PRE-APPOINTED TIMES

By Jemima Rayan

In this age of instant meal, instant coffee, instant almost anything, we need to guard ourselves against the tendency to want everything instantly and learn to be 'willing to wait'. God is never late and He is never early. He is always on time. Our breakthrough may not come when we think it will but we can be confident that our breakthrough is in God's hands. He has already determined the time. The Bible says in Acts 17:26, ...He has determined our pre-appointed times and the boundaries of our dwellings. Isn't that good!

'Men of God' waited upon the Lord:

Abraham waited nearly 25 years before the birth of his child of promise. Joseph had to wait for 14 years before his dream came to pass. The Bible says, in Job 24:1… times are not hidden from the Almighty. David knew this well and therefore he says in Ps 31:15, …my times are in Your hand.

Women of God waited upon the Lord:

Look at the women who waited upon the Lord for children. After the waiting period was over, God gave them children who were so special.

Sarah, could not bear children until the age of ninety. But she brought forth a holy generation. Even today our God is called, ’the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob'. Rachel was barren. But she gave birth to Joseph, a clean character. Hannah was barren but she gave birth to Samuel, the great prophet. Elizabeth was barren but she gave birth to John, the Baptist who was a forerunner of Jesus Christ. Are the children not special in the Bible! You may call it anything, but according to God it is a ‘time of renewal of strength and a time of preparation’.

God's people must learn to wait:

We see a pattern in the Word of God in the lives of God's people. They all waited upon the Lord and saw promises getting fulfilled. They had to go through periods of preparation before attaining them. There is no other way God can prepare us!

The only way you and I grow strong in the spirit and learn wisdom is 'by experience'. And the only way we get experience is through time. We must wait for His timing. How can we tell if it is God's time to step out? By being sensitive to the presence of His grace. He will give us His grace, His power and ability to handle the situation. If we step out and begin to do something and it's not God's timing, we will become frustrated, aggravated and disappointed because we are outside of God's grace.

Suggestion: When we are in His perfect timing, we are in His perfect will. If God's grace is there and His peace is there, we can proceed and take another step. But if God's peace is not there, we should stop and need to step back and wait for further direction.

At every stage of our Christian walk, God is preparing us for the next level. Ecc 3:1 says, that there is a season and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven. The more we walk with God and learn to be led by His Spirit, the more we will be able to sense when the change of season is near. God is behind the scenes bringing about the exact circumstances necessary to deliver your breakthrough. Just because you do not feel any different or see any change, it doesn't mean that God is not at work. Make the choice to walk by faith and not by sight.

When we look at the butterflies, we should remember one thing. There were stages it had to go through before it became so beautiful to behold. No crash growth. Even the fetus in its mother’s womb has to wait for 9 solid months before the baby is born. God has fashioned almost everything in this manner.

Hab 2:3 says, …the vision is yet for an appointed time…tough it tarries, wait for it. What is your vision? You cannot hurry when God wants you to tarry. One of the last words which Jesus spoke before his ascension is, ‘tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endured with power from on high’ (Lk 24:49) Jesus did not want a bunch of weak folks talking about the kingdom of God. He wanted the disciples to be strong and empowered with the Holy Sprit.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up like eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Is 40:31)

Dear child of God, is there anything in your life not happening in the time, the way you wanted it to happen? Don’t get disheartened! Make up your mind! You need a made up mind and a strong will!

God is preparing something much better for you than you imagined! The people who waited, got the best wine at the Marriage where Jesus performed the first miracle. You see, in God's terms, "the best is reserved for the waiters" His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. His ways are higher than our ways (Is 55:9) More the time, the better. “ Good and tasty food takes time to cook” God promises are yes and Amen. But the fulfillment takes place in God’s time.

Jesus said, 'I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:4). It is a couple of thousand years ago he said that. But why does he tarry. He has not come back yet to take us home. The reason is 'preparation'. He has to prepare his bride. He has to prepare the place (vs.3) Everything has a meaning! Everything has a purpose! What a blessing to know this fact!

"A Christian who knows about pre-appointed times, won't have disappointments"

May the Lord make all things beautiful in its time, Amen.