This morning, as I reflected on a few things I've been praying about for awhile, I really sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit and heard the following: "The perfect preparation of the Lord takes time."
As I think about my son's upcoming first birthday, it amazes me how much he has grown in the last year, but in light of what I heard this morning, I find myself thinking today about that time period of preparation while I awaited Owen's arrival. For nine months, he grew in my womb, and God was developing every detail - every eyelash, every finger and toe, his heart and other organs, etc. (Yes, I am a little bit emotional this week.) My son is a beautiful reflection of the work of God's hands. "For You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13.
Our God is a God of details.
As I've mentioned in an earlier blog, Will and I want to move into a new home in the coming months or year, and we've been praying fervently about this. Well, when I think about the things I just said, I have a peace knowing that God is working out every detail on our behalf, and this time period of preparation will be well worth the wait. He has to line up the buyer for our townhome, line up the perfect house for us to be listed on the market, give us wisdom and favor to work out our finances, prepare our hearts, prepare the seller's hearts, prepare our realtor, etc. This kind of stuff takes time.
Yes, God can move in a second. But in situations past, I know I've definitely thought to myself - wow, the hand of the Lord has been on this for months and had this not happened at such and such time, then this wouldn't have happened later on. It all just seems to work out in the end, and not by coincidence. The waiting is never fun, but when God sweeps in and takes action, the end results are worth it!
This was just a beautiful reminder this morning, and I encourage you in whatever God is preparing you for and whatever you are waiting on. It may be that perfect soulmate, that perfect job, financial provision, something to do with a friendship, etc. "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens." James 1. These things take time sometimes. Remember today that the perfect preparation of the Lord takes time!
