God uses delays in our lives to show our true character.”
–Dale A. O’Shields

 “Realizing our moment-by-moment dependence on God the Creator for our very existence makes it appropriate to live lives of devotion, commitment, gratitude, and loyalty toward him, and scandalous not to.  Godliness starts here, with God the sovereign Creator as the first focus of our thoughts.”
 –J.I. Packer

One thing for sure, 2017 is not slowing down in any way.  Goodness, January is already past and gone.  What did I accomplish?  Did I keep my focus on God?
The world is whirling and just as nations are confused and fearful, the earth is beginning to groan from the curse of sin as well.  Looking around and I think that the Lord must surely be getting ready to come.  The Father just has to give the order soon.  There is too much craziness, confusion, and evil is abounding more and more–when is He coming?
He doesn’t delay; our minds might think that He is putting off His return, but not really.  There is a “fullness of time” coming.  The hour may not be yet, but it is surely approaching.  Even the foolishness of the earth is saying that.  I saw that the “Doomsday Clock” is now registering 3 minutes to midnight.  Now, I don’t know how they come up with that.  I do know that Jesus said when we see certain things begin to happen that the end is near.
If in our minds, we think that He is delaying, what are we doing?  Are we keeping our eyes on the sky looking for Him, or are we too entangled with our busy eyes on earth?  If the Lord would return on Sunday, I wonder how many would tell Him to wait until after the Super Bowl.  Are we then living with lackadaisical attitudes or are we living lives of devotion?  Are we becoming dependent upon ourselves and man with all of his technological developments or are we living godly, righteous lives?
With one month already gone, are we doing our all for the Kingdom?  It is imperative in this time that God is indeed the “first focus of our thoughts.”

“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.”
–Habakkuk 2:3 (NASB)

I truly believe that so many things are hidden from us; things that could have happened to cause us harm, but the Lord intervened and nothing happened. When I think of the salvation that Jesus offered to us, but there is so much more. There is a definite act of salvation, but the rest of our lives we are continually being saved. It makes me think of the words by Fanny J. Crosby.

“A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me,
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.”

If He doesn’t hide us when the storms come, when the winds howl, and the tempest rages then he provides protection in some other way. Sometimes the storms are burdens and they cause us to grow weary; our knees weaken and we seemingly can no longer stand. Then He is there to give us strength to help us make it through the day. Whatever is needed, He provides.

“A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away,
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.”

If we would really take the time to sit down and write down our blessings we would be amazed. Interesting how we focus on the burdens of life, and the anxieties of what might happen cloud our mind. Part of that is a trick of the devil to get our minds out of focusing on the blessings of the Lord. Most of the time we sing, “woe is me” instead of “count your blessings.” The last phrase in the next verse is significant is we understand the meaning of the “Redeemer.”

“With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!”

One day soon, He will take us with Him to those mansions He has prepared. One day soon, the work of salvation in our lives will be complete. His work was finished on the Cross, however, with us He continues to work, and soon that work will be complete when we are with Him in glory.

“When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,
I’ll shout with the millions on high.”

No matter the trouble. No matter the storm. No matter how weary, thirsty, and worn we seemingly are, He is there to cover us with His hand. Our needs will be met by Him. Turmoil may arise in the streets of the nations of the world, but in Jesus we are covered.

“He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.”