I learn every day that my timing is not always God’s timing. And if you are like me, this can be a particularly frustrating truth.

Here is my dysfunction: I want things to happen now. I want to control my life, particularly the timing of events. But what God wants from me is faithfulness. He wants me to trust him, even when events don’t unfold as quickly as I plan for them to.

The best way I have found to accept God’s timing is to appreciate his perspective. If I could see what God sees, I would probably laugh at the impatience of my own narrow perspective. But to think I could ever comprehend an eternal view is quite ridiculous, so I will go on trusting him.

This is my prayer today:

“At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me in your saving faithfulness.” – Psalm 69:13

Continue to trust God’s timing and continue to read God’s Word.

Sometimes I feel particularly small in a huge and overwhelming universe, and I wonder, does my life really matter?  Am I significant to God? …to others?  If I fell off the face of the Earth tomorrow, what would the memory of my life be characterized by?

It’s in the midst of these questions, in my moments of deepest private discouragement, that Jesus reveals himself to me in a personal and powerful way.  He picks me up with the greatest care and asks me a few questions in return…

• Do I live for him, above all else?
• Do I lay everything on the line for the well-being of my family? …of my friends? …of total strangers?
• Do I leave a path of carnage and despair, or one of healing and care?
• Is the world better off because I am alive?

Time and time again I find that a life lived for me is devoid of significance.  It is a life lived for Jesus that gives my existence meaning.  When I live selfishly, significance is the casualty.  But when I live to listen to Jesus and to follow him, I find purpose that nothing else can provide.

So today, on my birthday, I choose to live significantly.  I choose to live for Christ.  I choose to love my family and to love people.  Nothing else is more significant.

I have found that the best way to avoid wasting my abilities, my time, or the opportunities given to me, is to live with focus. I often evaluate my priorities and ask the simple question, “what am I wasting?”

In the book of Judges we encounter Samson, a man set apart from birth.  The power of God was on him from a young age, and he grew up to lead the nation of Israel for twenty years.  But he lost focus when he first slept with a prostitute.  He lost focus again when trusted Delilah above his life’s covenant with God.  And he only regained focus during the final moments of his life, blind and imprisoned, but once again in the presence of God.

Our lives are too valuable to waste.  We cannot afford to lose focus for any length of time.

This 90 Day Challenge is about regaining focus.  As part of the challenge, I am about to take a day to work on my life plan (a living document that chronicles the vision God gives me for my life).  From this plan I draw short- and long-term goals, and create the action steps that form my weekly calendar.  Living with a plan keeps me focused and disciplined.

If you have such a plan, now is the time to revisit it.  But if you have never done this, I urge you to take some time away to consider your life and where it is headed.  Ask God earnestly to give you a renewed vision that would help you to focus your time.  You are too valuable to live without focus!

PS: Michael Hyatt, CEO of a Christian publishing company, has a great article on life plans that can help you to get started.

How are you doing with your 90 Day Challenge?  Let me give you an update on mine.

Today I am physically tired, emotionally charged and slightly behind in reading my Bible.  But as I have been catching up on my reading, I have sensed the Spirit speaking to me through his Word.  “Persevere with integrity.”

I have been tempted to quit, to be lazy, to take a vacation just as the challenge becomes difficult.  But today I chose to discipline myself and to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit as he speaks to me about decisions I need to make.

This is why: Jesus went to the cross for me, all the way to his death.  Nobody faced greater temptation to quit.  And nobody persevered with greater integrity.

If Jesus can do that for me, I can do this for him.  Be encouraged, I am praying for you!

I am amazed at God’s plans for us and his persistent faithfulness.  Take this example.

This guy named Abram was seventy-five years old (Genesis 12:4) when he left Haran for the land that God had called him to at Canaan.  God’s promise to Abram was to make him the father of a great nation.  Twenty four years later, when Abram was 99 years old (Genesis 17:1), God renewed his promise, changed Abram’s name to Abraham, and gave him a covenant son through whom the promise was fulfilled.

Twenty four years! After nearly two and a half decades since the original promise… after war, deceiving Pharaoh, losing his family, fathering a child out of wedlock… do you think Abram felt like quitting?  I think so.  But I also think Abram knew his calling and never lost sight of God’s promise.

Do not ever let your feelings distract you from your calling. Doing only what you feel like is the sign of an immature Christ follower.  Learning to yield your feelings to trust is where commitment begins.  So the great question is this:

“Where and what are you called to?”

Before you can trust, you need to know your calling.  And if you have no idea, you need to take time away, fast, and pray as if there were no tomorrow… because your life is short, and your calling is brilliant.  Don’t waste any more time.  Don’t be distracted by your feelings.  Follow your calling.  He won’t let you down.

The 90 Day Challenge is underway!
As of Monday, we are:

• Reading through the entire Bible.
• Participating in an intense workout routine.
• Journaling our progress.

Join the Facebook event or send an email to me at josh@217church.com to let us know that you are committing to participate.

Stay tuned…