Delay or Preparation

 

Often, I open my email box to find newsletters from various ministries and organizations. Today was no different. But it’s not that often that a newsletter hits me where it counts. Today’s uplifting messages came from Patricia Raybon, author of much, including the fabulous Annalee Spain mysteries. If you haven’t read them, I highly recommend them (here), and her upcoming book, The Sedalia Code (here).

 

She proposed a question I’m still chewing on, even after discussing it with my husband, Dave.

“What ‘delays’ in our lives might God be using as preparation?”

And, I might add, preparation for what, exactly?

We’ve been entertaining the idea of moving since Dave retired (the second time, six years ago). With two out of three children living in Tennessee, we presume that would be our destination. But we could be wrong.

The problem is, even though we both hear from God regularly, we’re not hearing a thing about this move.

I’ve heard it said that God answers our prayers with one of three answers: yes, no and not now.

We’ve been living under the assumption that the time isn’t right for a move, yet.

At our age, it will be an endeavor to move across the country. We don’t want to step out in faith and find out it was a wrong move. Moving will be expensive; we’re used to having the US Military move our belongings for us. We’re not rich, but we’re not poor – but we certainly don’t have money to waste on an expensive move if it’s not the RIGHT move.

What if?

What if we’re causing our own delays?

What if this is a season of preparation for what comes after the move, and we haven’t been preparing as we should?

What if we’re the ones dragging out the delay?

It’s felt like a season of rest. And we’re certainly in the Word of God more than ever before – but what if that’s not enough to be prepared for what’s to come?

Rather than furthering any delays, we’ve concluded that we’ll not only spend more time in the Word, but we’ll make sure it’s quality time. No more checking off a commitment for the day. It’s time to start chewing on the Word of God and making it a staple in our daily diets. There may be days when it doesn’t sit well in our bellies – but that’s just caused by lack of understanding and not seeing the whole picture.

In Matthew 18:19 Jesus tells us, “Again, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”

Dave and I make that minimum.

In Luke 11:10 He tells us, “For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.”

We can ask, see and knock together – in harmony and with unity.

And in James 1:5 we read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not [meaning he won’t show disapproval or criticize or be disappointed that we asked]; and it shall be given him.”

Maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question(s).

Starting today, I’m asking for God’s wisdom for right now and not concerning myself with what’s to come unless He puts it on my heart.

We’ll continue to pray, read God’s Word and meditate upon it, and study out what the Scriptures mean – and what He’s saying to us through them in the here and now….. doing the prep work!

Readiness......

 

If God just showed up in bodily form at your door, how might you react? We might laugh at the idea, thinking it’ll never happen, or panic because “the house is a mess”.

But because He doesn’t necessarily choose to wear flesh when He shows up, we tend to ignore the reality that He’s here.

What if God announced that He would be showing up at your door tomorrow morning? So, it’s not a surprise visit. What might you do to prepare for His coming?

Would you feel unprepared and ask Him not to come until one day next week (or next month)?

Would you sit up all night waiting on Him? Do you think you’d be afraid or excited? Do you think you’d be nervous or like a child knowing his dad was coming home from a trip that felt a little too long this time?

Would you take the time to make sure everything was clean and in order, or just be so glad to see Him that nothing else mattered?

Would you think you’d have things to hide before He gets there? Or maybe that He’d be disappointed with what He saw when He walked through the door? Would shame rise up within you? Or would your heart be flooded with joy?

Truth is, He shows up at the door of your heart every single day.

Do you notice Him there and let Him in?

Do you not recognize Him and blow past Him?

Are you too busy to even notice that someone is knocking?

When your neighbor comes to the door with a need, do you turn them away?

When a man at Walmart drops his items, do you stare and laugh, or do you kneel and help him pick them up?

When your child is struggling with their homework, do you [try to] help them understand what they’re doing?

When you see a lost child crying at the supermarket, do you console them and help them find their mom? Or look the other way?

When you know a friend is sick, do you pray for them, perhaps send a card, call (or text) to check on her or even take her flowers?

When someone you know is down on their luck, do you visit them or try to cheer them up? Pray with them? Or avoid them because it’s an awkward situation?

When you see someone wronged, do you speak up?

When someone wrongs you – do you forgive quickly or hold a grudge?

When dealing with someone who doesn’t seem to realize how easily you could cheat them, do you?

When your child or friend creates something they’re proud of, do you encourage them?

When your friend writes a new blog post, do you read it? (wink;wink)

“And the King will answer and say to YOU, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

Matthew 25:40

There are so many little ways we prepare our hearts for the King.

But only He can wash your heart and make you righteous. To be truly ready for His visits, you need to let Him come in and do the cleaning. Open that door right now and ask Him in…….

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Revelation 3:20