This life that we live is so fast paced. Everything is instant…. instant messaging, texting, news updates are always available from everywhere in the world on every subject at every moment of the day and night, cell phones, e-mail, drive thru’s…. We don’t have to wait for anything anymore. But is all of this instant life good for us? I don’t think it is. It seems like we have lost the value of time, patience and waiting.
God is in the process of developing our character to match our calling. When we read the scriptures and learn about the characters of the bible, it is so easy for us to skip over the large segments of time in-between events. We don’t seem to realize that the Lord took time to develop his chosen servant’s character between the time they were called and when he brought them to the fulfillment of the call. It takes time for us to mature and to grow in our relationship with the Lord. Are you willing to trust him with whatever time he needs to develop your character?
What has the Lord been saying to you about the plans and purposes that he has for your life. What has he told you about how he wants to use you? Are you willing to allow him to mold you into the person he needs you to be so that your character can stand up to pressures of your assignments. Henry Blackaby says that there is nothing more pathetic than a person with weak character in a high position. I think that Bill Clinton was one such person. The choices that he made caused harm to the office of the Presidency of The United States of America. If only his character had matched his calling.
What are the areas of your life where the Lord is asking you to allow him to mold your character? Are you willing to make the changes he is asking you to make so that he can use you in a mighty way to impact his kingdom? When the Lord reveals his plan to you, he is revealing himself, his purpose and his ways and he is inviting you to join him. Take time and ask him to reveal the areas in your life that need to be molded… and then obey him. He is inviting you to join him, but he needs you to be strong in character to do so. How will you get there? One step of obedience at a time. Trust him, he won’t let you down.
I agree. We don’t communicate in person enough anymore….too much texting, emailing and just leaving it in writing. To simplify and slow down is what we all need in order to be able to hear his voice and know where he wants us to go. Thanks for your message Cindy ~ right on target!
It’s so good to realize that waiting is a state of faith. It’s easy to start to manipulate the situation and start making things happen so we can “help” God get the job done. Oh, how he is teaching me that often my biggest act of faith is to wait! We have become a people that finds our identity and satisfaction in “doing” but he has called us to be human “beings”. “Doing” is often much easier than “being”, but I am learning to rest in him and wait.
Hebrews teaches us to dwell or rest in our faith and several years ago Pastor Dick told us that God so desperately wanted to have fellowship with us that He will allow us to go down where the only place we can see is up to Him. I just love the visual. It was after that sermon God led me to “Experiencing God” which started the great work of my transformation. Only through the Holy Spirit this great task can be accomplished, but as He guides me I have seen where I was, and where He wants me to be and how to get there with Him. The path is straight when I follow Him but too often I try to lead, the path becomes overgrown, curvy and presented with obstacles that I can’t get past. When I have to cry out to Him to move the obstacle He reminds me how it happened. There’s so much for me to do and you just pointed out to me that I was leading the way again, so, thank you for the gentle reminder to be still and know that He is God and does the leading.
About a year ago I was in a bad place and Pastor Dick asked me what was driving me… I truly did not know, but he reminded me that the Lord leads us, he does not drive us. What a revelation. Something was driving me right into the ground. He prayed that I would be free from whatever it was that was pushing me, pulling me, and driving me to the end of myself…..and I was free. Praise the Lord. At the end of the day whether it is something driving us or just us taking over the wheel again…. the only way to live in complete freedom is to let the Good Lord lead at his own pace. Sometimes it feels like we are in an Amish buggy and other times in a jet plane, but the Lord knows his timing, so the only thing that we should do is rest in him and enjoy the ride. Praying for you today my sweet sister in Christ!