WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JULY 29, 2025
TOPIC: THE VISION IS FOR AN APPOINTED TIME
BY T. O. BANSO
“Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry’” (Habakkuk 2:2-3 New King James Version).
When we have received a prophecy from the Lord, we have a dream, or God has shown us a vision, it is natural to think that it will happen the next day! But the truth is that it takes time for some revelations to be fulfilled.
There is sometimes a long interval between when we receive a revelation from God and when it becomes fulfilled. Whether we receive it directly or from another person, sometimes, what God says may sound like a lie because it’s not happening as quickly as we think. But if the revelation is from the Lord, we must never doubt it. We should hold on to the prophecy or revelation.
God doesn’t use the same time as ours. He has His own time. He doesn’t use our timetable; He has His own. 2 Peter 3:8 says a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. We must avoid being anxious. Philippians 4:6-7 says you should be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
From the Bible, we learn that whatever God says He wants to do, or whatever He has shown or told you He would do, is for an appointed time. He determines the time, not you or anybody. There is nothing you can do to make it happen before its time, but you may delay it if you fail to cooperate with Him or obey Him.
The LORD told the prophet Habakkuk, “Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry’” (Habakkuk 2:2-3 New King James Version). Note the phrase “for an appointed time.” The prophet did not know that time. But he was assured that it would happen.
The Living Bible renders verse 3 of Habakkuk 2 thus: “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!”
God’s vision for your life will be fulfilled, but it may not happen when you think. That’s why you need faith and patience. Many of God’s people are people of faith, but they lack patience. Lack of patience in waiting for the fulfilment of the promises of God has made some of us quit standing in faith. Yet, the Bible says we should be imitators of those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12). Some people are failing in this area.
God cannot lie (1 Samuel 15:29; Psalm 89:35; Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2). His promises cannot fail. All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). But it may not be fulfilled as quickly as we think or want. That’s where some of us have problems with God. Indeed, God could have shown some people some things, but they could begin to assume and start predicting God by setting a time for their fulfilment.
Most times, we don’t like to be reminded that Abraham and Sarah waited for 25 years before God’s promise of a child for them was fulfilled. That’s a long time, and, understandably, it’s not appealing to someone trusting God for the fruit of the womb. But it’s in the Bible. In the process of waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promise, Abraham and Sarah made a mistake by trying to help themselves. But God insisted that He would still give them the child He had promised.
On one occasion, Abraham laughed at the promise of God to give him a son by Sarah. Sarah also laughed at the same promise on another occasion (Genesis 17:15-18; 18:10-14). But when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old, they gave birth to Isaac, the child God had promised them. The vision was for an appointed time, and it came to pass, although it took a long time. Hold on to God’s promises; the vision shall be fulfilled.
Joseph’s dream that his brothers would bow before him did not come to pass immediately. It looked as if it would not happen, particularly after he had become a slave in Egypt and his master threw him into prison over a false allegation.
Nevertheless, twenty-two years after he had the dream, it happened. Joseph dreamt when he was seventeen years old (Genesis 37:2, 5-11). He became the Prime Minister in Egypt at the age of thirty (Genesis 41:46). That was a difference of thirteen years.
Pharaoh had dreamt about seven years of prosperity, and the seven-year famine, which followed, was in its second year (Genesis 45:6) when his brothers came and bowed before him (Genesis 42:6; 43:26, 28; 44:14). Joseph finally revealed his identity to them (Genesis 45). That made the two periods nine years. If we add thirteen years to the seven years of prosperity and the two years of famine, it makes twenty-two years. Twenty-two years of waiting!
Joseph’s dream took twenty-two years to be fulfilled. During that period, his two dreams must have looked like a lie. His brothers made his father believe that he had died. His brothers must have believed that even if he was alive, he could not amount to anything, having sold him to the slave merchants. But they could sell him; they couldn’t sell his dream. The vision was for an appointed time.
Don’t despair; your vision, dream, prophecy shall be fulfilled. Joseph went from his father’s house to the pit, to Potiphar’s house, to prison, and finally to the palace. However, he ruled as prime minister in the same land where he was both a slave and a prisoner. That is a testimony to the power of God.
We find Joseph’s summary of his suffering in the names he gave his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. “Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, ‘God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.’ Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, ‘God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief’” (Genesis 41:51-52 New Living Translation). What a reflection!
You could be in your pit now. Or you are in prison. But this is not your end. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5b). Have faith in God. Don’t throw away your vision, dream, or prophecy because of your present challenges. People may have persecuted you, ganged up against you, sabotaged you, or conspired against you to frustrate your vision. Note this: they can’t kill your vision; they can’t stop your prophecy or dream from being fulfilled.
David’s story is another example. Although Samuel had anointed David king, it appeared as if he would not sit on the throne. He became a fugitive, running away from Saul, whom he had helped to kill Goliath, the Philistine champion. He was envious of David and wanted to kill him. Samuel had died before David eventually became king after Saul’s death. But he didn’t even first become the king of the entire nation. It was a long process for him.
Samuel first anointed him as king privately amid his brothers (1 Samuel 16:12-13). After Saul’s death, the men of Judah, his tribe, anointed him king over Judah (2 Samuel 2:4). During that period, the house of Saul was still ruling over the remaining tribes of Israel. Later, all the elders of Israel came to Hebron and anointed David king over all Israel after the death of Abner, Saul’s army commander, and Ishbosheth, Saul’s son (2 Samuel 5:3).
Before David became the king of the entire nation of Israel, he was anointed three times. 2 Samuel 5:4-5 says, “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah” (New King James Version). The vision was for an appointed time. It was fulfilled.
Your vision is for an appointed them. Believe what God has told you. Believe it shall come to pass. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, told Mary when she came to visit her, “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45 New King James Version).
Don’t despise any progress you record towards the fulfilment of your vision or dream, no matter how small. Don’t despise your small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10a). David’s ascension to the throne of Israel was step by step.
Concerning the Israelites, the Bible says, “And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed” (Deuteronomy 7:22-23 New King James Version). Take note: little by little.
The vision is for an appointed time. However, wage a good warfare against demonic delay, hindrance, and frustration. Pray against the spirit of error, unbelief, and impatience. Obey the Word of God and divine instructions. Don’t be anxious. Never stop praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need (Ephesians 6:18a).
While you’re waiting for the appointed time, be faithful where you are. “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16:10-12 New King James Version).
Don’t be in a hurry. Wait for God’s appointed time. If it seems slow, do not lose hope. It will surely be fulfilled. Only be patient. The appointed time will come. It won’t be delayed by a single day.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your heart to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to be faithful in my current position. Help me not to sabotage myself or delay the appointed time for God’s promises for me to be fulfilled. I eliminate demonic delays or hindrances against the fulfilment of my prophecy. My dream will come to pass in Jesus’ name. Father, hear the cry of those waiting for Your appointed time for them; let nothing hinder the appointed time for the fulfilment of Your promises to them.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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