This post is more for me than for anybody else. God knows, I’m a choleric. I have a sincere desire to see the things of God manifested, the great destiny that he has for me unfold, the word of the Lord to be poured out upon us all in the form of divine revelation…. I’m a doer. I love to get a vision and put it into action. I love to go through the various steps of a thing until it reaches its completion.
The problem, of course, is that in the absence of direction from the Lord, I’ll engage in almost any activity just to be gainfully employed. My most sincere shortcoming, dear friends, is that I have very little patience. I know I’m not the only one, so don’t click off of this post just yet. Examine what I’m going to say here today, and maybe we can all grow together.
Hebrews 6:12 says “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”
The thing about that verse that immediately grabs me is that we are to exercise both faith and patience in order to receive what God has promised us, whether that be a destiny, a ministry, a divine calling, a miracle, or whatever else.
Exercising faith is a little easier, especially for me, when things are unfolding before my eyes. If God is providing speaking opportunities, awesome revelations, and lots of encouragement from those around me, it’s easier for me to buy into the process. But, did you know that God expects us to exercise faith and patience together, even when you feel like you aren’t making progress? If we can learn to manage our faith separate from our feelings, God says we will inherit what has been promised. Cool, right? Still not convinced I see…..
I know what you’re thinking: If God is able to do anything at any time, why doesn’t he just allow me to walk into my destiny now? The answer is found in Ecclesiastes. Chapter 3 verse 1 says “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.” That’s awesome, but what the heck does it mean?
It means that God works in his own order, much the same way as the seasons work on Earth. There is a time to plant seed, and a time to reap the harvest. If you try to go directly to the harvest without first planting the seed and cultivating the crop, you’ll end up with a pretty small harvest.
Isaiah 40:31 says “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
Ask any minister, whether it be a Pastor, an Apostle, an Evangelist, or a Prayer warrior, and that person will tell you that ministry is a marathon, not a sprint. In this verse, God gives us a glimpse into the preparation process for ministry by saying that waiting upon the Lord renews our strength. We need to take time to receive revelation, healing, anointing, clarification, spiritual growth, and divine direction before we dedicate the rest of our lives to constantly pouring out the fruits of our spirit for the benefit of others.
We need to have the right attitude about the season of preparation. It’s not a time for sitting on your hands and being bored while you wait on your destiny. It’s a time for reaching upward and validating your connection with God before you try to reach outwards to the nations.
Whew! I hope that speaks to you as much as it does to me. God is good!
Great post. Don’t forget…between the Prison and the Palace is the Process!