Slow and Steady

One thing I always say, as of late, when it comes to God and his growing process of his children is "God loves the incubation process".  Dictionary.com defines the incubation period as such: the period between infection and the appearance of signs of disease.  In other words from the time when you feel sick to the time that sickness begins to actually show forth.  Newborn babies that are born prematurely are put in a baby incubator.  In some cases a newborn can be born to early where their lungs or some other body part may not be fully developed yet and therefore still needs more time to grow before being released to the new parents.  This period of growing can take anywhere from days, to weeks to months and in some cases years.   The incubation period is a process that is slow and steady

I say "God loves the incubation process" because He never seems to do anything, with anyone he is using or training, quickly.  You can go back as far as creation.  Now we know God is all powerful and yet He decided to make the world in just 6 days; yes I said 6 not 7, because he rested on the seventh day.  It took Noah somewhere around 120 years to build the ark.  King David was anointed king by Samuel the prophet when he was just a boy, but he was not crowned King till at least 15 years later.  Even Christ himself didn't start his ministry until he was 30 years old and he did so for three years.  God loves the slow and steady.

The incubation process shows care and natural progression.  When the Lord moves in the life of a believer he not only wants them to know He is God, but wants them to never forget it too.  We nowadays live in a "microwave" time period.  We get and want everything instantly and if we don't get it then we have short fuses, tempers and we become impatient.  When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior and His Holy spirit takes residence in our hearts; the incubation process has begun.  No different than a tree bringing forth fruit in it's due season.  So are we growing and being nurtured along the way.  Honestly would you want to serve a God who always gave you instant results.  Your flesh would probably say "uhh Yep", but your spirit would be weak from undernourishment.  God loves us enough to take the time to make us the best we can be for him.  He wants to present us pure and holy to the world.

Your a better and stronger witness for Christ when the Lord builds you slowly.  The word sticks, the relationship is more personal, you appreciate God's grace and mercy.  Just like the scripture in James 1:4 states about patience; it must have it's perfect work in order to change you completely instead of temporarily.  My point in all this is to get you to understand that the Lord can do what he wants, but he does have a track record of taking his time and being a perfectionist when it comes to His children's growth.  Read your Bible and you will see how every single thing that takes place, requires time and prayer and patience.  It is truly amazing when you see how the Lord changes someone in the Bible.  You see the journey, which is a process, and how God slowly and steadily changed the person who was about ready to bear fruit in His season.

Be thankful God loves the "incubation process" because that means that what he is doing with you is going to make a lasting permanent change in your life.  Like the song says "Thank you Lord for my good days and my bad days, I won't complain".  Every single bit of it, the Lord is training you.  It's like saying your troubles and trials are the incubator and while you are in them, you are being transformed and changed Rom 12:2.  Men of God know that God has not left you and even though it seems like it just remember "God loves the incubation process".