Trusting God's Timing and Prioritizing Spiritual Health

God is always on time, never early or late, and He is already present in every moment of our lives—even before we arrive there. We often find ourselves anxious about the future, worrying about our families, careers, health, and relationships, but God has already gone ahead of us. Our challenge is to trust Him with our time and decisions, recognizing that our days are limited and precious. The temptation to please people, to say yes to every demand, can rob us of the fullness of life God intends. When we prioritize the approval of others over obedience to God, we compromise our worship, our peace, and even our health.

Life is like a rope being pulled in both directions: we hustle, we strive, we try to control outcomes, but in doing so, we often miss the present moment and the divine appointments God has set for us. The Word teaches us to number our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom. This wisdom is not just about making good choices, but about allowing the Holy Spirit to guide every decision, big or small. When we live to please God rather than people, we experience true freedom, protection, and blessing. Our pattern of life—how we spend our time, what we say yes or no to—reveals our true priorities and shapes our spiritual legacy.

Jesus Himself modeled the boldness to say no, even to good things, in order to say yes to the Father. He withdrew from the crowds to pray, showing us that intimacy with God must never be compromised, no matter the pressures around us. Like Daniel, Nehemiah, and Paul, we are called to be courageous in setting boundaries, refusing distractions, and standing firm in our convictions. The world will always demand more of our time and attention, but only God can give us life in abundance. Each day is an opportunity to align our hearts with His will, to be intentional about our spiritual growth, and to prepare ourselves and our families for eternity.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Timing Surpasses Our Understanding God is not bound by our schedules or anxieties; He is already present in our tomorrows. Trusting in His timing means releasing our need to control outcomes and believing that He orchestrates every detail for our good. When we rest in this truth, our worries about the future lose their grip, and we can walk in peace and confidence. [49:37]
• 2. People-Pleasing Shortens and Distracts Our Lives The pursuit of human approval often leads us to neglect God’s calling and even our own well-being. When we say yes to everyone else but no to God, we find ourselves exhausted, spiritually empty, and missing out on divine purpose. True fulfillment comes from prioritizing God’s voice above all others, even when it means disappointing people. [54:47]
• 3. Wisdom Comes from Numbering Our Days and Seeking God’s Guidance Scripture urges us to recognize the brevity of life and to seek a heart of wisdom. This wisdom is cultivated by inviting the Holy Spirit into every decision, refusing to live on autopilot, and intentionally aligning our daily patterns with God’s will. As we do this, we not only gain clarity for ourselves but also set a powerful example for the next generation. [62:17]
• 4. Boldness to Say No is Essential for Spiritual Health Jesus, Daniel, and Nehemiah all demonstrated the courage to say no to distractions, unhealthy influences, and even good opportunities that were not God’s best. Saying no is not about selfishness, but about protecting our worship, our calling, and our relationship with God. This boldness frees us from the tyranny of urgent demands and positions us to receive God’s protection and blessing. [80:48]
• 5. Our Pattern of Life Reveals Our True Priorities The way we allocate our time—how much we invest in prayer, scripture, worship, and service—shows what truly matters to us. If our pattern is dominated by work, entertainment, or people-pleasing, we risk missing God’s best for our lives. By intentionally assessing and adjusting our routines, we can ensure that our lives are aligned with God’s purposes and that we are ready for His return. [89:15]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [48:58] - God’s Timing and Our Worries
• [49:37] - The Challenge of Saying No
• [50:32] - Trusting God as Our Investor
• [52:29] - Turbulence, Fear, and Faith
• [54:05] - Life, Time, and People-Pleasing
• [55:40] - The Power of Our Words and Thoughts
• [57:30] - Hustling Through Life vs. Living Fully
• [59:07] - Jesus Never Leaves Us
• [62:17] - Numbering Our Days and Gaining Wisdom
• [67:13] - God is the Owner of Time
• [68:52] - Pleasing God vs. Pleasing People
• [72:49] - The Pattern of Life Assessment
• [76:11] - The Blessing of Uncompromised Worship
• [80:48] - Jesus’ Example: Saying No to Say Yes
• [83:34] - Seasons, Assignments, and Boundaries
• [87:09] - Pleasing God Brings Freedom
• [89:15] - Assessing and Adjusting Our Priorities
• [93:35] - Carrying God’s Presence
• [95:42] - Biblical Examples of Saying No
• [101:39] - The Pattern of Life and Readiness
• [103:21] - Responding to God’s Call

Bible Reading

Psalm 90:12 (ESV) — "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

2. Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

3. Luke 12:40 (ESV)
"You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Observation Questions

1. According to Psalm 90:12, what does the psalmist ask God to teach us, and what is the result of learning this lesson?
2. In Galatians 1:10, what does Paul say about the relationship between pleasing people and serving Christ?
3. The sermon described life as a rope being pulled in both directions, with people hustling and striving. What did the pastor say is often the result of living this way? [[57:30]]
4. In Luke 12:40, what does Jesus warn his followers to be ready for, and why is this important? [[01:08:52]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does the psalmist connect numbering our days with gaining a heart of wisdom? How might this change the way someone approaches their daily life? [[01:02:17]]
2. According to the sermon, what are some dangers of prioritizing people-pleasing over obedience to God? [[54:47]]
3. The pastor mentioned that Jesus, Daniel, and Nehemiah all demonstrated the boldness to say no. What does this teach us about setting boundaries in our spiritual lives? [[01:35:42]]
4. What does it mean to be “ready” for the return of Jesus, according to Luke 12:40 and the sermon? How does this readiness show up in our daily patterns and decisions? [[01:08:52]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to assess our “pattern of life.” If someone looked at your weekly schedule, what would they say your true priorities are? Is there anything you want to change? [[01:29:15]]
2. The pastor said, “When we say yes to everyone else but no to God, we find ourselves exhausted, spiritually empty, and missing out on divine purpose.” Can you think of a recent time when you said yes to something or someone at the expense of your time with God? How did it affect you? [[54:47]]
3. Jesus modeled the boldness to say no, even to good things, in order to say yes to the Father. Is there a “good” thing in your life that you might need to say no to in order to protect your relationship with God? What would it look like to make that change? [[01:20:48]]
4. The sermon encouraged us to invite the Holy Spirit into every decision, big or small. What is one area of your life where you need to seek God’s guidance more intentionally this week? [[01:02:17]]
5. The pastor talked about the temptation to please people—family, friends, coworkers, even children. Who in your life do you find it hardest to say no to? How can you practice saying yes to God first in those situations? [[01:14:53]]
6. The message said, “Our pattern of life—how we spend our time, what we say yes or no to—reveals our true priorities and shapes our spiritual legacy.” What kind of spiritual legacy do you want to leave for your family or those around you? What is one step you can take this week to move toward that legacy? [[01:29:15]]
7. The pastor asked the group to do a “pattern of life assessment.” Would you be willing to track how you spend your time for one week and share what you learn with the group next time? What do you hope to discover? [[01:29:15]]