12:34 Time for Change Part I

It wasn't long after I began dating Paul that 12:34 became significant in our lives.  Even before each other, it seemed that two times during each day, we both found ourselves looking at the clock at the same time.  When he finally told me about his 12:34 "habit", I admitted to mine, as well.  After this revelation, texts would be sent and received most days at 12:34 full of thoughtful, love notes.  A couple of months ago, I decided to look deeper into 12:34.  Was God trying to tell us something more than what time it was?  As I had been seeking the Lord and learning what it meant to truly meditate on His word, I was excited and optimistic to see what God would reveal to me through 12:34.

My first verse: Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  I'm sorry. Excuse me. This can't be right. 12:34 is supposed to be messages of love, joy and amazement because that's what I am...we are...right???  I was hesitant to continue my search through the bible.  I wasn't sure I was ready for God to reveal anymore to me. Actually, I wasn't sure I was ready for God to reveal MYSELF to ME. But instead of giving up, or changing "our time" (seriously, I considered pursuing 11:11 - maybe God would be sweeter in His teachings to me), I dug my feet in and read on.  In Matthew 34 and 35 He says, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken. Hmm. I go to church. I believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I love people of all backgrounds, cultures and races. Could this "brood of vipers" really apply to me?  Well... maybe... there could be things I could work on. I'm sure there are a few.  I admit I was scared to see what else I would find in other 12:34 verses so I decided to search my heart for a few days on Matthew.  It was time for me to find where I was out of balance.  What did I do in my life that needed to be changed? The most significant: to humble myself and not be prideful.  One day, when I am ready, I will be able to share how God took me to my knees revealing just how prideful and judgemental I was and I hadn't even realized it. A significant change occurred in my life that I had absolutely no control over.  It wasn't wanted, but it was needed. Otherwise I would still be the same person that would fall in the category of  "broods of vipers; evil speaking good." Thank you Jesus for lessons learned the hard, painful way.  12:34 is a time for change. Though I still think 12:34 should be sweet.

As I moved on in my study, I came to Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Okay, this was so much better than "you brood of vipers" even though God was making me face where my heart truly lies.  The day the Lord revealed this verse to me I knew it was time for me to tell my husband about this study; this journey through the bible of 12:34.  I knew this verse in Luke was significant because of the dilemma my husband and I were facing at that exact time. Does he stay in a job that will keep him away for long periods of time, though it pays as if he attended medical school? Where is our treasure? Is it in the love of money or is it in our Heavenly Father who wants nothing more than to take care of us?  This was a bitter, ugly pill to swallow.  Here again God was humbling me.  We are not in control, but He has thought of and taken care of everything.  Throughout Luke 12, Jesus points out that the birds never worry about or store up food for He provides for them.  In Luke 12:24 Jesus says, "...And how much more valuable you are than birds!"  For even wildflowers do not have to work at their appearance. Luke 12:28 "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you..."  Through prayer and quiet listening, Paul and I decided our treasure wasn't in the love of money, but in Jesus. Once again, 12:34 revealed a time for change.   Jesus says in Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single day to your life?   Making changes in my life has often brought on stress and worry- Am I doing the right thing? What will everyone think? What will they say behind my back? It only took me 36 years to realize that the only person I need to worry about what "they" think is my Heavenly Father.  He made me in my mother's womb. He knows where I am going and what He created me to do. It only makes sense that I should seek answers from Him. 

Let the adventures begin!
I look forward to writing about the rest of my 12:34 journey throughout the bible... Happy to say it just gets better and better.