Are you praying for change, hoping for something new, asking for a turn-around?
Let me ask you this: could the delay be you? Are you even ready for that breakthrough? Could you contain if if it happened?
In 3 out of 4 Gospels, we see Jesus telling the parable of the wineskins (Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, and Luke 5:27).
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” -Mark 2:21-22 NIV
This was in response to a pious question from the Pharasees about why Jesus and his followers didn’t fast. His parable answer indicated an issue of timing and an issue of readiness. Just like it wasn’t time for the groomsmen to fast while the groom was with them, it wasn’t time to fast while Jesus was around. It was time to feast on the Bread of Life, because a time of fasting was coming when He was crucified and when they had to carry on the movement without Him. They weren’t ready and it wasn’t time.
If you want the new things God has for you, it’s time to adopt some new attitudes, behaviors, and habits. He won’t burst you, so He’ll wait on you to be ready before pouring out all you ask Him for.
In His timing your prayers will be answered, the breakthrough will burst forth, and blessing will be poured into your new, large-capacity, softened heart. Until then we can dedicate ourselves to prayer, surrender our lives to His craftsmanship, and open our minds to His plans.
What new thing are you waiting for, and how can you renew yourself in preparation to receive it?