“I’m gonna whip you,” my mother would announce as she retrieved the peach tree switch from its place by the refrigerator. And she would. The action always followed the announcement. My kids vocalized other things, “Watch this!” among them, their words preceding some antic they wanted me to see. It’s a pattern we repeat often. We speak, then we do. Successful people are praised for this characteristic, which we usually deem efficient and effective planning. They put into words what they are going to do, then they follow through. We give them a thumbs up for good management as we nod our acknowledgement of their strategizing. In actuality, this speak-it-then-do-it trait is a God-quality becoming luminescent in humanity.
From the onset of time, God said, then the manifestation of what He declared unfolded. “God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light.’” He spoke as He began to disclose His creative plan. Then he divided the light from darkness, and the first day was marked on the calendar of time. Day two began, and again, “God said, ‘Let there be a firmament…’ and God made the firmament…” His word always preceded the action.
Throughout time, God would issue a promise, and then the promise would be fulfilled. Thus, Noah’s ark floated on flood waters. Isaac was born to Abraham. Joseph’s family bowed before him. Pharaoh was beset with plagues. Israel exited Egypt. Joshua claimed a wall-less Jericho. David became king. Israel was taken captive. The Messiah walked in sandals. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again. The Comforter indwelt believers. Whatever God said, He did. It was His plan, executed with efficient and effective precision. And He hasn’t changed. All of God’s words will come to pass.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:9-11).
For every promise, there comes a moment when it’s difficult to see how God will fulfill it. His “above us” ways have need of nothing but our faith; therefore, God doesn’t always offer explanations. Noah didn’t know how a flood would come when it had never rained. A 100th birthday party and a newborn’s arrival weren’t customarily celebrated together. From the pit, Joseph’s dreams were but a mockery. Pharaoh felt powerful until his gods were discredited and his family destroyed. Freedom was a figment of the imagination or one ginormous fib to Israel standing at the Red Sea. To a newly appointed warrior leader, six days of silent marching wasn’t an expected battle strategy. Becoming king was a far-fetched notion for a shepherd put to pasture by his own family. Disregarding the Commandments appeared harmless before the chosen were carried into captivity. Amid barnyard animals, Salvation lay unapparent. Lengthening days in the upper room didn’t make sense until the wind blew in and the tongues of fire descended.
Likewise, whatever you’re facing may seem contrary to what God has said. It may feel like healing can’t touch your disease, that the Holy Ghost isn’t for you, that you can’t experience peace and joy, that your situation is outside the realm of redemption, that possibilities can never surface on the horizon of your future. Or maybe you think God isn’t paying attention to your choices, that He will be lenient with sin come Judgement Day, or that there isn’t an eternity to consider. Opinions—whether they are self-limiting, riddled with uncertainty, floundering amid circumstance, vacillating with shifting emotion, elevated by pride, rooted in ignorance, or downright rebellious—don’t matter. What God says, however, is of utmost importance. He has spoken, and action will follow what He has said. It’s the sequence of His speech.
He has promised impending punishment for wrong, and He’s enthused a “Watch this!” declaring future feats of majesty and might. His utterances actuate the unfolding of His plan...and invite us to strategize for stellar, eternal success.
Tip/Tidbit: Today, get into God’s Word to see what God says, then expect it to happen.
From the onset of time, God said, then the manifestation of what He declared unfolded. “God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light.’” He spoke as He began to disclose His creative plan. Then he divided the light from darkness, and the first day was marked on the calendar of time. Day two began, and again, “God said, ‘Let there be a firmament…’ and God made the firmament…” His word always preceded the action.
Throughout time, God would issue a promise, and then the promise would be fulfilled. Thus, Noah’s ark floated on flood waters. Isaac was born to Abraham. Joseph’s family bowed before him. Pharaoh was beset with plagues. Israel exited Egypt. Joshua claimed a wall-less Jericho. David became king. Israel was taken captive. The Messiah walked in sandals. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again. The Comforter indwelt believers. Whatever God said, He did. It was His plan, executed with efficient and effective precision. And He hasn’t changed. All of God’s words will come to pass.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:9-11).
For every promise, there comes a moment when it’s difficult to see how God will fulfill it. His “above us” ways have need of nothing but our faith; therefore, God doesn’t always offer explanations. Noah didn’t know how a flood would come when it had never rained. A 100th birthday party and a newborn’s arrival weren’t customarily celebrated together. From the pit, Joseph’s dreams were but a mockery. Pharaoh felt powerful until his gods were discredited and his family destroyed. Freedom was a figment of the imagination or one ginormous fib to Israel standing at the Red Sea. To a newly appointed warrior leader, six days of silent marching wasn’t an expected battle strategy. Becoming king was a far-fetched notion for a shepherd put to pasture by his own family. Disregarding the Commandments appeared harmless before the chosen were carried into captivity. Amid barnyard animals, Salvation lay unapparent. Lengthening days in the upper room didn’t make sense until the wind blew in and the tongues of fire descended.
Likewise, whatever you’re facing may seem contrary to what God has said. It may feel like healing can’t touch your disease, that the Holy Ghost isn’t for you, that you can’t experience peace and joy, that your situation is outside the realm of redemption, that possibilities can never surface on the horizon of your future. Or maybe you think God isn’t paying attention to your choices, that He will be lenient with sin come Judgement Day, or that there isn’t an eternity to consider. Opinions—whether they are self-limiting, riddled with uncertainty, floundering amid circumstance, vacillating with shifting emotion, elevated by pride, rooted in ignorance, or downright rebellious—don’t matter. What God says, however, is of utmost importance. He has spoken, and action will follow what He has said. It’s the sequence of His speech.
He has promised impending punishment for wrong, and He’s enthused a “Watch this!” declaring future feats of majesty and might. His utterances actuate the unfolding of His plan...and invite us to strategize for stellar, eternal success.
Tip/Tidbit: Today, get into God’s Word to see what God says, then expect it to happen.
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