? Are you in a nursing program, taking classes, and studying hard each day?

If it’s been a while since you evaluated your use of time, take time today (you don’t have to wait for Leap Day). Look at your priorities and make adjustments according to God’s will. Make sure you have time each day to serve God and others.

Interested in following along with a past 40 Days for Life devotional?

For more information, visit campusbiblechurch.com/40days

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation