During a conference call with friends whose ministry is preparing to make a global impact, an image came to mind. After sharing the image with my friends, I felt it had application beyond our conversation to others who will read these words.
The image was of someone looking through a rifle scope aiming at a target in preparation to make a shot. The problem was the reticle, the crosshairs inside the scope. They were moving, not stationary as would be the case when viewing a target through a normal scope. The vertical crosshair was moving independently of the horizontal crosshair. Whenever the shooter saw the target, the moving crosshairs did not allow them to take a shot.
I know the history and character of my friends. Talented, gifted, and faithful are just a few words I would use to describe them. Those attributes have not always been appreciated or employed by those they were called to serve. The moving reticle wasn’t their circumstances or the dishonoring relationships they had to endure. It was a work of God that was not allowing the crosshairs of their calling to come into alignment until a specific moment in time decided by the Lord. He was bringing the crosshairs of their ministry together over a target that will have a historic impact on God’s Kingdom.
If this image describes your life and the frustration you are feeling waiting for the crosshairs of your calling to come into alignment, I want to encourage you. Chasing moving crosshairs can be a dizzying and discouraging task. Like my friends who exhibited Godly character and honor through seasons of disappointment, this will be your assignment in the time of waiting. Keep your eyes focused on the insides of the scope. Its field of view is narrow for a purpose.
The Lord is keeping you on target as He prepares all the elements involved at the point of impact for the arrival of your obedience. When the crosshairs finally come into alignment you will hear His voice give the command to fire. The Lord is the one who calls the timing of these shots, not us.
Thank you Garris. More times than not your writings are as if you’ve read my mail. Many in the body of Christ must be in this place.
Bless you and Jan!
Brilliant metaphor, Garris!
Some years back, I was whining (whinging, for our Aussie and UK friends) to the Lord about a series of very minor adjustments He kept making in my life. He said “look through the scope again. What do you see?” The crosshairs appeared to cover the center of the bullseye.
“If your scope is 2% off-center, what will happen to your shot at 50 ft? At 500 ft? At 5000 ft?” I thought about it and said “If I am shooting a 22 short, no one will notice. But if I am shooting an RPG, a 2% miss could kill someone in a village over the hill.”
He assured me “As I place Kingdom-class weaponry in your hand, take care that seemingly small adjustments make very large difference in results.”
Yes amen.for me it’s been about the lens adjustments to my multi focal glasses. Tiny changes make a huge difference
Thank you for the message, pastor Garris. It is me the the one who should hear this prophetic word I am waiting for that season, and it is not always easy for me to wait patiently, and to hear the Lord in this regard. He explicitely spoke to me you are one of the persons who will have the Word from the Lord for me. This was in this spring, I had a dream to follow your posts. I have also asked the Lord last night “where is my place?” because I am living as in a train station since 5-6 years ago waiting for the Lord to start moving. I wanted a glimpse about my future, it is a long period of waiting. is this message the answer, I believe. Lord bless you, pastor.
This post hit home. It also reminded me of some excellent encouragement (and correction) I received when traversing a ‘hard place’… Don’t murmur or complain; that’s the worship language of hell. And be mindful to not blaspheme what God is doing in your life.