December 3rd “Making Room for God’s Ways and Plans”
Hebrews 11
Christina Mooney
Devotional Reading
Throughout the Old Testament, God brought forth faithful men and women who endured the process to bring forth the promised Seed and God’s destiny and desire in their lives and in their generation. When Adam and Eve lost their place in Paradise, they were promised that their Seed would crush the serpent and bring order back and restore humanity (Genesis 3:15). After the birth of their first male child, one sees them in expectation that this promise is about to be fullfilled; yet the promised seed would not come until much later.
God in His goodness and faithfulness is unpredictable. Because God’s character is consistent, one can always know who God is going to be on our behalf, but seldom know what He is going to do; he is full of creativity and mystery. Many times in our lives we receive promises and prophetic words, but the process of fulfillment rarely happens how we expect, and fulfillment is often later than we expected. The process God takes us through can be at times unpleasant, involving hardship and trusting God in difficult circumstances. Yet, it is important to make room in our lives for God’s processes that often run contrary to our ideas. None of us have seen the ultimate fulfillment of the redemption of all things by the promised Seed.
“And all these, though commended through their faith did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect,” Hebrews 11:39-40.
God’s main desire is to bring a restoration of justice for all creation; in this desire, He longs for a mature partner or bride for Jesus, one that has been tested as he has, and one who walks with him in intimacy. God loves the process of walking in in macy with us to bring about our maturity. Our hope and joy is partnering with God in the process and making room for Him.
One key in this process is learning to trust and rest in who God is for us, that we take time to be connected to the vine, and understand his great love and enthusiasm for us. Another key is to be inspired by the journeys of faithful men and women that have gone before us, knowing that the story is much bigger than our own lives.
Making Room
1. Ask the Lord to remind you of promises He has given you that He is wanting to bring you through the process to ful llment.
2. Ask the Lord what you are missing in your experience of Him that you need to have before the promise can be fulfilled.
3. Think about your favorite life story of a great leader, biblical or otherwise; think about what struck you about this person and ask the Lord if that is something He is developing in you and how you can cooperate.