It is so easy to look at one’s life (especially if you make the big mistake of comparing yourself to others) and conclude that you are not making much progress. Honestly? Sometimes I very much feel that way. So many dreams and aspirations appear like they will remain just that – dreams and aspirations – never to materialise.
But the Lord keeps reassuring me otherwise. The other day He opened my eyes to see that the evidence of His goodness in my life over the last few years (and He has indeed been very much at work) is His fruit in my life – how I have changed over time. I have grown from placing the emphasis of my life on doing and having, to being. When you think about it, the fruit of the Spirit is about character i.e., fruitfulness should be measured by growth in character and not accomplishments and possessions.
More often that we would care to admit, we measure the fruit of lives in terms of possessions and positions. The truth is, that is the world’s way, not God’s. God cares more about who we are becoming – in other words, growing to be more like Christ – than anything else. He is preparing us, we His bride, to reign with Him. Not just to jollof (enjoy) on earth. 😊
If we focus on the doing and having over the being then we will “miss it”. We will be completely derailed from the reason we were sent to this world. In reality, to do what God has called us to do, in order to truly fulfil purpose, we must first become what He has called us to be.
We have to go through the training, the equipping. No sensible person will give important responsibilities to an individual if they know that it is well beyond his/her capabilities. They just wouldn’t.
So much of what God has called us to do involves lives, the lives of His children. Therefore, before God places them in our hands, He will ensure that He can indeed trust us with His treasures. Invariably, His assessment of our readiness has a lot less to do with our skills and experience and much more to do with our hearts – the extent to which our hearts align with His.
This is a tough truth to swallow because it flies against everything that is around us. Difficult as it may be, we have to constantly remind ourselves that so much of what we see around us is a reflection of the world system, governed by the god of this age; not the one true living God.
There is therefore often a dichotomy between what He is calling us to do and when, and what we think we ought to be doing – until our hearts become more like His and our thoughts become more like His. Until we step into our true identity – children of the Most High God, made in His image.
Here’s the thing – it can’t be rushed! Like the most delectable of slow-roasted meats, it takes time to get us “just so”. Anyone who has tried slow-roasting meat will tell you that any attempt to rush the process, to reduce the cooking time, will negatively affect the end result. Instead of having meat that simply melts in your mouth you end up with meat that needs to be chewed and chewed and chewed again before you can swallow it. Not at all enjoyable…
So, next time you think God is being slow on your matter, picture yourself in His oven being slowly but lovingly roasted so that when He takes you out and serves you to humanity you will bring much joy to those around you and those He is sending you to.
It ain’t easy but I am sure it will be worth it! For now, I am still very much in the oven. 😊
Reflections
- Ask God to shine His torch on your heart and show you the areas in your life you feel He has been delaying.
- Forgive Him.
- Ask Him to show you His truth on the matter.
- Ask Father God to reveal to you how you have been measuring fruitfulness in your life.
- Ask Him to show you what lies you have been believing in this regard.
- Ask Him to show you His truth.
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