Can you feel the vibe of 2025? I can; I've spoken to so many who not just believe but know this year will be like no other. We are inundated with messages to take action: programmed to do it, get 'er done, cross off that to-do list! And because we are educated, resilient, connected, and values-driven individuals, almost anything we attempt will be met with a reasonable expectation of success. We take action because we think it is The Right Time.
But what if we stopped talking about The Right Time and turned everything we had toward waiting for and recognizing The Ripe Time? Think of it this way: in life, there are many doors; however, there's a uniquely tremendous door with your name on it. When you truly understand this, you begin to understand the power of divine placement. You get a sense of what we refer to as your “calling” or “purpose."
In my book, SPARK: The Five Essentials to Ignite the Greatness Within, "S" stands for Singularity. When you wait with patient expectation for The Ripe Time, you are not consumed with outcomes but delight in being truly contented in the maturation and seasoning lands until the fullness of your time.
2025 is a kingdom you've been given that you cannot yet understand. But as this year unfolds and the ripe time approaches, you will. Now, does this mean we sit back and twiddle our thumbs? No! We stay steeped in tremendous books, engaged in meaningful conversation, poured into our community, and, most importantly, prayed up. God is the timekeeper of The Ripe Time.
He knows EXACTLY when it's your time to do the work He has laid out for you in 2025. And He's assigned you an army of angels to ensure you have divine battle buddies (Psalm 34:7, Psalm 91:11); some we are aware of, others we are not. The "A" in SPARK stands for Advocates, and there's no better Advocate than God sent in the form of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26)!
May your 2025 be the year of TRANSCENDENCE, where earthly time gives way to the expanse of eternity, where your efforts are communally multiplied in ways beyond anything you could do individually, and may your mind and body be honored like the temples they are, as health, healing, abundance, and clarity wash over you.
This perspective beautifully aligns with the wisdom in Oswald Chambers' devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, particularly the January 4th entry titled "Why Cannot I Follow Thee Now?" My father cherished this devotional above all others, and its timeless truth resonates deeply. Chambers reflects on Peter's question to Jesus: "Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now?" (John 13:37). He explores the profound lessons of waiting on God's timing and trusting His guidance, even when we are eager to act.
Chambers speaks to the "blank space" God sometimes places in our lives, urging us not to fill it prematurely but to wait. These moments teach us sanctification and service, reminding us never to run ahead of God's guidance. When doubt arises, it is a sign to pause and trust His timing.
Peter, in his natural devotion, declared, "I will lay down my life for Thy sake," but he underestimated his own capacity for failure. Jesus, with divine insight, foretold Peter's denial, not to condemn him but to reveal a more profound truth: natural devotion alone cannot sustain us as disciples. True discipleship comes from knowing ourselves and relying on God's strength, not our own.
As we enter 2025, let us embrace the lessons of waiting for The Ripe Time and stop forcing and fixating on The Right Time. Like Peter, we may not fully understand our own hearts or the path ahead, but God's providential timing is perfect. Stay immersed in meaningful preparation—through prayer, reflection, and community—and trust that God, the ultimate Advocate, is working all things together for His purpose. As Chambers reminds us, "When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move."
