Time in a Bottle

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Dion Todd April 21, 2022 - Filed in Devotional - 3,591 views
  For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won't prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come. It won't delay. Habakkuk 2:3 WEB.
  
  "For the vision is yet for the appointed time." In other words, God has marked the day on His calendar, and every hour that passes brings us closer to it. When the proper amount of time has elapsed, the vision will become a reality.
  
  When I was young, the Lord spoke to me through a prophet and told me to prepare myself, for one day, in His appointed time, I would "pioneer" new things in ministry. It wouldn't always be easy, for I would be a pathfinder clearing the way for others. At first, I was excited and expected it to come soon. I worked during the day, went through Bible college at night, and tried to prepare myself. Then I waited and waited and waited some more.
  
  Time passed, lots and lots of time, and eventually, I got on with my life. Twenty-five years passed by as I worked daily in the computer field and various other jobs along the way. I forgot about ministry altogether, thinking that I had missed God or somehow wrecked His plans for me, perhaps one sin too many.
  
  Life happened. I learned and forgot. I lost and found. In the span of one year, I lost my Dad, got divorced, and had my computer business burn to the ground during an insurance lapse.
  
  When I had graduated from Bible college years before, I felt that I knew a lot about the Bible and had something to say. After those years in the desert, I felt empty, like I knew nothing, and the last place on earth that I needed to be was in ministry. I was pretty broken. That's when He decided I was ready.
  
  The Lord squeezed us out of the computer business, and after months without work, the week that we were packing to move out of our house, a door opened for us. A local ministry put up an ad like, "Wanted: A creative arts pastor with strong computer skills. Must be able to maintain websites, perform video editing, put together teachings, etc..."
  
  We were hungry, and I still had that theology degree I had never done anything with. So I contacted them and told them I had graduated from Bible college. I was ordained, owned a computer business for twenty years, and have built a hundred websites. It almost sounded strange, but God had prepared me for this job, and now it was time to get to work.
  
  Suddenly what I had long given up on, I was now living. There were times when I thought He had forgotten about me, but He was preparing me during that time. When the proper time came, His word came to pass, and we are only at the beginning. The simple, but true stories I share here each day, are the things that I learned along the way.
  
  When the Lord puts a dream in your heart, hang on to it. There may be a span of time between the beginning and the fulfillment, but it will come to pass if you continue with Him and keep a positive attitude. Don't get frustrated and take your anger out on God because you feel it is delayed. The things you live today prepare you for what is coming tomorrow. You will probably find out that what you are doing is simply part of the way.
  
  Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me see the big picture. Please speak to me in a simple way that I understand. Open my mind to understand Your word and light a fire in my heart to seek Your face like never before. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
  
  Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presence and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link: Ladies in Distress
  
  
  

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