Are you as amazed as I am by God’s timing in our lives? Why He called you and me to be alive at this particular time? How His timing always seems to be perfect?
The sovereignty of God’s timing—in our lives and for the times in which we are living—has been a special area of focus for me recently. His timing always seems to be perfect, and that brings me great peace. The Lord does everything at just the right time.
Divine Timing and Protection
Last month, I experienced yet another reminder of the sovereignty of God’s timing. While we were attending some meetings in New York, my wife, Cindi, and I stayed at a unique hotel in Buffalo. The proprietor, a patriot in his nineties, had constructed a display at his hotel honoring the soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. My dad’s tank division fought in that battle, so it inspired some further research.
It had always been difficult to get my dad to talk with me about his war experience, so I became a student of World War II history. Regarding his involvement in the Battle of the Bulge, I had always wondered whether his unit had been surrounded by the German forces attacking Bastogne, Belgium, or whether his division was part of General George Patton’s Third Army rescue effort for Bastogne. So, I googled it to find out.
In the article I located, one fact stood out. His unit, the Tenth Armored Division, was in the thick of the action in Bastogne, a battle which lasted from December 16 through December 27, 1944. The article made it clear that on December 21st, the battle was especially intense. Even so, my father, fighting for his life, managed to survive.
A Day to Remember
Why was December 21, 1944, such a divinely significant date? Because two years later, on December 21, 1946, my older sister, Jane, would be born. Had my dad not survived, neither she nor I would be here today. Had it not been for Janie and her wonderful influence on my life (she was the one who persuaded me to go to the event where I gave my life to Jesus), I would not be doing what I am doing today.
In His sovereign timing and care, the Lord kept watch over my father, preserving his life, knowing that two years from the day he survived that intense battle, my sister would be born. The very same date! How much clearer could it be? Just the right time.
Not a Coincidence
You probably have your own testimonies of the sovereignty of God’s timing in your life. The theme of such stories is one encouraging fact: God is in control. He doesn’t
do anything by happenstance. The events the Lord orders for our lives are not coincidental or accidental. His plan is deliberate, and it all happens at just the right time.
As I have focused on these realizations and recollections, two passages about God’s timing have been ringing in my ears. The first is Galatians 4:4–5 (NIV): “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law that we might receive adoption to sonship.” The other passage, Romans 5:6 (NIV), conveys the same truth: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” God’s plan for Jesus and us? Just the right time.
An Expression of His Love
In a marvelous series titled “Progress to Perfection,” Derek Prince cites this Romans passage, focusing on its connection with God’s love for each and every one of us.
The climax of our upward progress is agape. Agape is a word which is normally, in some way or other, associated with God Himself. I believe it would be accurate to say that ultimately the only source of agape is God Himself. And so, wherever we have agape, it must proceed from God.
The divine demonstration of agape, of God’s love, is given us in Romans chapter 5, verses 6–8, where Paul says this: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
So, the object of God’s love is demonstrated in Christ through the death of Christ. There are three words that are used to describe the kind of people for whom Christ died: powerless, ungodly, and sinners.
Powerless means we were the kind of people who couldn’t help ourselves. We had nothing positive to offer. We were totally dependent.
Ungodly means that we were, in our whole character and way of life, something alien to God; something that was unattractive and unappealing to God; something from which it would have been natural for God to avert His eyes and turn away.
Thirdly, we were sinners. We were rebels. We were at war with God. And it was for such persons—the powerless, the ungodly, and sinners—that God gave Christ and that Christ died. That’s the love of God.
God Is in Control
I hope it is an encouragement to realize that you and I are leading lives that are totally enveloped in the love and control of our Father in heaven. As Derek often said in various teachings, you and I are not “an accident looking for a place to happen.” Everything in our lives is taking place according to God’s timetable. Nothing is accidental or coincidental. It is happening at just the right time.
Do you believe that? If so, would you like to affirm it with me with this prayer?
Dear Lord, I declare that by Your mercy and grace, I am NOT an accident looking for a place to happen. You know how many hairs are on my head, and You have lovingly ordered the times and seasons of my life. Every day of my life has been planned out by You in advance, and You have ordained that the events will take place at just the right time.
Thank You, Lord! I rest in the knowledge and confidence that You are in control. I look forward with joy to the unfolding of the events of my life, knowing that You are in charge, and Your purposes for me are “plans for good and not for disaster,” to give me “a future and a hope.”
Your plans for my life will unfold at just the right time. Amen!
Inspiring Confidence
What we have just prayed and proclaimed is not based on an especially profound revelation. But it is a core concept—a bedrock that will bring confidence to every aspect of our lives. What an encouragement to know that you and I are living in concert with His purposes! Everything that takes place is under His control and in His divine timing!
All of us here at Derek Prince Ministries want to affirm that truth in your life. You are not here by accident, nor is it coincidental that you are reading these words or holding this letter right now. It is for a purpose—His purpose. We are honored to be a part of His plans for you, and we want to help you dig deeper into this month’s topic.
In that regard, please accept our offer for the full audio version of week two of Derek’s radio series, “Progress to Perfection” from which his quote came. Our hope is that the variety of topics Derek covers in this series will strengthen you. It is our pleasure to provide this teaching, with our deepest thanks for your prayers and financial support.
Destined for This Time
The main message of this letter on timing is that God has a definite purpose for you and me—and for the time in which we are living. Nothing is coincidental about it!
I recently heard a message by the prophetic teacher, Jonathan Cahn, speaking about what he referred to as “the Josiah moment” of history in which we all find ourselves. Here is what he said: “You are here because God put you here…. If God didn’t want you here, He would have put you in the Middle Ages—and you would not be happy there. God put you in the end times because He chose you for the end times. That means He appointed you for the end times. He will anoint you and He will empower you.”
Isn’t that encouraging? Our Sovereign Lord is in charge. He has called you and me for just such a time as this. It is no accident. You and I are alive in the precise moment of history to which the Lord has called us. He has work for us to do that could not be done by anyone else at any other moment. You and I are living at just the right time!
All the best,
Dick Leggatt
President, DPM–USA
