Stepping Stones: Take Your Life Out of the Microwave

Transformational Thought

Whether it relates to food, finances, sex, my favorite sporting event, an upcoming vacation, holidays, events with my wife or daughters, my schedule for the day, my strategy to deal with a stressor or conflict, plans to navigate a relationship obstacle … waiting without knowing if and how is so agonizing and unfair. Killing time and being patient to see whether my “master plan”, “needs”, or “expert” solutions will actually occur, or whether I have to accept someone else’s plan (who obviously doesn’t know or care about me as much as I do) is sometimes a tortuous struggle and significant test of my self-control.

Wow! So many beliefs within that first paragraph were incredible distortions of the truth. But in the moment, I totally believe them. When left to my own understanding, using my old crappy lenses to view life, my ability to assess present situations is often faulty, especially when I just go with my initial “gut” view and response.

We are in a microwave society ... the “I want all my needs met now,” or at least, “give me a sign that they will be met pretty soon” mentality. Now is not soon enough for most people. In this hurry-up world, it’s so difficult to let God set the pace, and accept His wisdom and decisions.

We need to slow down the merry-go-round of life … by taking a closer look at life through God’s lenses. Try accepting that God’s timing is perfect timing. Understand that a delay in your requests does not mean “no” forever. But if no is the answer you do get, understand that God only means “No, because I love you and actually have something better than what you asked for.”

Today, instead of getting impatient, frustrated, or wallowing in self-pity about what you didn’t get, be excited for the “something better” that God has in store for you or has already given you today. Be patient for His timing and accept His wisdom about what you do need today. Examine the glitches in your plan to see what the Perfect Teacher is teaching you today. WITHIN REACH helps you respond well to the situations God sovereignly brings to your life today.

Prayer
Dear Father, through this renewed intimacy with You, I am being transformed from the inside out. For far too long I have been focusing on the outer person; now I focus on the inner person. I pray that as I increase my focus on You, my Lord, You will transform me into the one You desire me to be. I yield to you, Lord … I do not resist this change, nor do I desire to slow it down or speed it up. I let You set the pace Lord, for I know Your timing is perfect. I hold your hand, Lord, with childlike trust, just as babies hold their parents’ hands as they learn to walk, step by step. Hold my hand and let me feel and enjoy the tempo of this God-breathed life I am now living. Thank You, Lord. I pray this in the name of the One who was never rushed, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Psalm 37:3-6