Cultivating Survival Attitudes in Difficult Times - Part IV
Synchronized with Heaven's Timing
by Dr. John Tetsola

Last month we learned that if we fall short of obtaining a promise, the problem is never with God. We have the obligation of contending for the fulfillment of God’s promise in our lives. We asked ourselves the question, “Am I waiting for the fulfillment of a promise that I have not met the conditions of?” Now, let’s ask ourselves another important question, “Have I been moving according to God’s timing?”

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
John 2:4

All through Scripture there is a golden thread of divine timing. In John 2:4, Jesus’ earthly mother asked Him indirectly to make wine for a wedding in Cana. He replied, “…mine hour is not yet come.” Jesus is our pattern example of One Who lived in perfect timing with the Father, never moving without explicit instructions from Him. What is God’s timing for your life, and are you on schedule? The only way we can know this with certainty is by consulting the Holy Spirit. There is a way that God lets His children know when He is pleased. There is a note of victory when a prayer point has been answered. In the same way, there is an undeniable note of peace in a believer’s heart when he or she is moving according to the plan and the timing of God.

TESTS OF GOD’S TIMING

…a wise man's mind will know both when and what to do. For every purpose and matter has its [right] time and judgment…
Ecclesiastes 8:5-6 AMP

According to Ecclesiastes 8:6, everything has its right time and judgment. There are tests to determine God’s timing for your life. A combination of the following four methods are great ways to verify whether you’re moving according to God’s purpose and timing. FIRST, when you need to discern God’s timing concerning a matter, refer to the Word. God never directs us in anything that’s contrary to His Word. SECOND, God reveals His timing for a matter through the confirmation of godly counsel. Ecclesiastes 8:5 says that “a wise man's mind will know both when and what to do” (AMP). In most cases your pastor, teacher, parents, and/or godly friends can be valuable sources in confirming God’s timing in your life. THIRD, you can determine God’s timing for your life through the confirmation of circumstances. Carefully observe the circumstances that relate to any decisions you need to make. FOURTH, learn to be led by God’s peace. Peace is an undeniable form of God’s approval and direction for our lives. Don’t run through any stop signs of God’s peace. The peace of God will guide you right into the center of God’s will and timing for your life. Hebrews 12:14 says that we are to “follow peace.” This is because peace is the Holy Spirit’s guidance system which acts as an umpire, ruling out unsound judgment and guiding us into synchronization with heaven’s timing. Peace has the assignment of governing our emotions and leading us, without fail, to the proper timing and judgment of God. So in all your decisions, let the peace of God rule in your heart by following peace (Col. 3:15). And realize that where the peace of God is lacking in any of your endeavors, know that either the timing is not right, the matter must be tweaked to meet God’s judgment, or God is just not in it.