I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, the 11th of April, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go to the Gospel of Luke 1:80:

“The child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel [as John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah]. (AMP version)

I want to speak to you about that desert time. Are you in a desert time at the moment? Does it seem like nothing is happening young lady? Do you think you will never get married, yes? Young man, do you feel there’s never going to be a lady for you to marry? Do you feel that you are studying all the time - when is this going to end? When am I going to realise my potential and my dream?

Well, there is a preparation time. John the Baptist spent time in the desert until God called him to proclaim the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It took Jesus thirty years of preparation before His ministry started. It took Moses forty years in the desert before the Lord saw he was ready to take the Israelites out of Egypt. Don’t rush.

Now, as a farmer, I can tell you it takes nine months before a cow will produce a baby calf. It takes the calf six months before it is weaned from it’s mother. It takes a young heifer eighteen months before she is ready to go to the bull and to produce a calf herself. A crop of maize takes one year, approximately one year to produce from the time you start preparing the soil. A good artisan, a tradesman - takes five years of apprenticeship before he is qualified as a tradesman, and it takes a lifetime for us to be prepared for entry into Heaven. Don’t rush, there is plenty of time.

Jesus bless you and goodbye.