RIGHT TIMING

Can you look at events in your life, even the simple little ones, and know that you were in the right place at the right time? I see those times as God’s orchestrations. Sometimes we can easily see the bigger orchestrations, but just as important are the smaller ones because we never know how God will use them in someone else’s life.

Recently, a friend shared that she was wondering about God’s purpose for her life. I pointed out that I believe our purpose is found in the little things, in the way we show kindness and love to others. Our purpose does not have to be grand in the world’s eyes. God knows our hearts, and the condition of our hearts is what is most important. God can use us all if we allow Him to.

 

 

 

There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him. So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long. Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king. –Ecclesiastes 9:14-17 (NLT)

In this Scripture, we learn that a poor man who was filled with wisdom saved a town despite a king who had a great army. We learn that wisdom is more important than strength to the Lord. God can use anyone who is willing to be used by Him, even the lowliest of this world. People might think that riches and power are most valuable, but it is the humble servant that is important in God’s eyes.

This past week I again saw a God-orchestrated small encounter that God used to bless me. For the first time, I decided to pay my taxes in person. With only God’s perfect timing, as I was coming out of the building, I saw a lady I used to know from church years ago and also at my workplace about 35 years ago! (But I am still only 23 years old!) We embraced as soon as we saw each other, as it had been such a long time. We caught up on our lives and our children’s lives as I taught one of her sons at church school back in the day. I mentioned the books I recently published, thinking that she knew about them, which she didn’t. She was delighted to pick one, and we embraced once again before departing. God made me marvel at running into her because of the simple act of paying my taxes in person!

 

Photo courtesy of BK under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)

 

“The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer. –Nehemiah 1:10-11 (NLT)

The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” –Nehemiah 2:4-5 (NLT)

We see Nehemiah, a Jewish high official in the Persian court, was faith-filled in praying for the people of Jerusalem. We see in his heart that he cared about others. Nehemiah was King Artaxerxes’ personal cup-bearer, which meant he checked all the king’s food and drink before the king was allowed to ingest it. If the king thought there was poison in any of it, Nehemiah had to eat or drink it first, showing how he was trustworthy and in a respected position.

The land of Judah lay in ruins after being destroyed by fire, which saddened Nehemiah, who had a compassionate heart. King Artaxerxes granted him permission to go to Jerusalem, where he helped organize and rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. God allowed Nehemiah, a more prominent person, to be in the right place at the right time to help the Jewish people.

Receiving a thank-you note from my dentist this week because of a book I left for him also made me marvel about being in the right place at the right time. As a retirement present for my dental hygienist a few years ago, I gave her one of my books. We keep in touch every now and then via text. The day I asked her if she thought the dentist would appreciate a book, she said she wasn’t sure. As only God can orchestrate, my oldest son from Florida and I ran into the hygienist at a store when he was home for Christmas. We talked for maybe two minutes, and as we left, she said, “Yes, the dentist is interested in a book,” as she was kind enough to ask him when they talked. So the next week, I left a book for him at the office. It was a lovely blessing to get a note from him saying God is using the book to “give him some guidance and renewing his faith that has been lacking.”

 

 

Be encouraged this week knowing…

…God will use you right where you are.

…you are always in service to God.

…God uses everyone who is willing.

 

…wisdom is better than strength.

…your heart is what counts.

…God’s timing is always perfect.

 

Please feel free in the comment section below to share a time when you knew God had you in the right place at the right time.

 

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. –Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT)