“Go ahead and make all the plans you want, but it’s the Lord who will ultimately direct your steps.”
Proverbs 16:1 (TPT)
The past four years I have been working at a school. During these years working I have been one of the few in-charge of lunch duty. It wasn’t until this past year I have noticed that there is one word I repeatedly tell the students during lunchtime. This word has not always been my favorite over the coarse of my life. Oddly enough, I have learned to enjoy hearing and saying this word. But now is not the time to tell you the word. First, allow me to set the scene.
At the beginning of each school year we go through the lunchroom rules. We do not have a lot, but we expect the students to be obedient and respectful with these rules. One specific rule I would like to share with you is that the students must wait until either I or the others in-charge make the announcement for a second serving of the main course meal. Now, we have a fruit and salad bar where they are more than welcome to go get more food with out having to wait, but in order to get in line for the main course seconds the students must finish all the food on their plate.
Of course we have some students who like to persistantly ask if there will be seconds that day. I have two response for this question..
- “What did we tell you guys at the beginning of the school year?”
- “No, you need to wait and be patient.”
There we have it ladies and gentlemen. The word I have hated with a passion but have learned to love. Patience.
It was about a month ago when I heard the whisper of Holy Spirit reminding me of this word I had recently heard a minister share. What was the last thing God told you to do? Have you acted on it? Or have you ignored the simple act of obedience?
Whoa.. Did those words hit me like a train!
My initial reaction was to retaliate with excuses. Fortunately, I was able to stop myself from doing so and instead think about the last thing God told me to do.
You see, the students get ahead of themselves and ask or attempt to sneak off for main course seconds because they can hear and see the lunch ladies moving pans around in the kitchen. They get ahead of themselves and forget what they were told to do. Eat all of the food on the plate. Be patient and wait for the “big” announcement.
When we decide to become bullheaded and ignore the last assignment God has given us, we hold our own self back from blessings, new seasons, new assignments and breakthroughs that God has in-store for us. Just because you see the movement of God in your life doesn’t mean you need to drop everything and run to it (UNLESS you are lead by the Spirit of God then do it!!).
In the season you are in at the moment, let me remind you that it is okay to dream, it is okay to pray crazy prayers. But don’t stop with the assignment that is before you. Finish it all, and do not try to sneak away from it. Just as I catch some of the rebellious students sneaking away for seconds when they know they haven’t finished it all, God will catch you and send you back to where you left off until the assignment is complete.
Don’t try to hide it under the table, or in your napkin because the evidence will be written all over your face, and well.. let’s face facts here, we can’t hide anything from God no matter how hard we try.
Allow me to remind you what the Bible says,
"We are all in love with our own opinions, convinced they're correct. But the Lord is in the midst of us, testing and probing our every motive." Proverbs 16:2 (TPT)
God is in the midst of us. Sure He is working behind the scenes on our behalf BUT God is testing each one of us seeing how we are going to react, and what we ultimately decide to do with what is left in front of us.
Here is a challenge I want to give you for the week. I challenge you to continue the assignment God has given you all the way to its completion. Don’t run from it. Don’t try to hide and ignore it. Work on it with such passion, love and care! God is in YOUR midst! Keep working and stay patient because YOUR time is coming!!
Alicia Marie 