Today's devotion encouraged stillness, silence and reflection, all things I am not very good at! I had to be very disciplined to get through the 5 minutes of silence whilst reflecting on God. I'll admit it took a few attempts! Attempt one resulted in my mind being on Kids Church within about 40 seconds. Attempt 2 was no better as I started planning dinner around 2 minutes in. However, I managed a complete 5 minutes of reflection, stillness and silence by attempt 4 or 5. It was difficult as its not my preferred way of sitting with God. I enjoy being creative, going for a walk or connecting with God in worship, but it did me good to sit and just 'be'.
I reflected on today's passage where Zachariah was silenced by God because he didn't believe the things God said he would do. He was silent all the way up to the birth of his child. That's a crazy long time to be mute for! I actually think God was being a little harsh on poor Zachariah. The odds were stacked against them as far a conceiving a child was concerned so you can hardly blame him for questioning God over it. I'm pretty sure anyone in his position would have done the same!
It started me thinking about my own life though and the promises that God has made to me. They are not yet fulfilled because its all in his perfect timing. Does that stop me believing they will happen? Well, yes, sometimes. I have days where I question God over the plans and purposes for my life. When he asks me to do something I have days where I say no and days where I ask why? Who am I to question God over these matters? If like Zachariah, God decided to silence me every time I had doubts and unbelief then I think I'd be permenantly quiet (a blessing for some!)
Father I thank you that you have perfect plans and purposes for each of our lives. I thank you that those plans are bigger than we can even imagine and you reveal them to us in your perfect timing.
