Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Watching the Wind

Ecclesiastes 11:4

Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
Whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

Footnote from my bible:
Waiting for the perfect conditions will mean inactivity. If we wait for the perfect time and place for personal bible reading, we will never begin. If we wait for a perfect church, we will never join. If we wait for the perfect ministry, we will never serve. Don't wait for conditions that may never exist.

Wow! I was reading through my journal and found this entry from December. Such a great scripture. I think most of the times I've heard this scripture preached, it was in reference to financial giving (sowing and reaping).

But I think, in general, it could be talking about watching or waiting for the perfect time and place - perfect conditions - before "planting" anything - money, time, talents, etc.

Are you waiting for perfect conditions before you do something that God has already told you to do? Am I?

These conditions will probably never exist.

Are you watching the wind? I looked up the definition of wind and here are some out-of-the-ordinary interesting meanings that I found:

  • storm, hurricane (ok, this one was kind of expected LOL)
  • any influential force or trend (hmmmm....)
  • a hint or intimidation (reeeaaaallly?...)

So what things are influencing or intimidating you concerning that which God has spoken to you or instructed you to do?

I also looked up the word cloud and here is what I found:

  • a dim or obscure area in something otherwise clear and transparent (interesting....)
  • anything that obscures or darkens something, or causes gloom, trouble, suspicion, disgrace, etc.

Is there something darkening or causes gloom, suspicion or trouble to that which God has spoken to you? Something that was clear but has become dim or obscure (confusion?)..... Something that is keeping you from all that God has for you?

It might be a little windy, with a few clouds (and maybe even some rain), just pull your hair back in a pony tail, put on your baseball cap and grab your umbrella........and keep your eyes on HIM. And listen for His perfect timing (which may not have the perfect conditions we had hoped for!).

(Thanks for listening while I preached to myself!) :)

4 friends had this to say:

Anonymous said...

hahaha! I thankfully never watched the wind where it prevented me from "planting". I usually try to run ahead and would have my seeds planted, watered and waiting for the harvest in the next minute! I'm a work in progress :) I do get distracted by the wind! And sadly, you can't even see wind! It's just my mind distracting me and holding me back at times. Nothings even really in the way. Nothing that Jesus can't handle anyway :)

Shelly said...

Funny, I do that, at times, too! Get ahead of the game, or so I think! haha But usually, I'm trusting in my own abilities and strength (which doesn't get me far! lol) And then, there are the times when my feet just can't seem to move because the "wind" is too strong or my path is not clear. I seem to complicate things, glad God is so patient with me. I'm definitely a work in progess! :)

Anonymous said...

Me too...work in progress!!:0)

This was an EXCELLENT post ..I so needed you to preach to me today:0)

I got a pretty good grip on my unbrella so the wind and rain isnt to much of an issue...

Its the clouds of confusion...when I take the unbrella away and get lost in daydreaming and watching clouds

The who what when where and why???

Who: everyone else
What: what they are doing/thinking
When: all the time
Where: everywhere
WHY: because I get distracted

Pray for me I got some steps to take that I really want to take but I am himhawing about them...

Shelly said...

Thanks, Starla. I will pray for you! I, too, need to move my feet forward and do some things.... :)