Timing...

Dear Friend,

Summer fun is coming to an end, and the Fall season is right on its heels! And nothing says Fall like the comforts of food. Dishes like chili, soups, and slow cooker meals will be served for lunch and dinner soon. Well, I enjoy comfort foods like the rest...except for the time that it takes to cook them. Now you see, unlike the summer dishes which are quick fixes, light, and refreshing; Fall foods tend be the opposite. They’ll warm you before you head outside into the cool, crisp air. Or better yet, they become part of your nightly routine by sitting heavy in your stomach at dinner and making it effortless to doze off to sleep. And most of all they usually take more time to prepare and cook. This is where it gets interesting!

In the past...I thought just because I used the right ingredients and my slow cooker needed for a pot roast that time was not a factor as long as it was cooked throughly. But how many of you know that just because the food isn’t raw doesn’t mean you achieved culinary success. Because I used to rush in my cooking I would turn that bad boy on high and let it cook just long enough to say it was done. The sad thing was is that it didn’t taste very well. It would be full of robust flavor and covered with gravy, but lacking that tenderness that you long for when biting into the meat.

This is exactly what happens to us when we rush God and try to make our lives operate according to our time tables! The results of our hastiness tend to leave our life incomplete, and tough just like my roast. The Bible clearly reminds us that we can be at peace and take our time (not be lazy) and do things the right way. The key is to focus on Him and He will will give the strategies. His instructions allows include the time factor. Proverbs 19:2 reads, “Desires without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” I don’t want to miss something just because I’m rushing.

The enemy will project images to you to make you think it’s ok to rush. Just like with my roast I tried to justify the rushing with the fact the meat was edible because it was cooked, and the gravy tasted good. But that wasn’t enough!

Well some of you may be asking, “How do I not rush?” I’m already late. I’ve messed up in the past, and have to make up for lost time! I’m too busy, I’ve got a lot things going on all at the same time! Let me be of encouragement to you. I am a wife. A mom. Raising five children under the age of 11. Working in ministry. And I have a full time job. I used to rush all the time until I tapped into His Grace and allowed the Word of God to change my perspective!

If you can identify with the above, meditate and pray Philippians 4:4-8 whenever you feel overwhelmed and rushed.

Prayer: I will be anxious and not rush for nothing. But instead I will pray (have a conversation and consider God) about everything with thanksgiving, and let my requests be made known to God my Father. And because I do this I will experience the peace of God which surpasses all understanding and it will guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus! And finally whatever things true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is anything praiseworthy...I will meditate on these things!

As you pray this prayer watch how calm you become. It’s not just a one time thing. Repeat this process until it’s your automatic response to every anxious moment. If you have to post this somewhere at work where you can read it throughout your day. Or print it out and put it in your pocket and pull it out and read it!

Don’t rush the process! Stay obedient, diligent, and in His timing everything will come together just as He planned!

Slowing down and resting in His Grace,

Jess

Check Out this throwback of Coffee and Conversations with LaKisha: https://youtu.be/s_YW6E0VRN8