In His Time
Recently I was praying about my busy schedule and I asked God to help me sort it all out. It was all good stuff… things that honored Him. Most everything on my schedule involved Godly activities for His glory. One particular responsibility was our small group Bible study. My husband and I host and lead a study for about 16 people. We take turns doing the teaching and it was my turn to teach that particular week. I could feel the tension building in my back muscles as I contemplated how I would find time to do it. I went to prayer and asked God to help me know what to drop or help me have more energy to do them all. This tired old body of mine ain’t what it used to be. Then I asked a very bold and crazy thing- I actually asked Him to give me more time to do them. It just sorta slipped out in the same breath.
A short while later I began preparing the lesson needed for our home Bible study. After what seemed like a few hours of prep, I glanced at the clock thinking it was probably getting late and I’d need to get to bed soon. To my amazement only 30-40 minutes had passed and I still had plenty of time left before the clock struck midnight and I turned into a pumpkin. I continued on with the study prep and finished in record time.
It’s hard to describe just how much it felt like time actually slowed down for me that night, without sounding like an idiot. But it sure seemed like it. Then, just because He is that kind of father, He gave me some more miraculous moments the next day. He woke this “night owl” up sharply at 6 am the following morning. Not only did I wake earlier than usual, I felt completely rested and ready to go. The study went well and the rest of my week continued to feel relaxed. Praise God for His mercies and peace.
Philippians 4: 6&7 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
As we enter into the holiday season, no doubt many of us will be feeling stress over added duties. I pray that we will all remember to give them over to the Lord with thanksgiving our hearts.
