If a quarterback's timing is off. . .he's going to have a bad day with more interceptions than touchdowns.  That's clearly evident in some of the National Football League games you may watch each week.

If a basketball player whether high school, college or professional has his timing off. . .he won't be able to make a free throw. . .no matter how big the rim is.

If life. . .if your timing is off. . .you can miss possibilities. . .and opportunities for success.

Timing is critically important in life.

Something can be a good idea. . .it can be a great idea. . .it can be a God idea but for it to be successful it must be in God's timing. 

Here are seven facts you ought to know about His timing.

1.      The Holy Spirit gives you the timing.

Have you ever wondered if it was the right time to make a career change. . .to ask someone to marry you. . .to present your ideas to your supervisors?

Knowing when to speak. . .is equally important to what you’re going to say.

Acts 1:7-8 in the Message Bible says:

“He told them, `You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.’”

Recently, the Lord stirred me about the institution of marriage. Since Harold and I just celebrated our 51st year of marriage … I thought this might be a good time to share.

Now understand this, I’m not sharing because I think we have a perfect marriage because there is no such thing as a perfect marriage.

As a matter of fact, Harold and I have often been asked to write a book on marriage.  But, the longer I live the less I think that I know on the subject.

What works for one couple may not work for another.

That doesn’t mean there are not obvious foundational aspects that all marriages need like love and respect. But those are obvious.

However, there are probably just as many myths about marriage as there are foundations … so I’m going to address some of those.  

Myth 1 You will just naturally get along if you are meant to be together  

Even if you know God put you together with your spouse…marriage is and always will be an ongoing work.    

Saying all that … there are certain things that can help a marriage last just as it says in Philippias 2:12-13.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Recently, I was watching one of my favorite John Wayne movies entitled “Big Jake.”  The Duke as he was known was my favorite movie star during my formative years.  He was always the good guy.  The one who stood for what was right. . .regardless of the consequence.

My three favorite John Wayne quotes are:

# 1    “Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid.”

# 2    “Courage is being scared to death…but saddling up anyway.”

# 3    “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.”

John Wayne won his only Oscar in 1969 for the movie “True Grit.”  There’s a point in the movie where 14 year-old Mattie Ross says to Marshal Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) “They tell me you are a man with true grit.”

Dictionary.com defines true grit as:

“firmness of character; indomitable spirit”

Webster’s Dictionary defines Success as:

“outcome, result”

A successful outcome is something that follows as a result or consequence.

According to Webster…..marketplace is defined as:

“an open square or place in a town where markets or public sales are held in  the everyday world.”         

Let’s talk about the marketplace or workplace of life…..the things we’ll discuss can apply on your job….your business or as the definition says:  the everyday world.

If you want to be a lawyer………you study law.

If you want to be a doctor or a nurse….you study medical procedures.

If you want to be a teacher……you study education.

If you want to be a hair stylist….you study cosmetology.

If you want to be successful….you study the principles of success. 

If you’ve been trying to stay afloat in the storms of life. . .if you need encouragement for the battles you’re in. . .then. . .this teaching is just for you.

Mark 4:35-40 in the Amplified Bible says:

“35 On that same day [when] evening had come, He said to them, Let us go over to the other side [of the lake].

36 And leaving the throng, they took Him with them, [just] as He was, in the boat [in which He was sitting]. And other boats were with Him.

37 And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled.

38 But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the [leather] cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing?

39 And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness).

40 He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)?”

No matter how spiritual you are or aren’t. . .there will come a time in your life when the storm clouds will fill your horizon, darkening the view of your destination, beating up your ship of state. . .making you wonder whether you will survive the howling winds and blowing rain of adversity.

If you draw a breath. . .you’re considered dangerous to the devil. . .you will face a crisis in life from time to time.

The question is not whether or not you will face a crisis but rather how you will respond to it.