“The tyranny of the urgent will always out shout the essential nature of the important…if we let it. We have to determine not to let that happen. The secret is establishing personal priorities.” ~ Charles Swindoll
Are we moving too fast to miss the jewels along our path? Are we too self-absorbed with our own issues, concerns and difficulties to see a provision that has been made available to us? Are there times we actually view these relationships as impositions?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then we are more than likely missing out on a tremendous blessing from the Lord. We all need to become more aware of and sensitive to those special gems God has placed in our lives. Unfortunately, we miss out on so many special touches because we have our own agendas. We fail to realize that our Heavenly Father knows us intimately; He knows our needs better than we do and He always desires the best for us. There are times when the people He places in our paths may be ones where we decide we have nothing in common and therefore we just brush on by them. All too often when we do this, we miss out on special relationships that were created just for us, to meet specific needs in our lives.
One example of this may be how we all too often steer away from developing a relationship with someone who is much older than we are because we discount how much they can enrich our lives. We are more concerned with what they may ask or require of us – we dwell on what an imposition they may be to our busy schedules. As a result of these attitudes, we will miss out on the number of ways they can impact and enrich our lives. Some of the things we might miss are: their wisdom, their sweet spirit, their gentle nature, their precious love and genuine concern for us. We could also miss the encouragement, affirmation and inspiration they freely give. In addition, we may deprive ourselves of the mighty prayers that these prayer warriors faithfully lift up on the behalf of others. These special relationships can often fill the voids left in our lives by the loss of parents or grandparents.
This is only one example of how we may miss out of such great fulfillment in our lives by limiting those we allow into our “inner circle.” The only way to avoid this is to open up our hearts to those treasures that the Lord places along our way.
“Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.” ~ Proverbs 17:8 (MSG)
Reflections on PRECIOUS JEWELS
Sometimes the gifts God sends our way are unexpected. We were not asking for them or they don’t look like the answer we wanted to the prayer that we prayed. Our pastor preached a sermon series on relationships a few years ago and it was very convicting to me. I did not think I had time for friends. Between work responsibilities, being a wife and mother, and caring for elderly parents, my schedule was crazy, to say the least. God kept convicting me that I needed to make time in life for true friendships…that this was an area where he was calling me to invest some time.
I had no idea how I would find time for anything else? My life was so crazy I often wasn’t even getting enough sleep at night, so how could I possibly carve out a few hours a week to develop any new relationships?! I thought this was going to be another “ministry thing” that He was calling me to do. He convicted my heart over and over again that He meant for me to start developing these friendships at that time, not later.
He brought two wonderful women into my life just a few weeks apart. They are unique and totally different and God has used them to change my life! They encourage me, they motivate me, they bring me joy, and they share sadness and trials with me. I would not have survived the past few years without them. They each have their own struggles and God has given me the privilege of coming alongside them as well. However, what I have gained from those relationships Far outweighs anything I have sacrificed for them.
The interesting thing is that I decided to follow God’s leadership and He knew all along what would be coming in my life and how much I was going to need them. What if I had not followed His leading in this?
They were the encouragers He sent to help me through the trials that have come my way. What if I had missed them because of fear or busyness or procrastination?
My life would be so different without them and my trials would have been incredibly harder to bear. Thank the Lord that He knows exactly what (and who) we need and precisely when we need them.
Will you step out in faith, trusting His leadership today? He is placing jewels along your path to love and encourage you and you can do the same for them. Together you can fulfill His plans for your lives. Don’t miss your jewels!
“For my God shall supply all of your needs through His riches in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
WHAT IF YOU COULD EXPERIENCE GOD’S PROVISION AND BE GOD’S PROVISION FOR SOMEONE ELSE, ALL AT THE SAME TIME?
Prayer for the hurting person:
Lord,
Help this one who longs to be valued herself to value others in such a way that God is honored. Help her to look for others who also need to be valued. Help her to realize that, by investing in others, she is Your provision for them and that You are leading others to be the provision of help and hope that she needs.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for the helper:
Lord,
Help this one that You are leading to encourage others to realize that all of her time belongs to You. Help her to surrender her own agenda to experience the transcendent joy of being used by You. Help her to trust You to multiply and manage her time when she surrenders it to You so that everything that she needs to get done will be accomplished and other things may not really be necessary. Help her to experience Your peace as she surrenders to Your leadership.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for both:
Lord,
Help them both to look to You for meeting those needs that each of them have. Help them to realize that You have brought them together for many reasons that they may not understand until years later. Help them to trust Your wisdom and sovereignty and to both walk in obedience to You in every area of their lives.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
