A New Start – Day 18

Lord, grant me patience … now!  I must confess I have prayed something similar to that.  More often, I have prayed for something good to happen on my timing.  I pray that I never have to wait as long as the Israelites had to wait.

Exodus 1-3 sets the scene of Israel’s oppression and Moses being raised up to deliver them.  The people of Israel had to wait 400 years for their deliverance.  Even from the time Moses was born, they had to wait 80 years.  Then, because of their lack of faith in God, they had to wait another 40 years before they could enter the Promised Land.  That’s a long time to wait.  But God had the best in mind for His children.

When the family of Israel left Canaan, the land was decimated by famine.  It then was inhabited by some very powerful people.  By the time the people of Israel were ready to occupy the land it was “a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:b NKJV)  At that point, the people were finally willing to trust God to give them victory over the land.

I get two things out of this story about patience.  First, if things seem to be taking too long, keep in mind that God may be preparing His gift for you and you will receive it when it is ready.  Second, when things seem to be taking too long, God may be preparing you to receive His gift properly.  

Are you willing to wait and are you willing to be prepared for what God has for you?  When you pray for patience (now), be willing to wait for the best and be available to be changed to receive His best!