Schedules are made to be broken.
According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test, I’m a judger. I like structure and organization. While I can be spontaneous on occasion, it’s not my preferred way of life. I’m also time conscious. I’ve been wearing a watch since I was in first grade. Schedules are important, and I like to be ahead of time for whatever the agenda holds. Keeping and checking off a list gives me an adrenaline rush. In college, I completed all my projects ahead of time. Some of these traits were inborn, but being the firstborn child and living with parents who had similar traits made it certain I’d be a judger.
John’s gospel, especially, makes it evident that Jesus journeyed on a divine schedule. Many were told not to tell that he had healed them or cast out their demons simply because Jesus didn’t want his ministry to end prematurely. While the woman touching him may appear as an interruption from a human point of view, from God’s it wasn’t. Jesus was open to God’s interruptions.
God’s schedule is more important than any schedule I can build on my day planner, computer calendar, or IPhone calendar. Rigidity will cause me to miss opportunities God puts in my path. Like Jesus, change must be my friend—whether it makes me comfortable or not. Some of life’s greatest opportunities arise in the midst of change and uncomfortableness. What may appear as interruptions to me can very well be God ordained appointments. Only as I avail myself of these—and with an attitude of love and acceptance, can I live life to the fullest.
Jesus took many opportunities to get away for private time with his Father. Prayer was the lifeblood of his ministry and also the key to following his father’s divine timetable. By following his pattern, I too can achieve the same success.
Are you open to God’s schedule—even when it conflicts with yours?
Prayer: Father in heaven, give us eyes to see Your schedule and the faith to obey it.
(Photo courtesy of morguefile and mensatic.)
______________________________
Wow, this could have been written by me. I like structure too and can easily miss out on things, just last week my husband and I were talking about welcoming interruptions and being able to see and eal with them in a gracious manner. Mich x
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle.
DeleteI am pretty open to change in schedule as long as it was my idea. I have a problem with stubbornness. I need God's help changing that trait in myself. Wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteThanks April.
DeleteUm, have you been stalking me? Was that on your schedule? I don't see it on mine! If it was on yours, please place a giant check mark beside it, cross it off, or color-code highlight that line item and move on!
ReplyDeleteMy only difference is I grew up in circumstances where I had no control and never knew what was coming next, so I overcompensate now.
It is so easy in our drive-thru, microwave, instant feedback world for us to get caught up in ourselves and miss the opportunities to minister. Thank you so much for sharing this on #ThursdayTheologyBlogs. Would you please share it again with the #ThursdayTheologyBlogs hashtag on Twitter so we can all RT it for you? I hope this will be beneficial to you and you will return again next week!
Blessings,
Carrie Ann
Thanks so much Carrie Ann. God bless.
DeleteGod has really spoken to me about how often I make an idol out of my plan for my day....and also recently about how important it is to wait on Him and not try to solve things and do things all in my own strength. I'm trying to be open to His plans for me, even when it's hard :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the reply.
DeleteI have many very heated conversations with God about our differences in the scheduling. I tend to think that mine is better, and that God doesn't really understand my special circumstances. But I finally have to admit that He does know better than I do. Thankfully He is great enough, patient enough and gracious enough to understand my distrust and worries. And I can always trust that He will do the best thing for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comments.
Deleteso glad you are finding how to match His schedule with yours
ReplyDeleteThanks Becky for reading. Martin
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely post, that so many can relate to.
ReplyDeleteI am not overly structured, but I do like to know where I am going to be and when (if that makes sense!).
Makes perfect sense. Thanks for reading.
DeleteThis is a great post! I go back and forth between having tightly scheduled days and just being willing to wing it with a list of to-do items. In the sermon last week, it was mentioned that a lot of us "ask for God's will to be done... our way, please." I feel like this speaks to that same attitude.
ReplyDelete-Anastasia Ivy || IvyOverjoyed.com
Thanks for the thoughts Anastasia.
Delete