-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / HEARTLIGHT(R) Magazine --
http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
October 23, 2007
/--- HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PLEDGE YET? ------------------\
Your generosity is what makes this ministry
possible! Will you join us? We need you!
\-- http://www.heartlight.org/support/monthly.html ---/
=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Is It Time Yet?, by Russ Lawson
We have a 6 pound Peekapoo breed dog named Chewy. Chewy is very much a
part of our family. Chewy's body clock works amazingly well. We give
her some canned meat each evening at 5:00. Many times within 10 minutes
till 5:00, she starts staring at us and wagging her tail in
anticipation. Sometimes her anticipation may hit 30 minutes early and
she begins her gentle reminders. Our response is always the same, "It's
not time yet." She sets patiently wagging her tail and staring at us
until it is finally time for her food.
My uncle Dick recently asked me, "Do you believe that God's time is
always right?" Just in case that doesn't make sense to you, some other
ways of putting the question he is asking could be:
Do you believe that everything God does, he does at the right time
to cause the right effect in your life?
Do you believe that every answered prayer is answered at just the
right time?
Do you believe that every prayer that is not answered, is not
answered because it may not be the right time?
That's a tough set of questions, isn't it? Do you REALLY BELIEVE that
God answers you or aids you or allows things to fall into place always
"at just the right time?" I do!
It may be hard at times!
I'm reminded of a couple of Scriptures right now. The first is the
story Jesus told of the woman who kept coming to a corrupt judge asking
for relief from a problem. He refused her for a while, but eventually
gave in and helped her because she was so steadfast in her asking (Luke
5:18). Luke describes the reason Jesus told this story with these
words:
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need
for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up (Luke
5:1 NLT).
Jesus also talks about prayer in another story, this one about
fathers: Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a
stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you,
then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts
to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11 NIV)
A second reason I believe God answers prayer and works at just the
right time for our benefit is because of what Paul wrote to early
Christians living in Rome:
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the
good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose
for them (Romans 8:28 NLT).
I know it may be hard at times, but do you believe that God's time is
always right? Our little dog sits patiently every night -- okay,
sometimes not so patiently -- waiting on what she knows is eventually
coming. She trusts us to provide for her. She loves us because she
knows we love her and will give her what she needs when she needs it.
However, even knowing that we will not forget her, she doesn't stop
reminding us that she wants. Can we do any less? God wants to hear from
us even though he has plans to bless us. When it comes to prayer, let's
never give up!
---------
(c) 2007 Russ Lawson <rlawson@bright.net>, Messages from the
Heart <http://www.mfth.net/aboutus.html>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* Good Things from Bad Situations
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200707/20070713_goodfrombad.html
* Dark Night of the Soul
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200512/20051228_darknight.html
* Steady, It Could Be God!
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200505/20050529_couldbegod.html
* Messages from the Heart
http://www.mfth.net/aboutus.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200710/20071023_timeyet.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE: LIVING IN YOUR SWEET SPOT, by Max Lucado
In Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado offers practical tools for
exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, putting your strengths
to work, and living in your "sweet spot" for the rest of your life.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?256
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
HEARTLIGHT DAILY EMAIL /\/\
===============================================================\ /===
http://www.heartlight.org/
\/
Visit HEARTLIGHT on the web for even more articles, plus music,
devotionals and more for your Christian walk!
ABOUT HEARTLIGHT:
Heartlight, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit organization.
Donations are welcome and tax-deductible! Find out how to help!
http://www.heartlight.org/support
EDITOR: Phil Ware, phil@heartlight.org
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
It's FREE! To subscribe send a blank email to:
join-heartlight@maillists.heartlight.org
HOW DO I LEAVE?
To unsubscribe send a blank email to:
heartlight-unsub@maillists.heartlight.org
STILL HAVING TROUBLE?
If our automated unsubscribe system isn't working for you,
send an email to mailmaster@heartlight.org and let us know
what list you would like to leave. We'll take care of you.
======================================================================
