Devotions from Judy’s heart
I want to be on God’s time, at least I think I do, or maybe most of the time. If you are like me, there are times we rather have the Lord act right now on our time table, not later. There are instances when we may not understand why the Lord is delaying but it is a time to trust that He knows best and is not withholding from us. We read in Psalm 31:14-15, “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord: I say, ‘You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.”
Recently, I read what Cecil Murphey, a speaker and author of over 100 books, had to say about God’s timing. He knows what it means to wait as he shares times that he had urgent needs and had to wait. Later he discovered that perhaps things were not so urgent and he wonders why he was so stressed. One time when he felt overwhelmed by all he had to get done, he sensed the Lord saying to him, “You have time to do everything you need to do!” If it is on God’s agenda for the day, then there is time for us to do it.
Maybe we are like impatient children at times, who can hardly wait to receive a treasured gift, or for an event to happen, and we keep asking our parents, when?! But Cecil gives us examples from scripture of those who had to patiently wait.
Like Abraham who was told when he was 75 years old that he would have a son but the wait was 25 more years! Or Samuel who anointed David King of Israel, but it took 40 years for him to get the crown. Or apostle Paul who was told he would speak before kings and he waits a dozen years!
Just like all of them, we often wait. For Al and I it was the dream of having a retreat house for pastors and wives and we thought it would happen in Des Moines. But it was 11 years afterwards that it actually happened and not in Iowa but in the woods of MN, a perfect place!
Cecil writes a poem as he realizes God’s time table is best:
“Big-Time Operator,
when I try to think of all the timing you’re involved in
every hour of every day around the universe,
it goes beyond my comprehension.
When it comes to temporal matters,
I don’t understand your timetable.
I do understand, though
that you love me, and you don’t withhold what I need.
That’s enough for me to understand. Amen.”
Challenge for today: Tell God your requests but in peace and patience leave the timing up to Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
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