Day 28: It takes time

..::*+ Small Talk +*::.

The internet is really testing my patience. What is wrong? Anyway, had a real terrible day, yesterday (Tuesday, 24.06.2008). It was really a tiring day – woke up at 5.30am (GMT +1), then cycle to school, waited for German friend, and went for preparation of Konstruktion Wettbewerb, which took place today (Wednesday 25.06.2008). Will update about it tomorrow.

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Day 28: It takes time

Maturity is a slow process and there are no by-pass shortcuts to it. In the context of development of Christlike character, the Fruit of the Spirit grows slowly. I never knew tomatoes are collected while they are unripe and are sprayed with CO₂ gas in selling stores to turn them to red. And these are, of course, no match for the real ripe tomatoes fresh from farm.

While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Discipleship is the process of conforming to Christ. When we let God takes control over everything, He promised that His works will be carry on until completion.

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.
Philippians 1:6

It will be an amazing journey which involves believing (through worship), belonging (through fellowship), and becoming (through discipleship). But in this journey we should not too obsessed with speed. But God said it should be slow and gradual.

Our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him.
2 Corinthians 3:18b New Century Version

You might say, “Hey, if God is powerful and almighty, why don’t He just change us instantly?” Why does it take so much time to change and grow up?

1. We are slow learners. Often we have to repeat something over and over again. Say in badminton, to train myself to be better, I practiced the correct badminton movements every training session. And about the service shot, it took me 2 years to fully master it. Likewise, He wants us to learn slowly. There’s no point if today you are Christlike but tomorrow you turn back to your old habits.

2. We have a lot to unlearn. People often go to counselor to ask help for personal or relational problem. And often they ask so that the problems that took years to develop can be solved instantly. Do you think it’s possible for something that takes so many years to develop to change within an hour, or a day?

While you are given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Yes, and I want to get to remove my old unhealthy habits.

3. We are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves. We are often being pulled back by our pasts – those bad memories, hurting moments, unintentional or intentional attitudes, bad thoughts, etc. The truth, however, is that we are all being set free. The fear of what we might discover if we honestly faced our character defects keeps us living in the prison of denial. Therefore, let go our proud, and be humble and teachable.

4. Growth is often painful and scary. Often this growth, or change, is very painful.

There is no growth without change; there is no change without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Let go our old ways to take in the new. Instead of holding back to what you think, why not think this way: Who will I be, if I let go of my habit, my hurt, my hang-up, my hatred?

5. Habits take time to develop. It means, we need to practice Christlike character to have a Christlike character. Paul urged Timothy:

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
1 Timothy 4:15

Repetition is the key for character and skill building. Therefore, practice them more.

Don’t get in a hurry
Cooperate with God instead.
1. Believe God is working in your life even when you don’t feel it. It says in Bible that,

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Pray for gradual change. Understand that over time, things can be solved. And remember, God has His own timing.

2. Keep a notebook or journal or lessons learned. In other words, note down what you have learn. Blog it out like me is a way of it, writing in a special private book is also a choice. It is an account so that we can reread what we have learned when we forget them. In the Book of Esther, King Xerxes ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign and found out Mordecai was not given anything for revealing the attempt by Bigthana and Teresh to assassinate the king. He then honored Mordecai. The point here is that, we might learn something new from what we have learned in the past, or at least, it keeps yourself reminded of what you have learned.

3. Be patient with God and with yourself. Seldom is our timetable the same as God’s. When you want something to be in hurry, God let it to come slowly instead. You will roar with frustration. But people, remember always, that God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time. His plans for you are a perfectly scheduled. And there is no allowance for accidents to happen.

4. Don’t get discouraged. God said this to Habakkuk when he became depressed of God that he thought God was not acting quickly enough:

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.
Habakkuk 2:3

God always on time, no?

Remember of how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

God is not done with you, therefore, keep going on!




Vincent