Wait On The Lord
My wife, Jean, stays in daily contact with our former Pastor's wife, Carole Trautman, and they share a common sense of humor. A couple of days ago Jean got this from her.
"In keeping with our recent lifestyle and cultural adjustments, I found myself being "Tested" again the other day, and had to solemnly accept the results.
The test was for PATIENCE. The results, unfortunately came out "NEGATIVE".
Years ago, Pastor Wilson recommended the Oswald Chambers compilation
"My Utmost for His Highest" to me as a daily devotional. I use it still, today, as my main reference to start each day with God.
Because there are 365 different points of insight and scripturally based topics, many of the revisited lessons are familiar and, over the test of time, have proven true and trustworthy.
From the 13th chapter of John, Chambers examines Peter's impulsive and reactive behavior this way:
"Never run before God gives you His direction. Whenever there is doubt, wait. Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come and it came where he did not expect it. When it is the provincial will of God, wait for God to move."
There are some very memorable occasions in my own life, big and small, that are a witness to the expensive result of impulsive, impatient behavior. Of those instances that stand out in my mind, I can say, "For me, impulse has always had an avoidable cost."
Whether in relationships or dollars, at least in my life, impulse has proven costly.
Happy New Year anyway -
Because of Jesus
Jack