I have always loved cereal. I don’t know why? I know it sounds childish, but
there is nothing better than a big bowl of cereal. Maybe it’s the colorful boxes…the clever names…the amount of sugar and marshmallows…or the fact that you receive a free prize! Yeah, I think it is the free prize.

As a child I would always look forward to going to Great Scotts and traveling to the cereal isle (the toys were always on this isle as well). I would search out my favorite brands; Captain Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, Count Chocula and Golden Grahams. But that wasn’t the end of the decision. You see, my decision was not only based on the amount of sugar I could intake per serving but on what toy I could get for free. Once I made my decision, I could not wait to tear open the box and retrieve my prize.

For some reason, the cereal companies all got together and decided to put
the toys at the very bottom. I am sure it was a conspiracy. I could never
wait. The first time I would open the box I would begin to lightly shake it
to see if I could find the prize. That seldom worked. Sometimes I would open
the box on the bottom hoping I could snatch the toy before ever pouring the
first bowl. Needless to say, the most reliable way to obtain the prize was
to obtain a large bowl and pour the entire box into it. Looking back, I was
pretty impatient. I just couldn’t wait three or four days to be surprised as I
poured my bowl of cereal.

A good leader always knows the right time to move; the right time to wait;
the right time to confront; the right time to encourage. But if you are like
me, you don’t want to wait. You want it now and you want it your way. And no one better get in the way! Sound familiar?

I think we are all guilty of rushing decisions, rushing actions and rushing relationships. But, to be a good leader, we must wait upon the perfect time. But that is the age old question…How will I know when it is the perfect time? And yes…I am going to give you the church answer.

God’s timing is always perfect. His ways are so perfect and planned. God is not a God of chance, but a God of order. So it makes perfect sense to wait on His lead? I wish that part was easier.

As leaders we must be very cognoscente of our level of patience. We are responsible to a lot of people and they are expecting us to lead them…and lead them well. Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, “The end of a matter is better than it’s beginning, and patience is better than pride.”

I promise…if you wait on God’s time…the prize will be worth the wait.

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