Image by Beautiful Light Photography
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
I challenge you to read this three times in one day- in the morning, noon, and night. Each reading brought a new meaning to my circumstances and that was only in a 24 hour period! I am guilty of looking for the quick answer for everything. Even in matters of the heart, I will throw open my Bible, find a verse or two on the issue that guide me, and make a decision.
Wham, bam, thank you ma’am, no conflict for me—just a problem resolved. With that method sometimes making things worse, and with the guidance of my sweet husband, I feel God has told me that wisdom is gained while God desires and sees our obedience.
Obedience is not just doing the right thing one time, but it is following the Holy Spirit with a praying and discerning spirit that allows us to know exactly the right moment and time to follow God’s unique calling to our lives.
He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
Reflect: How does our timing often differ from God’s timing? Could God making our periods of discernment beautiful? How so?
Act: Before you answer a call, text, or email, ask yourself if it’s something that needs to be answered right away. If not, pray for the obedience to follow God’s will on it.
