Acting on God’s will is like riding a bicycle: if you don’t go on, you go off!
Once we know God’s will and timing, we should be instant to obey, taking action without delay. Delay and hesitation when God is telling us to do something now is sin.
The longer we take to act on whatever God wants us to do, the more unclear His directives become. We need to make sure that we are on God’s interstate highway and not in a cul-de-sac.
Ours is a God of velocity. He is a God of timing and direction. These two always go together. It is never wise to act upon only one or the other. Jumping at the first opportunity seldom leads to a happy landing.
In Proverbs 25:8 the writer tells us, “Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.” A famous saying holds that people can be divided into three groups:
1) those who make things happen
2) those who watch things happen
3) those who wonder what’s happening.
Even the right direction taken at the wrong time is a bad decision.
Most people miss out on God’s best in their lives because they’re not prepared. The Bible warns us that we should be prepared continually. The Apostle Paul exhorts us: “…be instant in season, out of season…” (2 Tim. 4:2).
There is a seasonality to God. In Ecclesiastes 3:1 we read: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Everything that you and I are involved in will have a spring (a time of planting and nurturing), a summer (a time of greatest growth), a fall (a time of harvest), and a winter (a time of decisions and planning).
Relax. Perceive, understand, and accept God’s divine timing and direction.
Excerpt permission granted by Insight Publishing
John Mason is an international bestselling author, minister, publisher, executive author coach, and noted speaker. He’s the founder and president of Insight International and Insight Publishing Group. Both organizations are dedicated to helping people reach their dreams and fulfill their God-given destinies.
He has authored thirty-two books including An Enemy Called Average, You’re Born An Original—Don’t Die A Copy, Let Go of Whatever Makes You Stop, and Know Your Limits Then Ignore Them which have sold over 2 million copies and are translated into 40 different languages throughout the world. His books are widely regarded as a source of godly wisdom, scriptural motivation, and practical principles. His writings have been published twice in Reader’s Digest along with numerous other national and international publications. Seven of his books have reached number one on Amazon bestseller lists.
He’s been the president of two Christian publishing companies. He’s also a former Vice President and Publisher for Thomas Nelson Publishers (Harper Collins), the 6th largest book publisher in the world and largest Christian publisher.
He’s an internationally recognized executive author coach, helping numerous prominent authors with their books for more than thirty years. Politicians, NBA, NFL, PGA, MLB, an Olympic gold medalist and other professional athletes, billionaires, businesspeople, pastors, ministers, New York Times bestselling authors, a Fortune 500 CEO, Navy SEALs, Top Gun pilots, and a Texas governor have all benefitted from his knowledge.
Known for his quick wit, powerful thoughts, and insightful ideas, he is a popular speaker across the US and around the world.