GOD HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME
THE DICHOTOMY OF TIME: GOD HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME
Alrighty! I hope that you are well. On this day or week or hour whenever you are reading this. In this particular hour I am just an instrument that God (by his Grace and not by might or power) has decided to use to write about GOD MAKING EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS OWN TIME. This topic has been something I have been grappling with in many dimensions. Prioritizing time, because the African movies are just too choke. Appreciating my time, because it's valentines and couples in your face can also choke (Choke is an African slang term that is contextual. It can be used to describe something that is too good, or emotional or something that hurts. It can mean anything depending on the context of usage). As well, utilising my time very well, because believe it or not. Nothing, even writing this blog is as easy as it looks.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
New Living Translation
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
The Bible in the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1 speaks about how there is a time for every activity under the sun.It also says for everything there is a season. I want us to note the word activity. And note the word everything. I don't know why but this word felt good to me because at times as Christians we will be made to feel that God doesn't want us to have a good time or God doesn't want us to enjoy our time on earth. I know for sure that is what I used to think before I got saved. But contrarily this is not true. In fact God wants us to have a good time. But within that He wants us to have a time for everything.
What does this mean for us?
The Bible tells us that God is a God of order. The Bible says everything shall be done in decency and in order. In fact the entire mandate of Jesus was to die for us on a cross to save us from the impending chaos that is looming in the world.
John 3:16 (KJV)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life".
That does not mean that we may not experience chaos or be around it. But certainly God came to redeem us from its effects. This is the point I am trying to illustrate. God wants our lives to have order. Good success is our portion. But in order to attain that good success that we so much desire, we have to function in an orderly and timely fashion. Divinely strategised with each upcoming time and season. This means God wants you to succeed more than you do (God is like the friend that is really rooting and praying for you).
God also wants you to realise that you can not be out here being random in every season. You need to organise and section your time in every season and prepare for upcoming seasons. Let me ask you this, have you ever seen an athlete being random in any season?? Or a vogue model being random in any season?? But as a child of the Most High God, a royal priesthood you have the audacity to be random in and out of season. Excuse me? Are you not embarrassed?! Lol, you need to get timely and organized this season, ok ?
Fruitfulness
One of the first instructions moreover the main charge given by God to us humans is for us to be fruitful and to multiply.
Genesis 1:28
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
When you analyze a plant or a tree that bears fruit. Bearing fruit takes time. Bearing fruit is a process. Bearing fruit also has times and seasons. So I want you to see time in two dimensions (a dichotomy). Number 1, good things take time. Are you expecting a certain arrival in your life? Are you expecting for destiny to manifest?( Destiny is already in motion but you may be waiting for a particular point in your destiny to manifest). Are you expecting God to deliver a certain promise in your life? Just know that these things take time. One of the things God taught me this week was that...a tree does not rush to produce fruit ahead of its time. It takes its time in each phase of a development season. When it's time for it to be rooted it takes the time it requires (concentration) on being rooted. Then it takes its time to develop properly into a tree. And then even when bearing the fruit you cannot pluck the fruit before time. It has to be ripe. If plucked unripe, I bet you that you may still need to keep it in your kitchen or under a blanket until it's ripe, otherwise its purpose is not served. The idea is, you have to give and allocate time for blooming fully to occur in every season of your life. If you are in a development season give that development process time. If you are in a mature or maturing season baby...you better take time and mature beautifully like fine wine. After all Ecclesiastes 3:11 emphasizes that everything has been made beautiful in its time.
I mean think about it you never see a baby trying to jump out the womb ahead of time. Them kids will be up in there until their mama don tire. Ok!
So I feel this more so from a destiny perspective and I feel to ask you, why are you rushing ahead of your time ?? What are you rushing for ahead of your time ?? I want to bet you it's probably the instant gratification of success and how you perceive it will make people appreciate you and love you.
I was watching an African Movie the other day, as the self-certified Nollywood enthusiast that I am (blush,blush). And I heard a man say
"if you are not happy where you are now, just happy by yourself at this stage as a prince. Being crowned King will not make you any happier”. You see you think you will be happier when you get to a particular place but nooooo. Happiness just like that plant that hopes to bloom one day, starts now.
I saw a particular Tik Toker the other day, talking about how when he started his business he didn't have the right focus to really reel in the required profits for the business. He says he used to struggle with having his attention divided between many goals and achievements that he had in mind. He neglected to give time to the thing that mattered most at that time, his business. He says until he took time to actively focus and promote his business he sold in a week or a day what he had not sold in a month. You see your destiny has been decided (Ecclesiates 6:10) but it is not until you take the time and really focus on it that you will see in manifestation what was decided before time.
Psalm 1:3
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Time from the perspective of Activities/ Apportioning your time/ Time management skills
(The Proverbs 31 Woman)
Particularly when I think of the Proverbs 31 Woman. The earliest scripture that has stuck with me even before time is that she wakes up early in the morning ahead of time (basically before everyone). She is likened to being a merchant of her ship. Now I don't know, maybe the Lord was trying to etch it into my mind to be delivered from those winter naps. Hello? Hallelujah? Anyone ? Amen?
Proverbs 31:16-17 NLT
15
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
And when I think of a Proverbs 31 Woman I think of a woman who is ahead of her time. As in who has their time management down to a T child.
Listen, the Proverbs 31 Woman is a modern day superwoman. That girl has time for everything she even sews clothes made of scarlet. She is fruitful and she multiplies. She understood the assignment that God gave her right from time. The modern day proverbs 31 woman is snatched, her kids are all put together, she drinks her water and still slays and most of all still has a nice attitude after a long day (that’s what I think anyway). I would need prayers on my mood/attitude if I am pulling all of that off, honestly.
When you read verse 17 the Bible says she sets about her work vigorously. The operative word here is "sets". She puts it aside. She allocates. Her time for her task. All God wants you to do is to set aside time for your priorities, your destiny. Look as a generation we will set aside time for our spouses, boo things and husbaes and wifebaes. Without a batter of an eye. I mean in a snap of a finger "tell me the time shawty and I will be there for you". Just like that. But you will not spend time or set aside time for the things that really matter to you. Like your God time. Your private time. All of that. Why ? Because it instantly gratifies us.
The take away and what God really wants you to know is that you should have time for everything. God is not saying don't have social media time by no means. He is not saying don't have movie time. No! but he is saying have God Time and work time.
Everything happens in your time. Let's talk about having your time.
I uploaded a podcast on Spotify called Seasoned With Lindokuhle. I used to call it Seasoned the Bible Study podcast and in one of the earliest episodes I did God gave me a revelation about everything having its own time. I want to point out two things I mentioned in the podcast. The first thing I want to point out is that God revealed to me what the Bible really means when it says everything has been made beautiful in its own time. We appreciate the seasons (summer,spring,fall and winter) even when the trees aren't bearing fruits. So why can't we embrace the beauty of the seasons that come with our time? You are quick to appreciate the beauty and the seasons outside but you are not quick to appreciate and really take in the beauty of your own life. You see, the Bible has already disclosed to us that while we are under the sun there will be seed time and harvest time. Seed time can be compared to or metaphorically viewed as the day of small beginnings that the Bible calls us not to despise. Harvest time contrarily is that wonderful time when you are collecting all the gains from the seed time. The accolades , the rewards, the recognition and the fame. Just like nature, just like the seasons your life is also called to have a seed time and a harvest time. Quite literally you were conceived as a seed but who you are becoming in Christ is the great harvest in Jesus Christ Mighty Name I decree over your life. Amen
One day I was watching the retake of Sister Act 2 on The View where they were doing a rendition of the 30 year anniversary of "Joyful Joyful" the song that won the San Francisco High Choir the big prize in 1993. This is the point where I tell you that I am a HUGE fan of the 90s. I was born in the 90s but towards the tail end so I was still a baby and couldn't appreciate the full culture of the 90s. I don't know I just have such a deep connection to the 90s and feel so strongly about the 90s. Hangin with Mr Cooper, those quality jeans and high waists. I think it's just the expression of the culture for me. Authenticity,big radios and good music.Using roller curls to curl hair. Brazilian and Mongolian hair was barely existent back then. The celebration of colour, fashion and print journalism. Just on the brink of technology enough to appreciate the simpler things in life, like cutting out lyrics and having Nickelodeon time out at 6pm. I mean come on! Oh, also I know the whole "joyful joyful dance". Drops non-existent air mic 🎤. And as the lady sang that opening verse on The View I was just balling with tears. I swear you would think I was part of that San Francisco High class of 93. But child... I was sun tanning in heaven with the angels by then. Or maybe I was just in my mom's or Dad's loins ( whatever).
As I was balling thinking "man the 90s were the time to be alive". God started to show me the beauty of all the eras. The 80s with the Breakfast Club and Girls Just Wanna Have fun. The 70s with the Hippie movement. The 60s with the plaid and Mo Town. The 50s with the polka dot. And now with our neon in 2010s and electric dance music. Nudes and comfortable aesthetics in the 2020s and it seems pink is making a huge huge comeback....God said do you see how I have made every era beautiful. It is actually an amazing thing to behold. No era is exactly the same! And since we use the Word "era" so much to describe phases in our lives do you actually see how your own "eras" looking back were or are beautiful in their own time. So how about now ?? Why can't you appreciate it now? I don't care to know what phase or "era" in time you are going through right now. I want to bet you God has made it beautiful in its own time.
Seriously, even if it is your broken or broke "era". It has been made beautiful by God in its own time. Ask someone who has made it past that phase and they look back at themselves and laugh at the time they used to indulge in just "Russian (beef frank) and Chips" and doing dates at the picnic with 'Toppers' biscuits for Valentines. They laugh at how they could only afford one shoe and how they wore that shoe until it fell apart. Why ? Because everything has been made beautiful in its time. I have so many examples.
Go and talk to a girl who is fully delivered from a toxic, maybe bad relationship. Watch how they laugh at themselves about how they used to obsess and cry for that guy. Go and talk to a mom reminiscing on the birth pains of their son or daughter now that they are 21. How about when we laugh at photo albums of pictures we used to wear. Saying "Oh Lord of what was I thinking".
Why ?? Because everything has been made beautiful in its own time.
So why can't you appreciate your own time? I know you are waiting for God for an expected time. And that goes for everyone. Whether that time is now while you are in your single season. Or waiting for the season when you will blow up. Or waiting for the season when God finally settles you. Why can't you appreciate your time now?
If I was you I would be grateful that God stops you from trying to get ahead of your time. I would be grateful for the Grace Gid gives you to stop and smell the roses and take in the ambience of every season you are in. Even the fire season that we do not want to revisit again, because if we are honest those are the seasons we really saw God come through for us. I know and trust me I feel it too, but it is a blessing to be in the season you are in right now. It is a blessing to be in the stage you are in right now. When you read the bible in Mathew 5:1-11 (The beatitudes)
Matthew 5:1-11 (KJV)
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
It highlights the different circumstances when one is blessed. This is one of my favourite scriptures because it essentially is God showing us how we are blessed in every season. Isn’t it amazing how the Bible never says. Blessed are you when you have fame, blessed are you when you are recognised, blessed are you when you have a spouse or companion or boyfriend or girlfriend. It never says that, but rather it says blessed are the poor, blessed are the mourning, blessed are the merciful. All the moments when we don’t feel blessed. Implying our blessings are manifest in and out of season. You are a blessed child of God and we are blessed. So I don’t know what you are going through. Maybe you have been fighting an impatient spirit like me, you have been feeling like the season you are in does not want to end. Or maybe you are in a small beginning phase and it feels like you are hitting a dead end. Take in the beauty,take in God, take in the message/lesson and take heart in the season you are in. I hope you can recognise that all God is saying in this multiple page post is. Take time in the time you are in. Make the most of the time you are in. Take it all in the time you are in. And more than anything make sure to serve God and appreciate God in every season you are in!!
PRAYER TIME
HEAVENLY FATHER I THANK YOU FOR MAKING TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN MY ITS TIME IN MY LIFE. HEAVENLY FATHER OPEN MY SPIRITUAL EYES AND THE EYES OF UNDERSTANDING IN MY HEART TO THE POSSIBILITY OF HOW I CAN MAKE BEAUTIFUL AND BEST USE OF MY TIME (IN EVERY ASPECT AS YOU HAVE ILLUSTRATED OH GOD). TO THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME GOD IN JESUS CHRIST MIGHTY NAME.AMENLORD JESUS FORGIVE ME FATHER WHERE I HAVE SHOWN CONTEMPT FOR MY GOD GIVEN TIME. FORGIVE ME LORD WHERE I HAVE NOT USED VALUABLY MY GOD GIVEN TIME. LORD MAY YOU RESTORE AND HELP ME LEVERAGE LOST DESTINY TIME.
LORD OPEN MY EYES TO SMELL THE ROSES AND BEAUTY OF MY OWN TIME. HELP ME TO SALVAGE THE BLESSINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED IN MY TIME. DIVERT MY ATTENTION FROM THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ACCOLADES AND BLESSINGS OF OTHERS’ TIME IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH.AMEN
HEAVENLY FATHER LET ALL THESE PRAYERS BE IN YOUR PERFECT WILL AND TO THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME IN JESUS CHRIST MIGHTY NAME.AMEN
