‘You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favour to her; the appointed time has come.’ Psalm 102:13 NIV

All of your life can be training for one season, one God-given assignment, one purpose. You may plan out the number of years required to graduate with your qualification. You may know the amount of effort and the approximate timeline required to rise to the top of your profession. But when it comes to experiencing the favour of God, He sets the time.

‘Our Lord, you are King forever and will always be famous. You will show pity to Zion because the time has come.’ (Psalm 102:12–13 CEV)

One moment of God’s favour will do more for you than a lifetime of striving (hard work). In his book Still Standing: 8 Winning Strategies for Facing Tough Times, Dr James Merritt writes: ‘In a meeting that took less than twenty minutes, Pharaoh made Joseph prime minister of the entire country—second in authority only to him! Pharaoh’s act catapulted Joseph from the pit to the palace. God works, in hindsight, through a beautiful story arc. His way of getting Joseph to the palace was through the pit and the prison. As with Joseph, what we so often see as stumbling blocks are really stepping stones Papa God uses to accomplish His plan and fulfil His purpose in our lives.’

It’s your obedience to God that brings His favour, and your faithfulness in difficult times: ‘For better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.’ So be faithful and press on; God has set a time to favour you!

SoulFood: 1 Ki 8–9, Mark 8:14–26, Ps 47, Pro 12:4–6

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©