Such a Time as This

Have you ever wondered why you were born when you were? Do you wonder why you are experiencing the things you experience? Have you considered there is a plan for you? Have you thought you were put right where you are, at this specific time for a reason?

Timing can be everything. Missing being in a vehicle accident because you had to change your shirt can cause us to thank God. Arriving at the store just before it becomes extremely busy can make us feel lucky. Being at the right place at the right time is important.

Many of us don’t often think we are put in this specific time, place, or situation for a reason. We often think it is all random. Even though everyone has the blessing from God to make our own choices, God is still in control. He knows the choice everyone will make at any given time and puts people in situations to be of assistance.

Because God is in control and puts us in specific situations, he expects us to use our blessings, skills, and spiritual gifts to aid in resolving issues. The issue may be feeding the hungry, lifting someone up in need of it, befriending someone, listening to others, lending a helping hand, or merely being present. Do not underestimate any of these reasons, and there are many more.

So, the next time you are wondering why you are put in the middle of a specific situation, rather than complaining, ask God what he wants you to do. See it as an opportunity to be part of God’s bigger plan. Be open to being used by God and trust that he is in control. Know that God has put you there for just such a time as this.

I pray we all trust that God is in control. I pray we ask him to reveal his plan for us. I pray each one of us realize that God has put us right where he wants us to be for just such a time as this. Trust that God is in control. Ask him to reveal his plan. Know that God has put you where he wants you.


Esther 4:14b “Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”

Act on Faith

How is your prayer life? What do you pray for? Do you pray for your family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances? Do you pray when people ask you to pray? Do you ask others to pray for you? How often do you pray? Are you praying that God’s will be done?

Prayer is our communication mechanism with God. From personal experience, many of our prayers are personal. We pray for things we want done. We pray for healing, relationships, jobs, and general well-being. We don’t always pray for God’s will to be done.

Though Jesus gave us one example of how we should pray in what we commonly call The Lord’s Prayer, His example of prayer just before going to the cross gives us an even more profound example of prayer. He prayed that God’s will be done. He was willing to give up His personal desires for God’s. He knelt down and submitted to the Father’s will.

When we are willing to kneel and submit to God’s will, we follow Jesus’s example in the best possible way. It isn’t easy. We must let go of our own desires, giving up our will to obey God’s will. It won’t be comfortable. It won’t be popular. We may be required to go where we don’t want to go. Yet, we can trust in God’s promises.

How do submit to God? We can only do so in faith. Our faith includes belief, trust, and action. We believe God has a plan for us. We trust he will fulfill his promises. We act on our belief and trust. Our action is to submit to God’s will, giving up our will and following his plan for our lives.

I pray we all follow Jesus’s example. I pray we choose to give up our will and submit to God’s will. I pray each one of us believe God has a plan for us, trust his promises, and act on our faith. Follow Jesus’s example. Submit to God’s will. Believe he has a plan for you. Trust God’s promises. Act on faith.

Luke 22:41-42 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.”

Creator of All

What is your view of God? Do you envision God as three persons and yet one? Do you think of God the Father as the Creator and mastermind of the grand plan? Do you see Jesus as God the Son and see Him as human? How do you envision the Holy Spirit?

People have many different perspectives of God. Some view God the Father in the image of as a man with white hair and white beard, something like father time. Many believe the Father is the Creator, the one who created everything. They envision him as sitting on a throne.

Unfortunately, many have been taught incorrectly. It is Jesus the Son who is the Creator. As the Apostle Paul states in today’s passage, everything was created by Him and for Him. In effect, Paul is repeating what the Apostle John states in chapter 1 of his gospel. But it is not only the physical earth, people, animals, plants, fish of the ocean that He created. It is much more.

Notice that Paul states that He created everything that is visible and invisible. What is invisible? We don’t think about it but is the very air we breathe. In fact, there are many invisible gases we use that were created by Him. Paul goes on to say that He created the authorities of the world. Think about that. He has created the nations. Paul states in today’s passage that He even sets the rulers, and the Apostle Peter states it in 1 Peter 2:13-14.

Regardless of where we go, what we see, who we encounter, it was all created by Jesus, God the Son. It might a good idea if we remember that the next time we want to complain about something or someone. Knowing that the one we call Savior also created what we don’t like should change our attitude toward it.

I pray we all take time to think before we complain. I pray we understand that Jesus, God the Son, created all things. I pray each one of us give thanks to our Savior for creating us. Think before complaining. Know that Jesus is the Creator. Thank your Savior for creating you.

Colossians 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.

Strength and Inheritance

Have you felt inadequate or not up to the task? Have you been unsure of your ability to do the job you were assigned? Have you been frustrated with yourself? Have you been impatient with others because of your frustration? Have you considered reaching out to the endless strength available to you?

We all can feel inadequate, unsure, and frustrated at times. It may come when starting a new job or when working on a project around the house. These feelings can cause us to be impatient with ourselves and others. In our frustration, we can lash out at others.

We can draw strength from God. It is not a short-term strength but an endless strength. His strength is just about physical strength but includes mental, emotional, and spiritual strength. With his strength, we can endure hardship. We can be patient with ourselves and others. All of this is available to us if we will ask. God stands ready to grant us the strength we need for the situation we are in.

As we grow comfortable asking and receiving strength from God, we experience more joy and thank God for his blessings. The closer we grow to God the more we realize that we have an inheritance that cannot be taken away from us. The more we understand that inheritance the less we worry about this world. We do what we can, understanding God is in control, and accepting his blessings without wishing for more than he has blessed us with.

I pray we all ask God for his endless strength. I pray we learn to be patient with ourselves and others. I pray each one of us know we have an eternal inheritance and thank God for giving it to us. Ask God for strength. Learn to be patient. Know you have an eternal inheritance. Thank God for his blessings.

Colossians 1:11-12 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

God Inspired

Are you amazed by the many things of this world? Do you wonder how many creatures, plants, or other unique objects there are in the world that you know nothing about? Are there places you long to see? Are they all natural places? Are they places God created?

There is such a wide range of species in the world. People continue to discover new species, ones that had never been seen before, or at least not documented. We continue to discover new places or formations in the oceans. Who knows how much more we don’t know.

Because of the amount of knowledge left to be discovered about the earth and species today, today’s passage is even more amazing…and revealing. Read the passage slowly. Pick out the different points made within it. You might even want to read it two or three times before continuing to read what I have to say.

Did you catch what is says on line four, which is in verse two? No one at the time the Psalms were written would have known anything about mountains in the sea. Today, we know there are large mountains fully submerged in the oceans. A recently discovered sea mountain, or seamount, off the coast of Guatemala is 5,249 feet tall and covers 5.4 square miles. By any standard, that is big.

Psalm 46:2 reveals the moving of the Holy Spirit to guide the writer. Why? If no one at the time of the writing knew about mountains under the sea, the only way the writer could write about it is if God revealed it to him. When we dig into what is written, think about what was known more than 2,500 years ago, we cannot help but be amazed and come to the conclusion that God was providing the revelation that was written down.

I pray we all spend time thinking critically and logically about God’s Word. I pray we understand that God inspired the writers. I pray each one of us connect the dots and see just how amazing God is. Think about God’s Word. Know that God inspired it. See how amazing God is.

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, 

a very present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, 

though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, 

though its waters roar and foam, 

though the mountains tremble with its tumult.   Selah

Eternal Promises

How many promises have you made that you have not kept? Does it bother you when you must break a promise? Do you get upset when someone else breaks a promise made to you? Wouldn’t be nice if promises were never broken? Do you believe God keeps his promises?

Promises, promises, promises. We all have heard the saying promises are made to be broken. Yet, I doubt any of us like to break promises nor do we like promise made to us being broken. Breaking promises gives us a letdown feeling, we are disappointed. We may even be depressed.

We can count on God to keep his promises. We see in today’s passage that God makes a promise through the prophet Jeremiah. He promises that a descendant of David will become a wise king, one who will be righteous and just when dealing with everyone. From this prophecy, we deduce that it is pointing to Jesus. Yet, it did not point to Jesus’s birth and life on this earth. It is pointing to Jesus’s return and the new earth along with the new Jerusalem.

How can we make that claim? We must connect the dots throughout Scripture. We hear of the new earth in 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1, and the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21:2. In both passages, they point to Jesus’s return and setting forth eternity. We also use experience or history. We know that there has been no earthly king who has been wholly righteous, just, and wise and ruling the land of Judah. Therefore, we must see this prophecy as one of many pointing to God’s promise being fulfilled in eternity with Jesus being the King of kings.

During our lives, we may make promises we must later break. Emergencies and urgent situations arise. We may have good intentions when we make a promise, and a higher priority pops up that causes us to break a promise. Despite our failures, we can count on God to keep his promises to us and all humanity.

I pray we do our best to keep promises. I pray we are careful about making promises. I pray each one of us know that God will keep his promises, even if they are made for eternity. Keep your promises. Be careful making promises. Trust God to keep his promises. Know that God’s promises last for eternity.

Jeremiah 23:5

“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, 

“that I will raise to David a righteous Branch; 

and he will reign as king and deal wisely, 

and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.”

A Shepherd’s Responsibility

How responsible do you feel for your ability to obey God’s commands? Do you feel it is all on you or does some of it rest on someone else? Is there a leader you look to for guidance? Are you willing to follow a leader who has your best interest at heart?

Even though there are some who want to blame everyone else for their shortcomings, most of us want to do better. We place a lot of responsibility on our own shoulders. We seek to learn. We strive to achieve goals. We may look to leaders for assistance but don’t put our success in their hands.

The key to ensuring we are doing the right things and following God’s commands as he wants us to, is to find a balance. We must take some responsibility on our own. Such as, reading God’s Word, attending worship services, participating in Bible studies, and seeking God’s guidance through prayer. We must have the desire to do the right thing.

Yet, there is some responsibility that lies with the leaders. The pastor or preacher or priest must properly interpret and preach a message that guides along the path God desires for us. The teacher who leads the Bible study must prepare properly to educate the students. All the while, each individual must come with a desire to learn.

God puts responsibility on the leaders or shepherds of a church to guide the members. That responsibility includes teaching, advising, and guiding them in the path God wants them to follow. However, the individual member must desire to follow the guidance of the leader. Therefore, it takes both the shepherd and the individual to make things work as God designed them.

I pray we all desire to learn God’s Word. I pray we seek to follow the path God has for us. I pray each leader will take their responsibility seriously and guide the members according to God’s plan. Learn God’s Word. Follow the path God has for you. Leaders, guide according to God’s plan.

Jeremiah 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.

Relating to One Another

How are your relationships? Have you ever “hit it off” with someone you met for the first time? Did you continue to be friends? How do you continue to foster good relationships? Are you willing to listen to others? Or do you prefer to speak?

Relationships rely on many things to continue to flourish. It is not just interaction but a healthy give and take. We need to listen to others at times and they need to listen to us at times. There needs to be mutual care for one another.

Jesus starts the interaction with the woman at the well, but He goes beyond that. He shows her that He cares about her. He shows that He cares about her physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. He knows that she is only there at midday because of her shame. He knows it is hotter during that time of day for her to haul water.

The woman reciprocates with amazement. She is amazed, first, that a man even takes time to speak with her, then that Jesus shows care for her. She listens to Him. Not merely hearing His words but understanding what He is saying. She comes to the conclusion that Jesus is the Messiah, not only because He told her, but because He shows her by how attentive He is to her.

A relationship is built between Jesus and the woman at the well within a few minutes. We can build relationships quickly as well. To do so, we must demonstrate we care about the other person by listening to them and understanding what they are saying.

I pray we all choose to build relationships. I pray we listen to one another. I pray each one of us will show we care for one another as we speak, listen, and care for one another on a daily basis. Build relationships. Listen to one another. Care for one another. Build one another up.

John 4:25-26 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”

Confidence in God

Do you like to be prepared? Do you think through every possible response or argument someone can bring against a statement or proposal you may make? Do you fear opposition? Do you have confidence in your ability to refute opposition? Where does your confidence come from?

Being prepared can be very good. It is especially good when we are participating in a sporting event, playing in a band, and when making business propositions. Doing our homework is important. We often carry this mentality into witnessing for Jesus.

Though there is nothing wrong with preparation and we should study the Bible to be confident in his instruction, we should not worry about what we will say when someone opposes us. It may seem unconventional or counter cultural, but when we remain calm and depend on God to provide us the answers, he will do so.

Jesus had just spoken about all that will happen prior to His return. He warned the people ahead of time, including that many will be brought before various authority figures to testify. He states that they are not to worry about it or even to make their minds about what they would say. Instead, He says that they will be given what to say.

We, too, can be confident that we will be given what to say. We must continually be in prayer that we are guided by the Holy Spirit in both actions and speech. When we believe we will be given what to say, we do not need to worry. It doesn’t mean we don’t study. Yet, we lean on the Holy Spirit to guide us.

I pray we all take time to study God’s Word. I pray we ask God to guide us in our discussions about him. I pray each one of us are confident the Holy Spirit will guide us as we need it. Study God’s Word. Ask God to guide you. Be confident in the Holy Spirit. Follow his guidance.

Luke 21:14-15 “So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.”

Crumble or Eternity

Are you impressed by fancied buildings or homes? Do you like the shiny things of this world? Are you striving for silver and gold? What do you put your trust in? Does your life give away your desires? Are you heartbroken when a famous building is damaged?

There are many famous buildings all around the world. There are buildings, even in small towns, that people see as being grand. They were engineered to project wealth and were built with specific stones. Yet, each one of them will one day crumble and fall.

The people of Jerusalem were proud of the temple. They liked to brag about its magnificence. They talked about how beautiful it was with all the gold, precious stones, and choice wood. They thought it would never fall or be destroyed. However, Jesus told them it would one day fall. It would occur roughly thirty-five years later when the Romans destroyed it.

Just as the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, all the fancy buildings we are amazed by will one day crumble and fall. Though they may not fall in our lifetimes, they will eventually fall. It may sound depressing. Yet, what we have to look forward to is far better than any building on this earth. What God creates for eternity will never crumble nor fall. Its magnificence is beyond anything created by humans.

I pray we all look forward to the magnificence of eternity. I pray we know that God’s creation in eternity will never fall. I pray each one of us puts our faith in God rather than humans. Look forward to eternity. Know that God never fails. Put your faith in God. His promises are forever.

Luke 21:5-6 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”