13 June 2007
Frivolous Friendships Finally Finished.
Last time we discovered the obvious together (actually, you already knew, but I had to be reminded that)…
“I show signs of a “work in progress.”
Hey, at least I admit it.
Do you?
Actually, we all do. The dream may often come fast, but then, before that dream is ever really solidified, comes spiritual boot camp.
You know what? I shudder to think what would have happened so many times in my life if the dream came too quickly. Almost every time I think I’m ready to handle something, God shows me, graciously, that I wasn’t ready.
David sure seemed ready to me. His best friend growing up was God. Check it out…
He had learned to fear no man or beast.
He had learned to appreciate the simple things and to see God in every situation.
He had ginormous faith.
But was he ready to be the greatest king
Sorry, not quite ready.
He needed to learn that God keeps His promises over the long run.
He needed to learn that there is no such thing as a truly hopeless situation if God isn’t through with you yet.
He needed to learn to be reverent and respectful of authority even when that authority was anything but deserving of respect.
He needed to learn not to force God’s hand (as if he could), but to wait on the Lord’s perfect timing in all things.
He needed to learn all of this and so much more to be the kind of king that God picks to lead a nation.
After nine years he was ready.
Patience young grasshoppers.
God does want to do great things through little ole you and little ole me.
When we’re ready.
4 Comments currently posted.
Dee Langley says:
JT says:
What you are saying is so true. We put the cart in front of the horse many times. If we just realize that God Is In Control…He just is…but our sin nature wants to get in the way and tells us we can do things without him. Funny thing is that while I’m typing this How Great is Our God is on the radio here in my department. Another reminder that God is in Control. We sing about it, we say it aloud and we say it in our prayers, but often we don’t live it. When things get tough, what or who do we turn to? Is it God? When things are going good, who do we thank? God?
God has a calling for all of us. For some of us it’s to be preachers or pastors. For others we are to be stay-at-home moms or potato buyers. My point is we are all called to do something. We need to remember that we need to fulfill that calling every day and understand that the calling comes from God. Just like David was called at a very young age to be King of Israel, he had to ‘pay his dues’ before he could take that role over…the same goes for us. God’s timing is perfect.
Christopher Wall says:
Ever notice that when we pray it is most often to bring closure to something that is troubling us in our lives? Just like being all fired up and ready for God to put us in the game or show us what he wants from us, though he may not be ready for us. We are looking to get to the end state of things ASAP. You almost never hear someone pray thanking God for all the agony of the tests and trials that they are faced with and thanking him for all the preparation work he is doing in us now even if we do not fully understand why at this time.
Do we miss the daily knowledge he is trying to give us because we are so fixed on getting to the end of the path in this life instead of stopping to see what is happening where we are now?
As a culture we want things NOW! Microwave popcorn, why does it take 3 stinking minutes!!!! New PlayStation stand in line for the midnight release. Apple iPhone is on the way GOTTA Have it Now,,, XYZ new fashion is out GOTTA Have it before it is out of style. I need to get in and out of the bank now. Everything seems to be about getting it now and getting it ALL done as fast as we can.
Do we often look at what we are asking God for in the same way. Instead of enjoying the path, timeline, and lessons we are learning from whatever trials / lessons he has us in now, or are we just looking to get to the end and not getting the real meaning of what he is doing right now in our lives????
The world around us is running at warp speed and shows no sigh of slowing down. Do we need to throttle back as we grow in our relationship with God to understand he may not run at the same speed as the world around us? He does his works on his own timeline and a single minute to us may be days, weeks, months to him. We need to stop and ask ourselves, what lessons did God try teaching me today but I may have missed because I was so wrapped up in just trying to get things done?
If we spend more time growing in our relationship with him, we just may understand sooner what his long term plan for us is.
Kate says:
Thanks for the reminder that everything God has us go through is continual preparaion. Yeah, something I knew, but not really. I wonder if when David was slaying those lions and bears as a shepherd boy if he ever thought he would one day kill a giant who was smack talking God, his best friend. So, even though slaying the ‘bears’ and ‘lions’ of today may be hard, I need to remember that it may be more preparation to slay a giant later on in life.
YEAH THAT’S THE PROBLEM!!! ME!!!! I know that God has great plans for me and I know he wants to use me but waiting on me to be ready is like . . . being dressed for the game in equipment made for Goliath!
I can hear me saying . . .
“I’m in here . . I’m ready . . give me shot I promise I won’t let you down.” No! What do you mean No! I’m dressed I’m ready” Uh yeah I did notice that I haven’t filled out my uniform yet but wait that will happen can’t you just give me a shot now? Please?”
I know that God doesn’t want me to get hurt but in my zealousness (is that a word?) I am willing to charge out and ruin everything. I know Patience is a virtue but can’t I do it now! But if I wait the reward will be beyond my belief. BUT it is still hard!