Time Constraints

God is outside of time. He has no time constraints. Peter says, “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9 ESV)

We, of the instant gratification era, struggle to relate to this aspect of God. When God gives us a promise, we expect its fulfilment to be immediate. Perhaps the accounts of Jesus healing people that we read in the Bible further confuse us. There are phrases like, “immediately” or “at that same hour.”

I am sure we can all testify to healing that has taken place in answer to prayer but it took time, perhaps even years. Even we, as short-sighted as we are, understand that certain things take time. It takes time for the promise encased in an acorn to reach the fulfilment of an oak tree big enough to climb. It takes time for a good wine to be aged to the right state of maturity. The best artists and crafters know that it takes time to make a masterpiece.

In the first week of November last year, I slammed my finger in the car door. It is now much better, although not back to normal yet. At the top a semicircle of nail has pulled away from the nail bed. It made my nail look very long. When I trimmed it, I realized my mistake almost immediately. The skin below where the nail should have been was super sensitive. I even contemplated making a nail of plastic and sellotape just to protect it from touching or bumping anything. In the end I settled for cotton wool and a plaster. So I allowed it to grow again. Recently I noticed a ridge at the bottom of my nail and in the last couple of weeks it has crept upwards. It is a new nail growing on top or maybe underneath the old one. I am amazed. How does the bottom of my nail know that the top half is damaged? It is a miracle. It’s still little but it is a promise of a new nail.

The best response to a promise from God is thanksgiving, even if the fulfilment of the promise is not yet.

My Prayer

Father God, thank you for the new nail that is growing. I praise You that I am so fearfully and wonderfully made that my body just knows when extra protection is needed. Thank You for Your promises, found in the Bible. Please give me the eyes of faith to see their fulfilment and thank you. Amen.

Put it in Writing

JusJoJan 25 January

I am somewhat socially inept. I don’t pick up the unspoken cues that other people notice, or perhaps I was never actively taught the art of conversation and what is and is not appropriate. (My Mother did teach me never to ask anybody how much money they earn though.)

My timing is out and whenever I ask a question at the dinner table, the person is stuck with a mouthful of food. I try to be caring and show an interest in other people’s concerns but somehow I don’t get it right. Appropriate words fail me just when I gather up enough courage to open my mouth. If I’m having a deep conversation about something that affects me emotionally, I normally cry which interferes with the message I’m trying to convey.

I have on occasion resorted to writing letters. Somehow the written word seems more weighty than the spoken. People can always deny having said something, but once you’ve written it, there is no turning back.

In my dealings with God I rely heavily on the written word. I’m so glad that nowadays we have the Bible in print form (and the electronic equivalent) and it’s not just word of mouth traditions handed down from generation to generation.

I keep a journal. In it I write verses that impact me and thoughts about what I am reading or studying at the moment. I find writing things down helps keep my mind from wandering. When I write my prayers I feel like I am serious about them. That doesn’t stop me from whispering SMS prayers during the day, however. It just feels more like a basic contract that I can build on. Another advantage of a journal is that I can keep a record of specific prayers for specific people so that when they are answered, I can note it and my faith grows because I might not otherwise even remember that I had prayed.

To cater for journal-writing-people like me, they now manufacture beautiful journals with appropriate scripture verses or beautiful scenes. That just makes it seem more special but there is actually nothing wrong with a plain school book. In fact, my earlier journals are just that, perhaps with the page of an old calendar or something pretty to cover them.

This is my journal for 2022

Not everybody is helped by journaling their journey with God but it works for me.

My Prayer

Thank You, Father God for the Bible. You have committed Your promises to writing and I can stand on them. Please help me in my everyday communication with people. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, Amen.

24/7

“God promises to love me all day.” (Psalm 42:8 The Message)

Image by Jess Bailey from Pixabay

This post is part of One-Liner-Wednesday.