The Proper Time

November 7

(Luke 1:20-22 NIV) "And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time." {21} Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. {22} When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak."

(Galatians 6:9 NIV) "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

(Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV) "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:"

(Psalms 31:15 NIV) "My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me."

The angel spoke, and Zechariah was silenced. He would be unable to speak again until the proper time. That proper time had already been determined by the Lord. Not until Gabriel’s God given words came to pass would Zechariah regain his voice. There was nothing he could do but wait for the proper time. God has a proper time for everything. Part of our rebellion against God comes in not waiting for that proper time. Often, we take action before the proper time. We run ahead of God like we know the way, but the road ends, and we crash. We grow weary and cease action before the proper time. We give up and miss the blessing that would have come in its proper time. Too often, we forget that our times are in His hands. We live as if we owned the future. Seek out God’s schedule. Accept His “interruptions”. His timing is always proper. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day