Ten Before Eleven.
I made a startling discovery not too long ago.
My oldest daughter, now four, asked me late one afternoon to read the brand new Dr. Seuss book her grandmother had just sent to her in the mail. Being a big fan of Dr. Seuss ever since I was a kid, and even a bigger fan of the sparkle in my daughter’s eye whenever she would ask me to read to her, I quickly obliged.
So I sat my daughter next to me on the couch, opened the new book, and began to read. But just before I was about to turn over the first page of the book, it happened.
On page 4, it happened. On page 9, it happened.
And on page 14 and 15, it happened again.
I stopped reading and asked my daughter if it was okay if we could take a little break. Puzzled as to why I stopped so suddenly, she slowly and (as any four year-old would) reluctantly agreed. I put the book down and went into bedroom where my wife was sleeping, and frantically tried to wake her up, something I wouldn’t normally do.
After she woke up and turned to me with that ‘this-really-better-be-good’ look on her face, she asked me what was wrong. I took a deep breath, and then told her…
“…I keep SKIPPING words.”
I explained how while reading to my daughter, I kept skipping over certain adjectives and prepositions as if I had already read the book before, making many of the sentences I was reading to her incomplete and at times, confusing. It was though my eyes were in a race to the finish each page, which caused me to have to go back at times and reread certain words.
While my reaction to this newfound discovery was one of fright, my wife’s reaction was totally different. She burst into laughter and told me in a very calm and reassuring tone…
“…I’ve known THIS (about you) for some time now.”
Overjoyed that my wife was not going to send me to the local psychiatric ward, I began to wonder if I was the only one with this problem. But after flipping through a few religious television channels later that evening, I realized it wasn’t me at all.
This is a problem most in the Body of Christ have today.
I would argue that over the past five, perhaps even ten years, when it comes to providing the Body of Christ with a renewed hope and faith in God, no passage of scripture has been referenced and recited more than Jeremiah 29:11. I’m sure you’ve heard of it:
“For I know the plans that I have towards you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Sunday after Sunday, and at times, channel after channel, millions of believers all over the world are encouraged with the message of an all-knowing, all-powerful God who loves us and has plans to give us a successful and bright future in Him. To know that God, despite all of our shortcomings, would be mindful of us in such a way is truly incredible.
However, what is interesting about this particular passage of scripture is not the words that are found within it, but rather in the words that come BEFORE it.
Take a look now at VERSE 10:
“For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place…”
Did you catch that? If not, allow me to help you.
The entire 29th chapter of Jeremiah consists of a letter that was delivered to the King of Judah by the prophet Jeremiah; a letter that prophesied that the land of Jerusalem (all 10,000 of its citizens) would be taking captive by the infamous tyrant and ruler of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar. I dare you to do a background check on him; he’s got quite the record.
Within this letter, God shares with Jerusalem that while He indeed has thoughts and plans to prosper them, their future successes will only come AFTER a period of great trial and pain.
A period that lasted seventy years.
(So why is that important to remember on today, you ask?)
Simply because I want you to know that SUCCESS, while something we all desire and often dream of, does not happen overnight. True success (in God) comes through process.
Now more than ever before, we as believers must exercise patience not only with the reading of God’s word, but also when it comes to our personal lives and goals.
Our desire to get to the end of our struggle must not be at the expense of truly appreciating our struggle.
You are in the middle of a great story. One that is marked for great success.
Just remember, as it is with math, or the pages of a children’s book, so it is with scripture:
TEN always comes before ELEVEN.
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Category: Life & Faith
Awesome! God’s got a right time, and often the time is not “right now.”
Preach brother!
Outstanding and thank you.
Thanks “40″!!!
Absolutely Fabulous!!!
Great words of wisdom!
Enjoy your insight…
To My Brother Milan,
I get your writings in my email as devotionals from “Streaming Faith” and I am blessed immensely by your message, your writing style and your delivery of truth. When I read about your issue with the word “organic” that tickled me so. Then I was in the grocery store and saw the word “organic” and thought about you! LOL! And now it just so happens that I read Jerremiah 29 last evening and I did notice that AFTER seventy years….the promise. We have a tendency not only to skip words and verses, but not read AT ALL and then let someone else tell us what is in the word. We must read it ourselves and let God Himself talk to us! I am almost out of my wilderness journey now. But I thank God for it. My ministry will start soon and I hope to meet you one day. God Bless you and your writings
Prophetess Dee
This reminds me of a saying my friend frequently shares with me: “Success only comes before work in the dictionary.”
Hello – I’m a first-time visitor and wondering if I can get daily writings from the pewview sen to my email address b/c I don’t do twitter and all of that other stuff just yet. Love this website and his writings! Peace.
thanks for your comment Mary – just click on my pic on the top left corner and you’ll be prompted to subscribe via email there.
Process! This a hard thing, but it prepares you for the promise! Thanks for sharing your journey its a wonderful thing to do! Blessings!
Wonderful post!
I was really in a bad place this morning…I was crying and hurting and I ask God to help me with a word cus I always need a word from the Lord…I stopped everything I was doing and open my email, read every thing which is unusual for me and click on hyperlinks!…it got to be the Lord and I found your encouraging words…Thanks for reminding me that to get to the victory, I must endure the pain. BUT…keyword he will bring me through…Thanks and God continue to bless you.
Thank you for taking the time out to write these nuggets. This one I really needed to hear today. I have been through a struggle for almost 3 years that I thought should have been over by now, but I can see God moving on my behalf. The words you wrote just confirmed what was in my heart. Again thank you!
I’ve only today found this sight and I know without a doubt God sent me here. Thank you for your time and obedience to our Lord Brother Milan!!!!!
For a long time, God has used 11 to confirm my promises, many of which I am still waiting for after many, many years. It was encouraging and eye opening to read about the 10. He’s been telling me my season for hardship is over and I am beginning to walk into the promises. Thank you for the good teaching and I plan to sign up for your devotionals and check out more of your writings and new book! Be Blessed.
I LOVED reading this today! I have put this blog into my favorites and will be using it on a regular basis for building and encouraging. Isn’t it funny that the scriptures we readily quote have a verse prior that totally rocks our world. Another perfect example….Philippians 4;13…..I can do everything through Him who gives me strength…..what about Philippians 4:12……I know what it is to be in need, I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Happy New Year
Ray Reynolds