A Prayer for Timing
By Meg Bucher
“He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:7-8 NLT
There are a million reasons I would like to race into the future and see what my daughters are going to do with their lives so I know how best to prepare them for it. It would be nice if we had a time machine to see when relationships would work and when we need to prepare for the fallout of heartbreak. It’s difficult to open ourselves up to the possibility of friendship when we have no idea if it will work out long-term for us. We are always searching for a guarantee in life.
Luke recorded the verses above to remind the disciples God holds the authority over all dates and times. “They are not for you to know,” he wrote! “Like other Jews, the disciples chafed under their Roman rulers. They wanted Jesus to free Israel from Roman power and then become their king,” The Life Application Bible explains, “Jesus replied that God the Father sets the timetable for all events- worldwide, national, and personal. If you want changes that God hasn’t yet made, don’t become impatient. Instead, trust His timetable.”
Let’s pray today for the patience to wait on God’s perfect timing.
Father,
Today, we are reminded by Luke’s recording in the book of Acts, You alone have the authority over the timetable of our lives, and it is not for us to know. But, oh, God! How we long to see around the next corner and into a new season in our lives. We desperately want to fix things and know they will be ok. We long to fix people and know they will be ok!
You are clear, Father, in your directives for our lives: we will be Your witnesses, telling people about Christ Jesus everywhere! And You supply us with the power of the Holy Spirit to walk out Your will in our lives.
So, Father, although we cannot have the answers we want to see, we can hold on to the promise that Your plan for our lives is good. To the ends of the earth, we are to proclaim Your name and live our everyday lives to bring glory to Your name. Father, when our daily trials and tribulations are difficult to put at bay, snap our attention and re-focus our thoughts on You and Your purpose for each day of our lives.
This is the day YOU have made. Help us to rejoice and be glad in it. Not when it’s over …not when it goes the way we wanted it to …but IN IT. Help us to rejoice and be glad, Father. We all spend way too much time frustrated over things we cannot change, cannot foresee, and we never meant to ponder on or provide solutions to. Let us be faithful to look to You in all things, on all days, and know the authority is Yours and Yours alone.
Let us be sure of the direction You are leading us every day, God, and faithful to follow Your steps. Bless our day today, and let Your will reign over our lives.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray,
Amen.
Photo credit: ©SalemDesign/BethanyPyle
Related Resource: How to Choose Your One Word for 2026
This month on the How to Study the Bible Podcast, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year. In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.
Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.
This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
