At the Right Time

The Right Time

At the RIGHT TIME, I, the Lord, will make it happen.
Isaiah 60:22c NLT

There are SO many questions about whether it's the right time to resume our new normal with this CoVID-19 virus and people are equally and vehemently opposed on both sides of the fence. It reminded me of this particular Promise. 

When we’re at the 11^th hour and we are unable to fix it or make ends meet, when our body is wracked with pain and we cannot find relief, when our loved one dies… In the midst of trouble and hard times, sometimes it’s difficult to remember that God is working all things for our good. The enemy of our soul would love for us to lose sight of this Truth, would love for us to be angry with God, would love for us to give up and walk away.

It is at these times when we must know what we believe. Will we choose to believe God's Truth over the facts and circumstances of our lives? Will we choose His Word above what we can see, hear, touch, and feel?

How many times have you experienced just the right word of encouragement at just the right time? How many times has an unexpected check or blessing come in the mail at just the right time - when you had no idea one was coming? How many times has someone you connected with years ago come back into your life to walk alongside you at just the right moment? That's God! Here's what else His Word has to say about it.

Romans 5:6 

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the RIGHT TIME and died for us sinners.

2 Corinthians 6:2 

For God says, “At just the RIGHT TIME, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Galatians 4:4 

But when the RIGHT TIME came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

Galatians 6:9 

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the RIGHT TIME we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Ephesians 1:10 

And this is the plan: At the RIGHT TIME he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

1 Timothy 2:6 

He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the RIGHT TIME.

1 Timothy 6:15 

For, at just the RIGHT TIME Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Titus 1:3 

And now at just the RIGHT TIME he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.

1 Peter 5:6 

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the RIGHT TIME he will lift you up in honor.

That's our God. At the RIGHT TIME, HE will make it happen.

Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for loving us enough to take our weaknesses into account and sending us Your reinforcements. Thank You for continuing to work Your plan for our lives in spite of our failed attempts. Keep us ever mindful that Your timing is perfect, flawless, and is ALWAYS the right time. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Away with the Old

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2nd Corinthians 5:17 NKJV 

We live in an age and time when only the newest, latest, greatest, fastest, sleekest whatever is considered to be of any value to the movers and shakers of this world.

Well, I'll tell you - I'm not the latest, greatest, fastest, sleekest anything, and by this world's standard, I am an old thing. However, I am not measured by this world's standard. The standard I use to measure my life is the Word of God - and according to His standard, I am new - a new creation.

In our text for today, it clearly states, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Please notice that it does not read - only some things have become new. It says all. All things have become new for those who are in Christ; those of us who have chosen to accept His sacrifice for the sin in our lives - the old things. 

In the God's Word Translation, verse 17b reads, The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.

Is it true?

Has the old way of living disappeared? Have we stopped hating? Are we finished fighting with our brother?  Done worrying? Done with fear? Just to name a few...

Has a new way of living come into existence? The old me has had a tendency to want to hang on to things - physically and spiritually. Do our lives reflect Christ's love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? I want ALL things to be new in Christ. I want to completely be a new thing, according to His Word.

Prayer:

Father,
          Create in us, O God, the right spirit. One that understands we must let go of the old way of living in order that ALL things can become new in Christ. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Past the Storm

When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. 
Genesis 9:14-15 NLT

I was on my way home and saw the storm clouds begin to gather. Thick and dark and rolling in like tumbleweed, but every now and then, I'd catch a quick glimpse of sun in the cloud break. Then about halfway home, I saw a snippet of a rainbow behind the bloated clouds. It winked out a few times, and just as I arrived home, the clouds parted and the rainbow appeared - as beautiful and vibrant as the covenant it represents. Mere moments later, it was swallowed up in clouds as though it had never been, but I still knew it was there.

It was a great illustrated sermon of the storms of life. If we know God and we know His Word, we should know that we can trust Him no matter what we see. Yes, the storms of life will come. Yes, the clouds will gather and life will seem dark. Yes, the winds will blow, and we may not see what we want to see. But this we know - above it all - the Son of God still reigns. His covenant with us is forever.  As God's Word assures us in 2nd Corinthians 4:18, So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Look past the storm. You will find Him. He is there.

Prayer:

Father,

            Thank You for illustrating Your love and promises to us. Thank You that Your covenants are forever. You always provide what we require to be able to trust You. What a loving Father You are! Keep us ever mindful to look past the storm. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Seeing Afar Off

...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1b-2 NKJV

If you've walked with the Lord for very long, you are familiar with the 11th chapter of Hebrews, commonly known as "The Hall of Faith." In re-reading it tonight, I found myself drawn to and convicted with the By faith statements pertaining to the generations, particularly verses 17-23. These great patriarchs of faith were able to look at the fruit of their body and see the promises of God afar off. Verse 13 - These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them...

We have to ask ourselves - Do we have the faith to see something that God promised in our future generations, even though we cannot see the tangible results? That brings us to our Promise for Today - let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...

We are responsible for our obedience, not the end result. Jesus is the finisher of our faith.

Prayer:

Father,
         Forgive us for thinking we have all the answers or that we have to have all of them. You alone are omnipotent. You alone are God the Father, who gave us Your Son Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. It is enough to know that. Help us to realize the Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

For the Dark Days

Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.

Psalm 90:10 NLT

Some days in this life are so very difficult. Sometimes, it runs in seasons. Thank God He has given us the Bible  - His Living Word - to get us through those times. To strengthen and to guide us and to give us hope in the dark days. To give us words that breathe and speak life.  I love the rest of this Psalm...

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory. And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!

Prayer:

Father,

          You know the number of our days - You plan our lifespan before we ever draw breath. We want all that we do to be successful in fulfilling Your purpose for our lives. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Privileged

Through Christ, God has given us the privilege[c] and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.
Romans 1:5 NLT

In today's culture, if you start to talk about privilege, people get very defensive... There seems to be much pride in those who are considered privileged and more hurt feelings in those who consider themselves underprivileged. And surprisingly, there are those on both sides of the privilege equator who are clueless about whether they are or aren't. But one has to ask, "By whose standard is the privilege established?" However, as quickly as one can become all caught up in that, should we? According to God's Word, no we should not.

Paul tells us that our only God-given privilege is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to tell others what God has done for us. In other Bible versions of our Promise for Today, privilege is translated as grace, defined as unmerited favor from God. Nothing we did to earn it. We weren't born into it by our earthly heritage. It is only by being born again of the Spirit that we can avail ourselves of His grace.

For the passionate proponents on both sides of the world's privilege equator, there is only one place where we will find equality for all and that's in Christ. 

Prayer:

Father,
          Open our eyes and our hearts to see and know that it is only in laying down our lives and serving Christ first and then each other that we are equal. Help us to walk in love and honor toward one another as Your Word teaches us, preferring one another in love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Confirming the Covenant

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
1st Corinthians 14:12 NKJV

Unless we are born independently wealthy, most of us have to work at something to make a living. God laid out all sorts of guidelines for working. It was never His intention that any of us should be slackers. He gave each of us gifts and/or talents with which to make that living. However...

Often in our climb up the ladder, we forget some very important things, and the most important is this - If it wasn't for what God gave us, we would have nothing and no hope. He gave us ALL of our abilities, no matter what they are. A keen mind, a gift of hospitality or generosity, a gift of organization, service, singing, speaking, writing. The ability to be a friend. God will develop all that He has given us if we give it back to Him as a sacrifice of our lives. God wants us to be successful MORE than we want to be successful, but not for the same reason.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 tells us, If you start thinking to yourselves, "I did all this. And all by myself. I'm rich. It's all mine!"—well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today. It's to establish and confirm the covenant. It's to edify the Body of Christ - the Church. He equipped us for His glory, to fulfill HIS purpose in us, through us, FOR us...for each other. It's our Promise for Today and every day - Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

Prayer:

Father,
             For those gifts we recognize at work in us, and for the latent that lie waiting for You to make room for them in our lives, we pray Your blessing and increase so that we may excel in the edification of Your Church. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen