This Is Your Appointed Time In History

Woah, God speaks to me at the weirdest times, like 10:23 pm after a church softball game. He speaks when I am vulnerable, I guess as in sweaty, stinky, and in pain. Yet, I made a promise to say "yes," so that is what I am going to do.

Lately, I have realized that I cannot study the Bible on my own, I in fact do need someone to help me (as hard as this is to admit, since I am a teen, I do not know it all). I was cleaning my room earlier today and I found this devotional that I had bought like a year ago and I had only done the first couple of lessons in it. I decided to pick it back up and give it another try!

I thought that I should just start over since I remember nothing that it talked about. Man, this first devotional got me!

I was reading the introduction, little story-like part in the front and it kept telling me to remind myself who my helper is. It continued to say that I do not find help for my problems in work or worldly events. I was intrigued because, frankly, I do struggle with working until all of my crap hits me in the face at once, at 10:23 pm.

I go on and it tells me to read Acts 17:24-28. I am not going to type all of it because it is really long but you guys can look it up. The part that really stuck out to me was verses 26-27. Especially the part in verse 26 where it says, "... he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. [27] God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us."

The first thing that stuck out to me was that God specifically chose which part of history we were going to be in. He knew what we could handle, where we should be, how everything would play out, and how you and I are needed to change the world at this very moment. For a while, I have known that I am called to something greater (we all are). I know that, even though I want to be, certain jobs are not cut out for me or my purpose. I know that I will have to overcome fear, temptation, anxiety, and many other tactics of the devil to achieve the purpose God has called me to!

I did not log on at 10:30 pm to tell you what I know about my future, I logged on to tell the world that you can make it through this battle. He appointed this time to YOU because he knew that you could handle it. God knew that the world needed someone like you to encourage that friend, sing that song, preach that message. God knew that you were the one that was needed for such a time as this!

The next part of verse 26 says that God also marked the boundaries of their lands. God specifically knew that boundaries you and I need. For me, I feel out of place when I listen to dirty music or say bad words. This is because God is going to use that special place to shake nations. God blesses us when we listen to the Holy Spirit. For you, it may be clothing, sexual sin, what kind of shows you watch, or whatever God has called you to give up or tread lightly with. God has a special way of teaching us, even though it doesn't look nice.

That is why God has set our boundaries, because this life is our land and the years that we are allowed to live on earth is our appointed time in history! Why is this so? Well God is just so amazing to give us the answer in verse 27!

"God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us."

God did this so that nations will be reached, lives will be changed, and people will come to Jesus. All of this because we surrendered to remaining in the secret place even when the secret place got dark. All because we allowed Christ to live in and speak through us. We are called to a greater purpose, never lose hope because Christ is not far from any one of us!