Obediently waiting God's timing

In this episode, we discuss when we obediently wait and let things happen on God's timing, you will start to see the shift of how God works in our lives.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome back and thanks for listening. Today we're gonna go over renewing our minds in Christ and following within God's will and God's timing. So today I kind of want to start off with Romans twelve two. And Romans twelve two says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Just what do you have on that verse?

SPEAKER_01 0:36

Yeah, this is a really big verse for me this past year. It really just kind of stuck out to me. I read it for the first time. And there's a lot of questions I had when I was originally reading this. Like, what do you mean, renew my mind? Like, what do you mean, like good and acceptable and perfect in God's will and his ways, right? Like, there's so many questions I had, but at the same time, it was so intriguing to me that I just I was just focused on this so much. And the best way I can kind of really help apply this, how it kind of helped with me, is renewing it, not only from all the like the honestly lies we've learned, whether it be like religion or what the world is trying to teach us, especially about ourselves, or honestly about like Jesus, because it's just lies, because they're threatened by him, is it really helps you form your identity in Christ. And I know we just talked about two uh great episodes of identity, and this scripture really helps kind of elevate it to like renewing what the old you is about and forming to what the new you in Jesus Christ is. And what I really like about this is actually reading the one verse before this, it's Romans 12, 1. And the reason why we should re renew our minds to be what excuse me, good and acceptable to God, is because Paul talks about I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God for your spiritual worship, which is spiritual worship, right? So in order to probably worship him in the spirit, we have to know who we are in Christ and be obedient to him and to do that, right? So like we can't possibly worship him in the flesh, so we have to renew our minds to pull away from the flesh and be renewed in the spirit, which is perfect, good, and acceptable will of God. And that's what really kind of popped to me this past year and kind of just kind of grasping that concept. So I don't know what what do you got from that, brother?

SPEAKER_00 2:39

Yeah, like what when I kind of think of that, I one of the scenes from Chosen that pops into my head is when Matthew is talking to another one of the disciples, and he's like, I don't understand all these parables, and he draws a circle in the ground, he's like, This is like everybody in the world, and then here I am outside of it, and he marks another hole in the sand. It's like that, like this is me, nobody understands me. And the other disciple is like, very good, that's perfect. And it's like to understand in our new identity in Christ is that we no longer belong to here, like our home is not here, our home is with God, and where is God in heaven, in the kingdom. So this is only temporary. So we need to understand that, and then start treating others like that, start treating others like God would, start acting like God would because we are a part of that of that culture, you know. I mean, I mean, that's kind of actually a good example. Like people from different cultures act differently. I mean, that's kind of how you can identify them by their accent, the way they talk, the way they move, you know, how they act towards others, and that's how we need to resemble the kingdom of God by resembling how God acts in a sense, who are how our king acts. Do you want me to jump into Ephesians then from there? Okay. So Ephesians 4, 22 through 24, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds and to put on the new self created after the likeness of God and true righteousness and holiness. I mean, this goes perfect off of episode four, the Christ-likeness and righteousness. But yeah, I mean, like basically what I said and why this is important and resembling is people see how we act. Like, do you truly belong to Christ? And you could tell by the fruit that you bear. But also, like, are you hurting people's destinations to go to God by how you act? You know, in a sense, like, do you turn people away from God by your character? And also, do you really know who you're also hurting by hurting that individual? Because you're hurting God too within them. And a lot of scripture also mirrors what happens in the spiritual, like they're all innerly connected. What happens in the natural natural world resembles what's happening in the spiritual world, but we only see it as the physical world. However, like when Jesus says, I needed clothes and you clothes clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. And then he later he says, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. And like, God is in all, is with all and in all creation. So we need to start seeing God in other people in the fullness of their potential. And I I feel like that's where the renewal of the mind like kind of comes into place is like we need to start seeing Christ in all and try to bring that that forth in people. And if you didn't, if you don't, like if you have hate in your heart towards them, that's when you have to ask for grace from God to help change your minds. Because whatever caused that pain from that person towards you was not from that person, it was from Satan. And it's it's it's kind of important that we pull those bad seeds and differentiate those two so we could help that person out of the darkness like Jesus helped us out of the darkness. Um, do you have anything off of that?

SPEAKER_01 6:25

No, that was absolutely well said. So yeah, we really kind of established like what we're gonna be kind of talking about, uh, the renewal of the mind and the process of that and where it can really apply to a lot of areas in our life. Because, hey, let's be honest, we all kind of need it. We all kind of need to be more like Jesus uh every day, you know. But I kind of want to establish like the why next. So we know like the what is about, right? You know, like the renewing of the mind. Why is this important, right? And this kind of brings me right back to Proverbs 3, verse 5 and 6, where I think it perfectly connects like an old testament to a new testament, where it states, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, like the own understanding of the mind, right? Or don't even be led by your own heart's desires. And then it says next verse, in all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. So again, Romans 12, 2 just talked about renew your mind so that you know the perfect will of God, know what is acceptable and not. If we are not coming to him with in all of our ways, right, we are going to be misled, whether it be of the enemy's thoughts, of the enemy's actions, or of our own desires. For even our own heart's desires can be misleading. So this is why we kind of need to understand that when he does implement higher ways and divine ways and wants to kind of speak to us and guide us and give us like nudges and whispers, that sometimes it's not gonna make sense. Like, I'm just gonna be straight up. Sometimes it's not going to make worldly sense, but he's going to guide you and never lead you astray. And we have to understand that we have to like again renew that mind, revert that mind to be like, you know what? If this is from the Lord and I know the Lord, he's not gonna lead me astray, then that's what I'll do. Because it's gonna be better than what I thought in the first place. And I don't know if you got anything off of that, but that's kind of what really leads me to is that Proverbs 3, 5 through 6 verse there.

SPEAKER_00 8:29

Yeah, no, I I have nothing to add off of that. So I'm gonna go off of Colossians 3:10 and have put on a new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. And like God will work with all of us individually, we're all very uniquely made for our own potential, and as God like teaches us about like what's going on in the world and teaches us his word and teaches all these things, we conform to that image that he initially made. Like he gave us all an imagination for a purpose, and it's specific, like a place for us and him, if that makes sense. But we need to to go into that secret place with him and to work with him and build those things, build those ideas that he has with us to conform to the image that he initially had for us, and that's like the ancient path, in a sense, that he had intended for us that Jeremiah talks about. That's all I really have on that that verse there.

SPEAKER_01 9:35

Yeah, and that's perfect. That's perfect. Like putting on that new self, right? I think perfectly ties in with renewal of mind because we're so used to thinking of ourselves as the old way, the worldly way. Like this makes sense to the world, this makes sense to me. I'm only gonna operate in that. And guess what? It typically doesn't work sometimes, and that's all right because he'll deliver us from whatever we get ourselves into, and when we renew to that new identity he has set out for us, we put on that new self of the Holy Spirit, and it truly just transforms us. And I think this also ties in perfectly to Isaiah 55.9. Whereas again, why do we have to renew our minds? Again, Proverbs 3 stated, well, because we'll get misled if we lean on our own heart or our own understanding. Well, look at what Isaiah 55.9 states for as the heavens are higher than the earth, God is saying, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. So once we can start understanding that there are heavenly things that can be bestowed upon us, exactly what my brother was saying, through imagination, through thought, through literally act of word, or through scripture, he can guide you in this world through storms that we never foresaw, and he will see us through the other side better than we could even ever imagine. Where, again, if we lean on our understanding, we never would have even thought to go in that direction in the first place and look at what we'd have been missing out on. No, look at everything we could have been missing because we would have wanted to do it our way when his way is perfect, even through trial and tribulation. And without honestly applying the fact that God wants to talk to you, God wants to guide you, God wants to just be your father, like the the child we children we are. Like sometimes we just miss it, and that just really, you know speaks to me. That God wants to talk to me just like God wants to talk to you, and He wants to tell you heavenly things that are gonna guide you in this world that are gonna just blow your mind in the best way possible, and you're just gonna keep wanting more. And I know you got something really good uh based off of this in 2 Corinthians, if you kind of want to share that.

SPEAKER_00 11:52

Yeah, and before I jump into the verse, like I for people who haven't started this walk yet, I kind of think about like again, Jeremiah, the the clay into the clay in the potter. Like the clay doesn't know what it's going to be formed into. Like you could try to build yourself up, but if you don't have God molding you into what you're supposed to be, you'll never make it to the full masterpiece that you were created for. But like for people who ha have been on this walk for a while, I feel like this verse goes great, but 2 Corinthians 10, 5, we refute arguments and theories and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ. So this could go great into the next part, which is God's timing, but like also like holding those thoughts captive captive, I think about a lot here, and whether it's hate for somebody else, or just your unpatient with God and his timing, or you're thinking you know better than him and try to move on. But I mean, this could go great with like hate towards somebody else or temptation, especially. But who's speaking to you? And and that's why it's like be quick to listen but slow to speak on these things, and we need to to like start disciplining ourselves and our mind to be obedient to Christ. So when those thoughts come up, we could hand over. I mean, the first time like I kind of saw this happen like in the spirit, I guess you could say, but like something came in my mind and it was like hateful towards somebody else, and I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa, that's not that's not from God. Like it seemed like it was, because like, oh, this person isn't doing this correctly, whatever, in their walk with God. And I'm like, nope, that's false. Like, what's going on there? And I literally like saw a demon being held captive in chains as I hold that thought captive, and I'm like, Jesus, what do I do with this? And he like pointed away, he's like, cast it out, and I casted it out in Jesus' name, and the thought stopped and never popped back in. And but like, that's how we should like picture what's going on in the spiritual realm because that's what is happening in the spirit. They can no longer tempt us, so they'll whisper whether you take hold of what they're telling you, or whether you take hold of what Jesus is telling you is your choice. Yeah. So, yeah, what do you have to add on to that?

SPEAKER_01 14:36

Yeah, all I got to really kind of close this out here is we kind of went over like the what we were talking about, the why it's important, and honestly, kind of how it applies. And I do think this also lays up to God's timing really well as well. Where honestly, just comes down to 1 Corinthians 13 4, right? So, like, what do we renew our mind to? Why do we gotta do it? And how do we know it's from it's from God again? One of the many ways we can discern is honestly, God is perfect, God is loving, He is righteous and holy, and 1 Corinthians 13 4 is just a love that the world is just not used to receiving because it's a heavenly love. And the first thing it starts off with is love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude, it is not insistent on its own way. Again, insisting on its own way speaks again here. It is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with truth. For Jesus is the way, the truth, the life, remember. And love bears all things, believes all things, and hopes all things, endures all things, love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away. As for tongues, they will cease, as for knowledge, it will pass away. So what he's basically saying is he will not pass away. And when he says, Love bears all things, believes all things, and hopes all things, what he's saying is like when he is speaking to you, whether it's scripture through active word or thought or vision or dream, he's saying, believe all things that come from me, because they will happen. You know, everything that he says, it will come to pass. And it just really speaks to me too that love is patient, right? Like we are so used to being in a modern world where everything happens now, now, now, our way, our way, our way. And going through, and we got stories upon stories with this, but like going through, like if you think you're a patient in the world, I mean, let me this heavenly patience is a whole different, whole different story here because we there's things that uh we just would wish would happen, like tomorrow. And one thing that really resonated with me this past year is everything that I wanted to do in my thoughts faster actually is the long run because God's way is better, perfect, and always right on time. And his way is actually faster if you think about it, even though it feels longer. Yeah, like it feels longer, but it is actually faster. Where if we try to do it like of our own ways and our own flesh, our own understanding, it we think it'll be faster, but it'll actually be longer because it's not gonna work the way you think. Yeah, and uh that's just a really funny, almost like sense of humor kind of moment. Uh, because God's like, you can try, but I mean, my way's better. Yeah, um, and it just this is just kind of emulates why we need the renewal of the mind. Because, like, if we keep feeling like we're trying to do the same thing over and over again, like we're running to a wall, like just renew your mind into God's ways for you. Because when you walk in the ways of the Holy Spirit, I mean, it's it will just literally be a game changer, a life changer. And yeah, sometimes there is patience involved, but you know what? There's lessons to be learned in that. Because how can we possibly grow if everything happens right now? We are to grow with him in those times of moments, in or moments of waiting, in those times of trials, in those times of tribulation. That's when we grow with him. That's when we grow with him. So just be patient through those, continue seeking him, continue to show love to others, and it is worth it in the end every single time, tenfold.

SPEAKER_00 18:09

And like we we need to understand, like you said, love is patient, love is kind. Like, if if we really truly care about somebody, we need to understand like nobody loves another person the way God loves them.

SPEAKER_01 18:24

And amen.

SPEAKER_00 18:25

I mean, like, his very nature, his the his embodiment, being father, son, and holy spirit shows that. Like, nobody loves the son more than the father, and the father more than the son. I mean, his very who he is shows that. And even then, Jesus chose to die for us because that was the will of God. The will of God is that all will be saved through believing in him. In one Timothy, it says that. But like God would have destroyed the whole world for Jesus Christ, it says in Isaiah, yet he chose us because he knew the will of God, and he was patient that we would come to him and in his love. I mean, like you said, 1 Corinthians 13, 4 through 8, like says that perfectly. But Galatians 6, 9, let us not become weary and doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. And sometimes it's painful to wait, sometimes it takes a little bit more work. But when you you know, wait for the proper timing, when you wait for that perfect season, and then harvest when when the crop is ripe, you will get the the full I don't know what you say, result, result, weld, whatever. Yep, you know, you'll harvest the the full amount of crops, you'll you'll when it's ripe.

SPEAKER_01 19:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 19:53

I probably said that four times in the same same way, but whatever. Yeah, and if we pull too early, well then it's not good to eat, you know? And if we pull too late, then it might be rotten. So it's gotta be at that proper season um to pull. And the best way to do that is by following the will of God in love.

SPEAKER_01 20:22

So yeah, that's that's perfect. I mean, the the the perfect timing, it's it's a it's you're not gonna always hit. Let me just put it that way. Like it it takes practice to understand the timing of how the Lord wants you to operate in certain things. I mean, I'm still working on it myself. Might get a little too eager sometimes, or maybe like I I miss an opportunity because I I just overthought something, or you know, was was a little bit too waiting and everything. But over time, as you practice this with the Lord, you're gonna really kind of get the understanding of when he wants you to do or say something or not. And I got a couple stories that I actually like to share that I can actually apply to this. One being, I when I was again, if you tune back into my testimony one, testimony two, I kind of talked about this a little bit if you haven't checked it out, but I'll kind of summarize it a little bit. So I was at a job I really loved in fitness, got paid good, good hours, loved what I did, talking to people about Jesus, spreading the gospel, when I, you know, started believing in everything. And there's some people there that like just were interested in the conversation, but just nothing more than that. Just just uh agree to disagree type of conversations. There's a few of them, and that was all right because I enjoyed their talk and everything. But then when I really got saved, the Lord told me to quit my job and I could not understand why. I'm like, why, God? Like, I'm I have a great group of people I'm talking to, I'm spreading the gospel. Like, isn't that what you would want me to do? You know what didn't really make sense for me to quit that. I quit anyway. And after I quit that job, four people that I was talking to gained interest and actually started reading a little bit and wanting to know more about Jesus because I was so confident in that decision that I was led to do that that's what that was the seed. That was the seed that needed to be planted. And they never that never would have happened if I would have just been like, you know what, that's ridiculous. That can't be it. Sticking to my old ways, worldly understanding, I would, I would have missed it. I would have missed it. So to God be the glory on that, he always knows what he's doing. He always knows what we do. He just wants us to trust him through faith, belief, and honestly, action. My second story I got is I really was eager to start Bobby with some of my friends that I was reaching out to, and it was just kind of like not working. And I was like praying to the Lord about it. I was like, why is this not working? Why is this not working? And the Lord kept telling me, Because you're trying to do it, let my timing take its place. Just be patient. And I was like, okay, okay. And I tried a couple times and it wasn't working. And all of a sudden, about three months later, one of my really good friends reached out to me, started a weekly video call. It didn't originally start as a Bible study, but it quickly gravitated towards one. And honestly, shout out to those brothers if you're listening. I am so grateful that the Lord led me into uh your lives and vice versa. I mean, it has been an absolute blessing getting to know you guys for the past year. We have some amazing conversations and just some great revelation that we talk about. But how could that have happened if I just wanted to rush it, push it, pursue it? I mean, who knows what could happen. All I know is I don't want to find out because God's way is best. I know. And I'm I'm so appreciative of everything that has been happening in that group. So again, shout out to those brothers. It's been an amazing ride. I can't wait to continue to do this, do this ride with you guys.

SPEAKER_00 23:59

Yeah, and I mean, God was using them and showing up in their lives like immediately. I mean, he's he's always been there, but like they started recognizing him, they started understanding they had purpose in him. And I mean, we were only doing that up to like what th three months, I would say, before they like really started hearing his voice and understanding, like, hey, I am important to God, like he does want to use me. And I mean, it's just that easy. But yeah, like God knew he they needed guidance in that time, he's like, Oh, I'm ready to use them, and then we were blessed to to teach them what God had teached us, you know. Yeah, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:44

The verse that really speaks to me about these situations is John 16 33. And this is the last verse I gotta share here. I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world. And that really speaks to me about the patience kind of mindset and the renewing of the mind is, I mean, Jesus knew everything we were gonna endure and go through, and he knew it was gonna help us have to lean and rely more on him. And even though there are things that we go through where we wish, yeah, it'd be done, like tomorrow, or we never had to go through them in the first place. Like, I get that. But there's a time and purpose and a reason for everything. Everything, and everything he will use to the good of his glory for those who love him. And I just want to encourage anyone who's out there right now that just seems like they've just been going through the mud, that it just seems like they've been climbing a mountain, that just seems like they've just been having rainy day after rainy day after rainy day. I'm telling you right now, come to the Lord, talk to him, get back in the word, just be patient on his timing because he will show up right when it matters, and everything will make sense. Everything will make sense, and it will all tie together in your testimony. So I don't know who needed to hear that, but the Lord's timing is perfect. Just you'll make it through.

SPEAKER_00 26:10

Amen. And oh god, this is one of those names that you you have to chew on a little bit because if you're trying to say this all at once, you might choke. I've been waiting for this. I've been waiting for this since we started. I don't know, it just sounds like a chicken, like two, three. Yeah, I don't know how to pronounce it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time, it speaks of the end and will not prove false, though it linger, wait for it, it will certainly come and will not delay. And you know, we we think like in our time, like if if it's not right now, right when we think it's available to us, like it's gone, it's uh it's out of reach. But like sometimes we we need to understand like God will make those things come too. Whether you think you miss an opportunity and somebody he uses somebody else to do it, and we think we failed, but like God will always make it work, or maybe it wasn't the right time, maybe a few more puzzle pieces had to be in place for it to fully connect, you know. You just couldn't see the full puzzle, but God does, and we need to understand that. I don't know if you want to kind of tell that story with the gas station, or we could where you thought you missed out on an opportunity to help somebody and you kept seeing them like en route. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I see what you're saying. Oh, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:44

Yeah, I mean, there's there's a moment where I I feel like I had a prophetic word for someone, like just like something that the Lord wanted to bring to their attention to know that you know God cares about them and hears their prayers, and you know, just kind of wanted to encourage and help them, and I just I just didn't seem like I had the right opportunity, even though I look back, I totally could have. And I was like, Well, God, if I really needed to tell that to someone, have another opportunity to be represented. And I was filling up at the gas station later and they were driving right past me, and I'm like, no way. And I'm like, what if they went to the same destination I need to go to next? And ironically enough, there they were at the same destination I was going to next. And I'm like, okay, okay, okay. Well, if it just seemed a little bit too awkward at the moment again. So I'm like, okay, if it really is a message, like have them be at the next destination. I kept asking for like the next, the next, and the next, even though I had an opportunity right there. And it was interesting, I kind of was like, just kind of didn't do it because like there's many moments where like I have just gone to people and just things just did connect. For whatever reason, I just I just didn't didn't do it this time. And and it, you know, it happens. It happens. And just going back to some of the topics we talked about before, like, it doesn't mean God does loves you any less or anymore when when you act on some of that stuff or not. It's alright. We're not gonna be perfect in this. Like, we're we're gonna miss some at bats. Like, it happens. The whole point is that you want to keep trying and you want to keep practicing, yes, and growing. Yes, and and continue to grow. He's not gonna be like, you know, condemning you by any means about it, but it is something where and also don't don't be too hard on yourself about it either. Like, I mean, we're to be like children in this walk, right? Like, we don't want to make mistakes, but it might happen every now and then and just might again miss it at bad. I mean, it is what it is. Just get up and get in the play, get in the bear's box and keep swinging. You know, that that's all I gotta say about that. It's take the next opportunity. Learn from it, take the next opportunity.

SPEAKER_00 29:42

Yeah, and I kind of have like two more verses I want to end on, but 2 Peter 3.8, with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. And I kind of think about this like more for this episode, more for the essence of like sometimes you want to just run with whatever God gives you and you forget about the rest. And it seems like a while to to wait, like especially when we started our walk. I know like God gave us things, and we just wanted to run immediately with it. And God doesn't fault us with that in a sense, but sometimes we could do damage with that. Like when we preach the word on the best of our understanding with what God gave us, and we don't know the full picture behind it, and sometimes we kind of push people away. You know, we know the truth, we found the truth, our eyes have been opened, but at the same time, like I could see God looking at us and be like, guys, do you not understand like what I did with you to get you to that point? You know, and sometimes we have to understand like God pulled us out of the dark, and we need to wait on him to shine the light for those other people so they can see the path that you're trying to pull them on. And yeah, I mean, it it just seems like a long time with a lot of people, especially when it's loved ones that you're trying to bring to Christ. I know I know we both are going through similar things, but like we know that when we wait on God's time and we see how He paints that picture, I mean, it is a full masterpiece beyond what we were comprehending. We only saw like a couple of strokes and a couple of points, but we didn't see the detail that got put into it to bring it to the full again masterpiece. But yeah, I mean, and me and my brother here kind of want to invite you guys to if you're going through something, if you've lost somebody or if you're an illness, like if you want us to pray for you on the podcast, or I mean, this is a community, so comment like what you need help with, what you need prayers for. Like, we are here for you guys. This isn't just for us, like, this is to help you on your path with Christ. And that's what's really important here. So, with that, I just want to say God bless, and we hope you join us on the next episode. Take care.