My Utmost For His Highest

John 13:37 (Amplified Bible)
Peter said to Him, Lord, why cannot I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.

There are times when we need nothing more than to just be still and know that God is God. Things are so busy in our lives, we don't get what we want out of it, and God seems to be a million miles away. It is important during these times in our lives to stay focused, and don't "run ahead" of God or what He has for us. God may be trying to teach us things during times like this, such as "sanctification", which is to be set apart from sin and to be made holy, or He may be trying to teach us what service is all about. If there is any trace at all of doubt in this process then we need to just stop and wait. There are times when we can see clearly what God's will is, but never just jump on a feeling, wait for God to lead at His timing. His timing may not always be our timing, but His is always better and will have more peace and stability to it. ALWAYS, no matter what, wait for God to lead.

Peter made the mistake of doing things without waiting for God. He tried to predict when the tests of life would come, but they came when he least expected it. Peter told Jesus, "I will lay down my life for your sake"....but Jesus told him, "The rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times" John 13:38.God knew Peter's character, even more so than Peter knew himself. "Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him."

(My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers)

In this day and age of hurry, hurry, hurry and "instant" everything, it is imperative that we slow down and "be still and know that He is God". It is easy for us to get a feeling and rush ahead of God, so sure that it is His will, only to fumble and mess it all up and eventually realize that maybe it was His will, but not at that time, or maybe it was not His will, but something we wanted. The most important thing we need to do is slow down, not go on feelings, but wait for God to show us and lead us in the way He wants us to go.

(Kandi Pierre)