|
“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:16 NLT Our culture is obsessed with time. People make fortunes by inventing “time saving” devices. Others come up with ways to make some moments go faster, like ear pods to listen to music during tedious chores. But one thing no one has yet to discover is how to really control time and its effects on humankind.
As we read Psalm 139 we may be convinced that no matter where we go, we cannot escape God’s presence. That is awesome news for most of us. The God who has promised to guide and defend us will always be with us. However, we may miss another truth tucked into that wonderful psalm. God is not effected, nor controlled by time. Look at verse 16, above. He “writes”, ordains, every moment of our lives before they happen. He did that, not only before we were born, but before the creation of the world. God is the Creator of everything that is created, and that includes time. This is how Hebrews 13:8 can proclaim, "Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever." The God Head, the Three-in-One, lives outside of time. As spiritual beings, we, too, are created to live in Heaven where no time exists. So, we should be encouraged that someday we will be liberated from the tyranny of time. On the other hand, we should understand that God has only given us a certain number of days on this earth to become what God created us to be and accomplish God’s plan and purpose for our lives. Do you really believe that God created you uniquely for a specific plan and purpose? Have you asked him to reveal those to you? Verse 16 above, implies that God has a specific plan and purpose for each day we live on earth! His plans are surely good and perfect for us. Let’s ask the Lord of time to align our times with his perfect times in order to become and accomplish all that for which we were created. May his Kingdom come! May his will be done! Pray with me: Father God, forgive me for not seeking to align with your plans for each day you have given me on earth. Holy Spirit, stir in me the desires of my heavenly Father and empower me to do all that he has ordained and desires. I now choose to step into alignment and agreement with all that God has written in my book of life. I pray this in the name and authority of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. Amen. Dear friend, may your peace and joy be multiplied as you come into alignment with God’s perfect will for each day. May your eyes be opened to the wonderful adventures and opportunities he has planned. Be blessed to grow more in love with Jesus as you partner each day with him. Amen. Mary Sumner January 25, 2019
1 Comment
Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself.” Ezekiel 3:10 NLT It is January. So, like so many other followers of Jesus, it may be time to tell yourself you will do better at reading and studying the Bible this year. Why should we bother, when we usually fall behind by the end of the year? One reason is to think of God’s Word as the seed he gives us to plant. If it is not taken up and dropped in the proper soil, his Kingdom does not spread and grow.
In Ezekiel 2, the prophet Ezekiel is brought into the presence of the Lord who is awesome, sitting on his throne, and the Lord commissions him to speak God’s message to his people. He then gives him a scroll and commands him to eat it. As Ezekiel eats it, it tastes as sweet as honey. We have access to God and that sweet message every day. (Hebrews 4:16) Most believers in our culture have a Bible and God, the Holy Spirit, lives in us, the same person through whom God’s Bible was written. Just as in Ezekiel’s time, today the Lord wants us to eat his Word so we can bring his Kingdom to earth in our own spheres of influence. As with Ezekiel, he tells us to let ALL the wisdom, counsel and understanding we consume “sink deep into your own heart first.”(3:10) Scientists are amazed at how certain plants are transferred from the mainland to remote volcanic islands. The wind could not carry the seeds that far. So, obviously, the birds must eat the seeds on the mainland and then bring them within themselves and deposit them on the islands. Given the right conditions, the plants then begin to grow and thrive. This year of greater things we believe that God is giving us more power and authority to speak his Word, therefore, his will, into our own lives and into those we care about. The Holy Spirit will give his message to us, but he will not do that if we are not reading and studying his Word, and setting aside specific time to listen. Choose to take part in the exciting role of bringing God’s Kingdom to earth by choosing to consume God’s Word and being sensitive as to where he wants to plant it. Let’s speak God’s Word, his seed of spiritual life, so it may be used to transform our world. Pray with me: Father God, forgive me for believing that the Word you feed me cannot be used in a powerful way. It is not about my ability, but yours working through me that brings powerful results. I now commit to allow you to use me to speak new life into this world and rejoice as I see you saving, healing and transforming those you bring into my path. In the powerful and compassionate name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. Dear friend, may your faith be multiplied each time you appropriate God’s Word and allow him to direct you as to how and when to use it. Believe that you are important in God’s plan and that you belong to Jesus, whose mission it is to save and restore the world. Amen. Mary Sumner January 11, 2019 |
AuthorMary Sumner Archives
November 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed
