The first time I made a pot roast in my crock pot I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. Even though I had my mother’s recipe, I wasn’t confident I could replicate it. When I talked to Mom on the phone, she told me, “Remember Dianna, be patient. It takes a while to cook.”

When I hung up the phone, I got to work. I chopped up my veggies, seasoned the meat, seared it in a cast iron skillet, and prepared everything to go into the crock pot. Once I got it all in, I closed the lid and busied myself with other tasks.

Well, after a few hours of cook time, I opened the lid, eager to see if the meat had become tender. When I couldn’t get a fork through the tough exterior, I panicked.

Oh no! My meat is going to be tough, I thought.

A couple more hours went by and the pot roast was a bit more tender, but still pretty tough. So I panicked some more and finally picked up the phone to call Mom back.

“My meat isn’t getting tender,” I complained. “I think my pot roast is going to be tough and dry.”

But my mother assured me the roast would get tender.

“The meat just needs more time to cook,” she said calmly and confidently. “Remember, I told you, you have to be patient.”

I had forgotten about the patience part!

However, after speaking to Mom the second time, I felt better and decided to stop letting impatience get the best of me. I also quit opening the lid so frequently (which I shouldn’t have been doing in the first place!) and let the roast cook uninterrupted. Once the process was complete, the meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and hubby and the kids enjoyed their meal.

That experience was a great reminder that good things takes time. We don’t always get the results we want immediately. We have to be patient. Nevertheless, it’s natural to try to find a shortcut to get where we want to be. This is what the Gibeonites did when they deceived Israel in Joshua 9.

Here’s what happened in brief. When the Israelites entered into the Promised Land, God gave them directives to destroy their enemies inhabiting the land. God also gave them victory after victory. He was on their side, and He flexed His power on Israel’s behalf. They defeated Jericho and Ai, causing the reputation of Israel to spread, and making the people of Gibeon fearful of extinction.

In order to spare themselves from destruction, the Gibeonites concocted a scheme. They put on worn out clothes and sandals, and packed moldy bread in tattered sacks. They pretended to be allies of Israel from a faraway place, when in reality, they lived close by.

Turns out, disguising themselves as weary travelers worked! Israel failed to pray and fell prey to the Gibeonites. They formed an alliance with the enemy and got duped into sparing the Gibeonites’ lives. By the time the truth came out, it was too late. So Joshua made the Gibeonites serve as woodcutters and water carriers.

Although the people of Gibeon ultimately got what they wanted through trickery, we know that, as followers of Christ, scheming, lying and conniving is not the way we advance. Looking for the easy way isn’t God’s way.

God’s timetable, method and plan differs from ours. So we must not operate in the spirit of Gibeon, which is the spirit of deception. Rather, we must be led by the Spirit of God. No shortcuts are necessary.

Friend, God has an excellent plan for your life. Sometimes, however, it has to slow cook like that pot roast. Just give it some time and you’ll see how amazing the outcome will be. As you wait for manifestation, be sure to consult the Lord in all things. Let Him guide you every step of the way. He knows what’s best for you. If you follow His leading, He’ll keep you from being ensnared by the enemy. God will open doors for you and bless you. He will secure the best outcomes and give you victory after victory.

When God’s hand is in the plan, you don’t have to resort to schemes, trickery and chicanery. He will favor you just for acknowledging Him in all your ways (Proverbs 3:6), and waiting patiently upon Him (Isaiah 30:18), as you submit to His will.

Today, I’m stirring Psalm 37:5 NASB into your cup of inspiration, which says, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, let God do things His way. Don’t look for a shortcut or clever scheme. Lean on the Lord. Put your confidence and hope in Him. Don’t get in a hurry. Give it some time and you’ll see that your faith will produce just the right results at just the right time.

Now let’s pray.

God, I commit all my plans to You and trust You completely. Though Your way is not like mine, I know Your way is best. I thank You in advance for all the blessings that will flow to me in due season because I have obediently yielded to Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!