SHINE-TIME
Believers, I feel the Lord is telling me that it’s your time to shine.
Throughout history the Lord (as well as wise men), have required a training regiment for people that are potential leaders that included challenging modules.
Moses was obviously picked by God at birth for his future destiny but in order to be prepared he had to have some “training”. After being raised in Pharaoh’s house he saw the affliction of his people and the burden to help them arose. He assumed he was ready to lead them, however the Lord had an additional training course prepared for him. Moses spent 40 more years on the backside of a Midian desert before God said out of a burning bush that He wanted him to go lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This story is told in Exodus chapters 1-3. It was a difficult training course but when it was time Moses was ready to shine!
David was 10 years old when Samuel anointed him to be King, 1Sam 16:7-13. It took him twenty years to actually occupy the throne, 2 Sam 5:3-5. During those twenty years God was training David so he would be able to rule Israel in a Godly manner. David’s training included facing Goliath, finding a true friend in Saul’s son Jonathan, sparing Saul’s life twice when Saul hated him, living with the Philistines, and defeating the Amalekites with 400 men after they took his wives. These are recorded in 1Sam chapters 16-30. David had to fight numerous battles and learn patience in many situations before he was anointed king. Then when it came time for him to shine, he was ready!
I could go on with examples from the bible of how God prepares people to shine…like Abraham-Gen 22:12, Joseph-Gen 50:19-20, Joshua-Josh 1:5-7, Esther-Esther 4:14. When you have some time read more about these people that God chose to lead…it is truly amazing how God caused them to shine.
Finally, God even required Jesus to be trained. He was raised in the home of a carpenter learning that trade. Take it from me, it can be difficult work and it teaches important principles like firm foundations and solid structures are how to build a houses that stand strong in the storms of life. Then when Jesus reached adulthood and was ready to do what God had sent him to do, he still had another round of training to go through. Mat 4:1 says “Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil”. This lasted 40 days and during this time Jesus submitted himself to God rather than the desires of satan. It was a spiritual warfare that Jesus had to endure and overcome in order to be ready to shine. Jesus passed the test just like Moses and David and I know you will too. Believers, God is preparing you to SHINE and your TIME is coming.
James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him”.
Be Blessed, Vince Hawks