The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise...
- 2 Peter 3:9
I'm still waiting for a pony. (I think I recall as a five or six year old being promised a pony. It could be that I fabricated the memory.)
There is a difference between desire and promise. Our desires can often be selfish, or at least misguided. We may even talk ourselves into (or allow professional preachers* to talk us into) believing we've been promised something by God that turns out to be a fabrication. To reiterate the point, our promise is self-serving, ethically questionable, or the like, it is a fabrication.
The result can be damaging: We wait for a pony that never comes. And in the end, we blame God for not delivering.
When however, promise and desire meet, powerful things happen - in our lives and through us, in the lives of others. And here is some good news: God's promises to us (both general and specific) surpass our wildest imaginations.
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared for those who love him."
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
And more good news: What God has promised, he will deliver. Always. And always on time. I should note that it seems his universal hour-glass perspective and my Casio G-Shock understanding don't always sync. But his timing is never wrong. The fulfillment of his promises is never late... or early.
What is our part? We must discover his promises. He has given innumerable general promises to us through Scripture. For example: Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest... (Matthew 11:28). So many more flood to mind, but at risk of writing a novella, I'll simply challenge you to dive in with an open mind, a willing heart and a highlighter. Mark it, pray it, believe it!
God also gives specific promises. (And this is where we must be discerning.) These are not specifically lined-out in Scripture. These promises come usually as impressions and they grow into purpose, mission and calling. These specific promises, though not explicit in Scripture, always align with the Scripture.
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
- Psalm 37:4
Our heart's desires are shaped and molded by our relationship with Christ. Never the other way around. As we grow deeper into a relationship with God (which sounds pretentious - a relationship with the Maker - but pretentious or not... it is promised), our minds are aligned with his. Our hearts begin to desire what he desires. And when our desire and his promises meet, powerful things happen.
Jesus took 12 common men with completely different backgrounds, goals and desires; and with them, he changed history. He gave them promises and shaped their desires. And where the two intersected, powerful things happened.
They still do.
God, mold my desires, fill me with your promises, and turn me loose (but never let go)...
For now...
D
*By professional preachers, I am not referring to all - most, or even a significant portion of - preachers. Most are hard-working, caring, under-paid people who do what they do with a passion for God and others. I am referring to others, who soil the role of pastor for selfish gain and who, worse, alter the gospel to fit their purposes. And, by the way, there are many who pastor massive churches and have huge followings that fit the former category rather than the latter. Their integrity is solid, having stuck to the promise rather than bending to their desires. (Soap box dismounted!)
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