Natural Time May Be Movable
Faith Seeks God’s Set Time!
Today in the United States we move our clocks back one hour as Daylight Savings Time ends for another season. We talk about “gaining an extra hour.” Just when we are in the groove with the time change the time will switch again in the spring when we allegedly “lose an hour.” A lot of talk surrounds this time adjustment each year from casual conversation to daily newscasts. All this focus and dialog about time.
Who Controls the Hands of Your Clock?
It is an interesting concept that we simply move the hands of a clock forward or back and what we perceive to be the ‘correct’ time magically appears. I could not help but wonder how often we try to manipulate God’s timing as if simply moving the hands of a clock. Perhaps you are in a difficult season and in an effort to speed its end you manipulate the situation using natural understanding. Many ill-conceived ideas are born out of fear.
Perhaps you operate solely on your own timing and desires without a thought of God’s purpose for your life. Perhaps things appear to be going so well that you simply sail through seemingly guiding your own life ship.
Whatever the case may be know that God has set times for your life. Although you may feel His set time should be yesterday, know that His set time is perfect. Fear not. It will not tarry. He will shift things in a second at His set time. In the interim seek His wisdom and guidance concerning what you can learn to take forward to help others. Really, it is never solely about you. It certainly seems that way but as you walk closer and further with Him you begin to realize the magnitude of even the simplest work in your heart. It is always a heart issue. As your heart changes the ripple effect outward toward others is immeasurable.
Have You Only Heard of Him?
Think about Job who had everything taken away from him. He suffered tremendous loss of family, wealth, security, health. His friends were not supportive. Even his wife told him to curse God and die. It would appear all is lost for him but when Job turns from his pride, confesses his lack of understanding, repents and prays for his friends, restoration is swift. Instead of questioning God, Job admits, “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand…I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” (Job 42:3b, 5) As you truly see Him you are set free to yield to His all perfect timing with a joy that surpasses all understanding. This is faith lived out despite what may be going on around you.
Do You Choose Fear or Faith?
So, what time is it at your house? Do you live in a time of faith or a time of fear? Fear is the antithesis of faith. It is conflicting to profess to have faith yet continue to walk in fear. Your faith profession is false if fear remains dominant in your heart. This is being double minded at the most basic level. Think about that for a minute. Is it possible to live without fear? Yes. Is it easy? It is impossible without a close, surrendered relationship with the Lord.
I have walked through many very difficult seasons in my journey. I learned over time that to surrender to the Lord was most important. Surrendering what you perceive to be the ‘best’ to Him frees you to let Him walk you through in His plan. It may or may not resemble what you identify as the perfect solution but it will be His perfect solution for you. Through it all He will use every bit to bring His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Surrendering to the Lord is a process as you give up piece by piece of your strategies until what remains is Him. Then the fullness of your journey begins and moves in the swiftness of His time and the fullness of faith. All becomes supernatural without human manipulation.
Take the daily ‘gained’ hour this week and really search your heart. Where there is fear ask God to guide you to freedom in Him. Where you still hold on to your plan, ask Him to empower you to release and let Him take over. He is ever faithful. Your journey with Him awaits. Now is the time!
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore….” Jesus, Matthew 10:30-31
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life…which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?…but seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” Jesus, Luke 12, 22, 25, 31
“And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before…Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.” Job 42: 10, 12a
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 5-6
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
“But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6-8
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.
God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. May the Lord keep them safe. Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history.
We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour.
Please Join Me In Prayer
Father we thank You for Your Holy Spirit’s guidance to lead us to the wisdom to walk fully in Your ways. Thank You that Jesus died to set us free from the tyranny of this world. Empower us to be in the world but not of it. Grace us to walk circumspectly in the fullness of faith without fear. Lead us in Your perfect plan for each of us to bring Your Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and amen.