Bite-Sized Chunks

Bite-Sized Chunks
By Shirley Mitchell

"This is what the LORD says- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.' "

Isaiah 48:17

My youngest daughter Victoria is adopted from China. She spent her first year in an orphanage that took pretty good care of her by their standards. For many months after bringing her home, we only placed small portions on her plate. We replenished them after she ate what she was given. Why? If we gave her too much food at the same time, then she would try to put all of the food in her mouth. She looked like a chipmunk preparing for winter. Sometimes she could not even move her jaws! We were told this behavior is very common for a child from an orphanage in another country. The nannies at the orphanage seemed wonderful, but they had so many babies to tend. The babies learned from an early age if you can get your hands on food, put it in your mouth where it is safe. The next bite may not be there when you are finished chewing and swallowing the former bite.

God's economy works much like the way we fed Victoria. He disciples us in bite-sized chunks. He does not stuff our mouths full when we are not ready to chew and swallow the food. He doesn't give all of the practicum tests at once. He does not give us what we need until we are ready for it. He is gently leading us to a point of most use for His kingdom and to bring Him glory. His discipleship will be there tomorrow, the next day, and the day after it. We do not have to hoard it for today.

We see God as the Great "Career" Planner and Developer throughout the Bible. God prepared Joseph for the second highest position in Egypt by placing him in charge of Potipher's house and the prison. He could not run a country without developing the necessary leadership and planning skills. God cultivated his skills through two painful work experiences. God prepared Paul for 10 years through having the other disciples teach him before he became the mighty missionary and writer of most of the books in the New Testament. I strongly believe God is developing a series of skills through my work as a project engineer and manager in a Fortune 500 company - organization, leadership, public speaking, customer needs incorporated into design, team conflict resolution, management, and much more. I have called this time my Joseph years because it has not been easy. It certainly is not how I would have chosen to be developed for kingdom use. How He will use these skills in His kingdom is His choice. I am just thankful for being developed. Just as God has a development plan for me, He has one for you, too.

Do you see, dear one, how God is using the good, the painful, the hard, and the ugly to stretch you and grow you into who you are to be in Christ? Let's praise God for choosing the best way to disciple us and for being the Greatest People Developer of all. Let's thank Him for setting the pace that doesn't leave us exasperated in the dust, but a pace that we follow.

Pray with me: Oh, Lord, teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in Your truth (Psalm 86:11). Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in Your commands (Psalm 119:66). Thank You for not trying to fix us all at once. Thank You, Lord, that You are slowly transforming us. You don't come at us with a list of our faults and deficiencies. You come to us in love. Slowly through Your daily plan of transformation and our obedience and willingness to seek You through Bible study and prayer, You change us. We praise You for knowing the best way to disciple us and teach us how to be like Christ. May we accept Your plan for our lives and trust that You have a good plan and will carry it out. It's in the Name above all names, in Jesus' Name, Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study