God's Timing

I'm reading my bible in a year. That was one of my "new year's resolutions" and so far, I'm making it. I'm a bit behind where I am supposed to be. At one point I was about a month behind but by reading two and three a day, I'm almost caught up.

I started out to read the bible in a year simply to do it. I'm ashamed to say that I have never read the bible all the way through.....i know....I KNOW! And in my head at the time, I was going to read one section every day just like it said for me to do by the dates on the page because, hello?

I'm a people -pleasing rule follower!!!!

But it hasn't worked out that way. Some days I've just not gotten around to it......or so I thought.

I have been utterly amazed this year at how what I've read on the date I've read it, rather than the date on the page has been just what I needed to read for that day. Now, let me be real and say that I haven't had a revelation about what I've read every day, but still God knew when I needed to hear something specific on a certain day.

FOR example -- We just started Esther at church this past Sunday.

Guess what I read last week?!!? YES! Esther!

God's timing was perfect. I read the whole book just before we started the study. Perfect timing.

I've been so hard on myself for being behind on my reading. Chastising myself and saying I need to do better and catch up.

But, after thinking about it -- and seeing how it's working out that I'm reading what I need when I need it, I'm gonna stop being so hard on myself. I will continue to try and read what I am supposed to read everyday. Not gonna be lazy. I'm just saying that I am going to stop obsessing over being "behind" and "catching up" .

Today I read what I should have read a week ago and it was 1 Corinthians 9.....I came upon verses 19-27 and made a note of them. I am reading in the NIV and sometimes there are things that I need to do some searching on and reading in other versions just to make sure that I'm clear on what I'm reading.
Here is 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 from the MESSAGE----

19-23Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

24-25You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

26-27I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

I can't tell you how much I needed this reminder and even both of the versions I read today. It was my reminder to be a servant. That is what Jesus is calling me to be -- a servant of His to all people so that they can see HIM in me. A reminder to run this race to win --regardless of nay sayers and struggles!!!!

Perfect Timing!!!! I love that about God!



Ironically, I had to go back and change the title of this post because this isn't what I was going to write about today. I had some other stuff about being a servant (my reminder) that I was going to share but that can wait for another day. Because I think this, too, is God's timing.

I wonder.......was it for you that God had me share this today?
Please let me know if it is.......I wanna be able to brag about God's timing some more!!!!

in HIM-