HIS time, not Erin's time!

I have always heard that God speaks to people in different and unique ways.. But, never have I really noticed too much in my own life. Today that changed. The Lord definitely spoke to me in a unique fashion this morning. Not only in a unique fashion, but at a strange time of day. God spoke a message to me at 3 am this morning.. Not usually a time I would expect God to speak such an awesome message to me, or anyone else in that matter. I'm sure you're wondering what the awesome message was that the Lord decided to share with me, and why he decided to share it with me at the time he did. The unique thing about the lesson learned today, is that God actually opened my eyes to something about "Time", HIS time.

I'm a person who LOVES sleep! Without sleep, I can be a little grumpy.. Just ask some friends of mine! I'm not usually a person who wakes up in the middle of the night or anything, but today was a different story. About 3 am, I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I tried and tried, but just couldn't seem to go back to sleep. As I laid in my bed, trying to decide what to do since I couldn't sleep, I decided to pick up my bible and do a little reading. Reading usually helps me go to sleep, so I thought this idea was perfect. As I began to read in Ecclesiastes, this is what I read:

"There is a an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what had been planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time for love and a time for hate; A time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

"He has made everything appropriate in HIS time." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

As I finished reading this passage, a passage I have read many times before, I was in awe. I finally realized something I have never fully been able to grasp. That is that the Lord has a time for everything in HIS time, NOT our time. So many times we try to live by what we want, and not what the Lord wants. I do things so many times on Erin's time schedule, and not on the Lord's schedule. It's something we all do. I'm not alone on this one. I think we can all agree that time flies by! So many days, I wish I could have just a few more hours so I can get done what I want to get done. I know I would feel much more accomplished at the end of the day if I did. Life doesn't work that way though, and never will. But, the truth is life works in a way better than we can understand. As a Christian, we live by faith, hope and love for the Lord. Also, we live by having trust in the Lord.

"Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him and He will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

With everyday, comes good times and bad times. We all face struggles--that's life on earth. We must face our struggles with TRUST in the him, and him alone. Acknowledging him is what makes our days accomplished. It allows us to see him and thank him for the good things he has blessed us with in our life, rather than focus on the negative things in our lives, and things we want in our time, and not his. I haven't been alive on this earth for too long, but I have been here long enough to learn something important-- When we fully let go and let God take control of our lives, he will fully guide and direct us in the right direction. HIS direction. He will lead us on HIS time schedule, and not our own. He will take full and complete care of us, freely.

That is pretty awesome, huh? I thought so too! Let go and let God. I encourage you to also keep open eyes, open hearts, and open minds to what God may be trying to show you. You never know in what ways he may be trying to use you! And who knows? Maybe he will even share it with you at 3 am.. Its definitely possible! :)

- Erin