Devotionals for the Heart: Following God's will and trusting His timing

Aligning God’s Will with His Timing
A devotional by Monique M. Anderson

Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.”

–John 7:6 (NKJV)

In John 7:6, Jesus Christ’s brothers urge him to prove he is the Messiah by revealing himself in Judea at the Feast of Tabernacles. They wanted him to show up in a grand way to make himself known to the public. However, Jesus knew the Jews sought to kill Him and did not want to walk into Judea.

According to the Blue Letter Bible, time in Greek is “Kairos”. It means due measure. It represents a suitable or seasonable time, the right time, and a limited period of time. Kairos refers to waiting for the right opportunity or moment to reveal itself. Kairos is not a form of time that is counted or calculated. It is knowing when the circumstances are most suitable to take action.

Afterward, in John 7:10, Christ’s brothers leave him to attend the feast. Shortly after, Jesus also makes his way to the feast in secret. He did not make the grand entrance His brothers wanted him to. However, once He arrived, He went into the temple to teach.

I wondered why Jesus initially turned down the invitation to participate in the feast, then decided to attend in secret, only to make himself known in the temple by teaching, knowing that this would gather a crowd.

I soon realized that God’s will was not for Jesus to make a grand entrance. The opportune time (kairos) was not to be bold and grand in his arrival but to be bold and grand in his teaching. Christ’s teachings were a part of God’s will. He was not to be known for His controversy but as the son of God, Rabbi, and Savior.

In John 7:30 (NKJV), the Bible says, “Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.”

I noticed that the author used the word “hour” instead of “time” in this verse. Hour is “ora” in Greek, and according to the Blue Letter Bible, it means a certain definite time or season fixed by natural law and returning with the revolving year. Other definitions are “the daytime (bounded by the rising and setting of the sun)” hour, in this text, refers to the Chronos time, which is a specific amount of time or time of day.

Although the kairos (opportunity) was there, the Jews could not lay a hand on Jesus because it was not yet chronos (time). Some things may be God’s will but not yet His time.

Do you find yourself looking to pursue God’s will, but nothing seems to be working out? You’ve tried to set up the meeting, make the phone call, or send the email, but something constantly blocks it. It may be the right opportunity, not the right time or the right time but the wrong opportunity.

God’s will is in complete alignment with His timing. If the two don’t seem to be coming together, you may need to step back and ask, "What must I do first?"

Jesus still had work to do on earth before His death. The Jews could not capture Him then because He still had to forgive an adulterer woman, give a blind man sight, and raise the dead. What do you have left to do for God’s will and time align in your life?

Your arrival when starting to pursue God’s will may not be grand. You may not get noticed the moment you enter the door if God intends that for you. However, when you enter in secret and stand in your rightful place doing the work you came to do, people will notice your impact. That will be the right opportunity to fulfill God’s will as your Heavenly Father who knows best.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, I pray that you align me perfectly with your will and timing. Please give me the wisdom to know the right time and appropriate opportunity to fulfill your will for my life. Keep me in step with you, Lord. Holy Spirit, I patiently wait for your guidance and prompting. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “In His Time” by Maranatha! Music. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Monique M. Anderson is a writer, creator, wife, and bonus mom. She was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY, where she still resides. She released her always present yet hidden talent of writing to the masses in June 2019. 

Monique always felt like God was chasing after her but was never ready to surrender. Finally, she reached a point in her life when things started going left, and she no longer felt in control. At this point, she was ready to hand over the reins to God. After forming her relationship with God, she always felt compelled to share the revelation’s that His Word gave her. She felt The Holy Spirit prompting her to write but was afraid of what people might think. So, her writing started in her journal. The journal turned into a book and the book into a blog.

Her obedience provided more opportunities. In late 2021, Monique became a partner with the notable YouVersion Bible App as a Content Creator. With her first Bible plan debuting in December of 2021, she will continue to provide content for the app as long as God allows her to.

In 2021, God revealed her prophetic gift and how He wants her to use it. Monique always felt compelled to pray for others but had no idea God would use her in this way. Through this gift as a prophetic intercessor, she’s not just writing about what God can do but showing what God can do.

Since God has shown her who He created her to be, she now feels it is her life’s work to help those taking their first steps in their walk with Jesus Christ. She is doing so through her blog, prayer, and soon-to-be-published works. She is excited to extend her reach to YouTube, podcasts, and speaking engagements soon.

Her blog is the stepping stone to fulfilling the vision God gave to her: “Sharing God’s revelations so we can all better reflect his image and fulfill His purpose.”

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Connect with Monique:
Website: www.yourstrulymoe.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourstruly__moe/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yours-Truly-Moe-140255684101423