KEEP STANDING!
You should never be under pressure because your contemporaries seem to have made it. God can make up for the time that you have lost. He can make you equal to those who have gone ahead of you.
The eleventh month reminds us of the eleventh hour. It is that critical moment when it is becoming completely late: things are getting out of control, you are under pressure, and you are now in haste to beat the deadline.
The velocity at which the clock ticks seems to have doubled. You feel like drawing back the hands of time but you remember that would amount to self-deception; you can't stop time even if you stop your wristwatch.
I don't know about you, but it seems to me that the twenty-four hours of a day have been reduced. Perhaps Providence adjusted time without informing us. It is still twenty-four hours but it practically seems that's not the quantity that is delivered to us daily. When did we celebrate the last Christmas? Doesn't it seem like a few days ago? It is the eleventh month, and we are faced with the reality of how time flies. The year will soon close on us. Soon it would be another year—2023.
Don't Resort to Fate
At this moment, many grapple with undelivered expectations, failed projects, disappointments, unfulfilled dreams, regrets and the likes. Most people couldn't hit their goals, beat deadlines or keep their resolutions.
The visions they saw at the beginning of the year may no longer materialize. It is late; we are in the eleventh month already.
The tendency then is to resort to fate. What's the point in trying, hoping or expecting something to happen? One may quietly begin to think, "If it didn't happen from January till now, what's the probability that it will happen in just about two months to go?"
One may already be planning for the coming year; postponing projects that ought to be accomplished this year. You are saying, "I'll try it again next year. I will trust God for it again by January 2023." Like the virgins, you've waited for the groom all year and you're already falling asleep.
It Is Not Over Yet
I've come to tell you that it's not over yet. Something phenomenal can still happen. The promises and prophecies you received at the beginning of the year can still be fulfilled.
You can still get employed, engaged and married. You can still have that admission into the university. You can win that contract. You can still make the appointment. You can finish that project. You can still conceive. 2022 can still be your year of reference. Why throw in the towel? Why end the year when there are still sixty solid days to go?
Learn from this Parable
Do you remember the parable of the estate owner in Matthew 20? The Bible says he went out early in the morning and hired workers. These early employees can be likened to those who hit it early in the year.
For them, 2022 began with a significant breakthrough. But then there were those who were employed at the third, sixth and ninth hour. They are the group of people who made it in the course of the year around March, June and September.
If people were employed at the first, third, sixth and ninth hours, the next mention of time should have been the twelfth, the closing hour when the day is over and the reward is given to all.
But then, the householder said, "I'm not closing yet. I still need workers in my vineyard. I'll still go out and get some people." The Bible says,
"And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive."
That's the November batch, the eleventh hour (month) batch!
It Is Not Your Fault
These brothers were said to be "standing idle" as if they didn't want to work, and I have discovered that that is how it seems when you are waiting on God to fulfil His promises. People tend to judge you idle. They'll ask you sarcastically, "What are you doing about it? Have you prayed about it?"
You'll observe that the householder never questioned their response, "because no man has hired us". They had been out like others since morning. Their predicament wasn't a product of negligence; they planned, prayed and pursued their dreams. They were not lazy or indifferent. They hustled too.
They could have been employed but no one hired them; they were not considered for all the jobs they applied for. They could have gotten married, but they found no suitor. They could have been in school, but they were not admitted. They could have been engaged, but no one proposed. They could have won contracts, but no one accepted their bids. They weren't lucky so to speak.
Somehow, they just got omitted until the eleventh hour. Opportunities eluded them while their colleagues were hitting it, doing it and making it.
The Estate Owner is Out!
Just then, someone from nowhere appeared. He looked just like the others who came around all day, and it didn't looked like something was going to come out of his visitation. But that was it! This One is not like others. He is the Landowner, the Householder, the Master of the Estate.
The Scripture says
"And about the eleventh hour he went..."
Friend, the Lord, the estate owner is out in this eleventh month. He's not closing the year yet, so don't close it. He's out to put smiles on faces. He's out for the eleventh-hour miracles. He knows where there are vacancies even when there are no vacancies.
I've come to tell you that there is vacancy in "this eleventh hour". That guy or lady may have told you, "There is no vacancy", but don't worry: let Vashti vanish; there is an Esther for you in this eleventh hour. The year is not over until it is over. Something can still happen.
Keep Standing!
All you've got to do is to keep standing. That's what those guys did. They were still standing when the master of the house came. That was such an odd hour, yet these guys were standing. They still believed that they could be employed even though it was already late. They were hopeful though only one working hour remained.
I believe some people gave up while these brothers stood their ground. There could have been others who went home thinking nothing would come forth. But these stood their ground and it paid off. They were alert, vigilant. They kept hoping and trying and praying. They must have told themselves, "We won't go home until the day is over."
You too need to keep standing though there is just one month to go after this. Keep standing on the promises and prophecies you received. Keep standing on the Word. Keep standing even if nothing seems to be coming forth. Keep standing on the visions, dreams and purposes you received from God. Keep standing even if everything around you gives way. KEEP STANDING!
You must keep standing. Stand in prayers. Be sensitive. Be alert! Stand on the promises God gave you in January. Go back to your notes for the Lord will show up for you in this eleventh hour. I see God going out this month to meet the needs of those who will keep their stand in God.
Hear what the Lord said to those eleventh-hour guys:
"Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive."
Friend, you also will make it this year. You also will rejoice. You also will be celebrated. You also will have a baby. You also will have a partner and be married. You also will have a job irrespective of the current recession. Your case cannot be an exception. It may seem late but you also will have a miracle.
You Will Receive What is Right
And here is the icing on the cake: He said YOU WILL RECEIVE WHAT IS RIGHT. You couldn't have waited for this long only to receive a second-rate miracle. God will not give you a secondhand miracle, and that is why you should never settle for a "wowo." He'll not give you just a consolation prize; He'll give you what is right. He'll not just give you what you desire; He'll give you what you deserve. He'll pay your dues.
He'll Make You Equal
At the end of the day, these guys received the same wages that others received. In fact, they were the first to receive the reward. They became the envy of those who had laboured since morning and thought they ought to have earned more.
That is why I know you'll have enviable and jaw-dropping miracle this year. The early labourers accused the Landowner,
"These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day".
The "early achievers" complained, "He made them equal to us".
This is why
you should never be under pressure because your contemporaries seem to have gone or made it. There is a way life balances things out. There is the One who makes equal. He created time and He can make up for the time that you have lost. He can make you equal to those who have gone ahead of you.
This delay is perhaps deliverance in disguise: God was saving you from the burden and heat of the year but now He is making you equal with those who seemed to have gone ahead.
Just Keep Standing
We may be in the eleventh month already, but it doesn't mean you cannot have your breakthrough. It is never too late. The Lord that came to the rescue of those guys at the eleventh hour will come to your rescue in this eleventh month. You'll smile at last.
You just ensure that you keep standing because that's the password to your breakthrough. You've got to hold on to God and His Word and KEEP STANDING, and I believe that God who appeared to those labourers at the eleventh hour will appear to you this eleventh month. He will come and give you whatever is right.
Believe His word because it works when all things fail. Have an amazing November and do send me your testimony.
Olufemi Babalola
Thank you for this great words of encouragement!
Indeed, the estate owner will never abandon us. 💪🏾We'll keep standing!
God bless you, sir.