Eleventh Hour

The eleventh hour is an expression meaning "a time which is nearly too late". The phrase comes from the Bible in Matthew and is referring to the workmen being hired late in the day. According to Jewish culture the work day ended at six, so the eleventh hour was at five.  Only one hour left before the day was over. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' Matthew 20:6 

Do you feel the rush?  Is the work day coming to an end and you still have too much to accomplish?  Our God seems to enjoy surprise endings, maybe this is because in that eleventh hour when you look around it seems impossible to finish what needs to be done.  God enjoys doing the impossible.  Doing the impossible is the best way for all glory to go to Him. If it wasn't impossible then maybe we would be more likely to accomplish things on our own. 

Do you look around and see everyone else accomplishing all of their goals? Maybe things seem to be going perfectly for them?  MAYBE you just don't know?  From past experience we have been able to look really good on the outside, and accomplish many things on our own. Years ago all of our bills were paid, we had two newer vehicles, huge wardrobes, and purchased many of the newest things.  BUT no one saw the amount of debt we accumulated to acquire these things.  It may seem like God is waiting too long to come through for you, but He might just know better.  He might just be waiting for us to come to the place where we could NOT accomplish things without His help.  He might just be waiting for us to stop figuring out how WE are going to accomplish His promises in our lives. 

When someone makes a promise to you...is it YOUR job to figure out a way to make it happen?  We would just WAIT for it to happen, SO why do we not continue to live our lives according to God's will and REST in His promises to us?  He has promised us many things in His Word.

My grace is sufficient for you. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you Psalm 9:10.

We can rely on every one of His promises, and we do not have to MAKE them happen. God's promises may have stipulations, but we do not have to manipulate the outcome. God promises that when we tithe we will be blessed, but that doesn't mean we have to figure out in our human minds what that blessing will be....God made the promise. He WILL bless us. It might even seem to take forever, but the blessings WILL come. The power of a promise depends on the one who makes it. There's no better promise to trust than one made by God Himself. Claiming God's promises will unleash His power in your marriage. We encourage you to read the Bible and search for more of God's promises to you.  It may feel like the eleventh hour; it may even BE the eleventh hour...but God is faithful.  He knows best. Keep Standing! Don't quit!


Josh and Serena