Your Appointed Time

Your Appointed Time

Today's Scripture:

For the vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it…

Habakkuk 2:3, KJV.

Today's Word:

God has an appointed time to fulfill the visions, dreams and desires in your heart. Just because it has taken a long time or because you’ve tried and failed doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. Don’t give up on those dreams! Don’t be complacent about pursuing what God has placed in your heart. Our God is a faithful God. No matter how long it’s been, no matter how impossible things looks, if you’ll stay in faith, your appointed time is coming.

Remember, every dream that’s in your heart, every promise that has taken root, God put it in there. And not only that, but He has every intention of bringing it to pass. Hold on to that vision today by declaring, “My time is coming. God is working behind the scenes on my behalf. I will fulfill my destiny!” As you continue to hold on to that vision and speak life over your dreams, you’ll see them begin to take shape. You’ll see your faith grow, you’ll see your hope strengthen, and you’ll see yourself step into the destiny God has prepared for you!

Prayer for Today:

Father in heaven, I receive Your truth today. I receive Your promises. I ask that You ignite my heart with Your holy fire so that I can pursue Your perfect plan for my life. Make my thoughts and words agreeable to Your will in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

Open Your Eyes

by Rick Warren

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18 ESV)

Studying God’s Word will change your life if you put what you learn into practice. But all of that starts with your willingness tostudy his Word.

The Bible says, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18 ESV).

God has so much he wants to show us, but we must be willing to look into his Word with open eyes.

So how should we study God’s Word? Effective Bible study, no matter what Bible study method you use, has five parts. We’ll look at two today and three tomorrow.

1. Ask the right questions. Learning to study the Bible is learning to ask good questions from the text. There’s no limit to how many questions you can ask of the Bible because there’s no limit to its wisdom and insight. The deeper you dig, the more gold you’ll find.  Asking questions of the text you’re reading will help you look at the text through a whole new set of eyes. Suddenly, every time you pick up God’s Word to study it, new truths will jump out at you.
    
2. Write down your observations. Never study the Bible without pen and paper in hand (or a keyboard if you prefer). When you ask your questions and you find your answers, write down what you learn. You can read the Bible without writing something down, but you can’t study it.

Dawson Trotman, who was the founder of the Navigators ministry, used to say, “Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through the lips and the fingertips.” In other words, if you can't say it and you can't write it, then you haven't really thought about it. Even if you don’t see anything in the verse, write down that you don’t see anything. Just the act of writing that down will open up new thoughts.

Talk It Over

• Consider the place where you study God’s Word each day. How does it help or hinder your focus?
• What do you think the difference is between “right” and “wrong” questions to ask of the Bible? Are you afraid of asking the “wrong” questions?