January 8, 2023
Why Kairos? Why is it important to know and understand the concept of Kairos? How is Kairos meaningful in my life? Is Kairos a biblical concept? Good Questions! I would like to share my journey with Kairos!
My Journey with Kairos
The concept of Kairos started as a seed planted in my heart in 2004 while completing my thesis for a master’s degree in Christian Education from Michigan Theological Seminary entitled “The Efficacy of Christian Education in Spiritual Formation Within the Local Church.” One of my references was from the writings of M. Robert Mulholland Jr., in his book Shaped By The Word – The Power of Spiritual Formation. In reading his book and coming to Chapter 7 “Kairotic Existence” caught my interest. I actually had never heard of the concept.
As I read the chapter I was fascinated with this new information, and it fit perfectly into my thesis. Although completing my thesis and graduating was my immediate priority. I took the time to study how the author connected and presented the concept of Kairos biblically. It was simply awesome! I clearly agreed with the author in saying that Scripture presents more than just a set of religious concepts or theological principles. Reading and studying the Word of God draws us into a community of people across centuries and bring us into the current reality of today.
Over and over, I seem to come across information and situations that I can relate to the concept of Kairos. In my quest to fully understand Kairos, I came to not only understand the Kairotic Existence, but also Kairos Moments which was equally a fascinating concept. Working in ministry and biblical counseling, the seed continue to grow, and the concept presented itself again as I was writing and publishing my first book, ‘Every Beat of My Heart’, published in August 2015.
Although the seed was not fully mature, it continues to germinate. I found myself doing research and collecting information about Kairos. I can now see that God was preparing my heart for the work He wanted me to do. Later, in May of 2021 while participating in an anthology project, “Gathering The Fragments That Nothing Would Be Lost’” I could see the hand of God preparing me for the next level of the Kairos concept. I was focused on the completion of the anthology and working with my coach at the time, it became increasingly clear what God was doing. The seed was ready to spring forth and I developed the “Kairos Life Plan” followed by Kairos Moments for Women of Faith Facebook Group. I was on my way and excited to be where God was leading.
I paused in my quest and took a moment to ask God, “Is this really what you want me to do?”
I shared the Kairos concept with family, friends, and others and 90% of them had no idea what I was talking about. However, God gave me the experience of peace in my spirit as well as a renewed and persevering heart, and I continued on. In September of 2020, I formed Kairos-B-Enterprises, LLC. As Founder and CEO, my divine assignment became increasingly clear, that I was to assist Christian women to live Kairotically – to walk in freedom and purpose.
I am very clear on what God has called me to do. My heart’s desire is to continue to work with women to assist them to walk in freedom and purpose, living their best life that God has designed for them. It became evident that God wanted me to assist women in understanding Kairos and be positioned to recognize and respond to the Kairos Moments God has designed just for them NEVER to miss His best for their lives and to live more intentionally.
“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NASB)
What is Kairos?
I know by now you are wondering just what Kairos is, and how it relates to the life God has designed for us. The Greeks have two words for time. Chronos (χρόνος) Chronos is quantitative and refers to chronological or sequential (clock) time. Kairos (καιρός) is time of a qualitative, permanent nature, and refers to God’s time!
Kairos signifies a proper or opportune time for action. Being qualitative, it is timeless, meaning the right, critical, proper time, or season. It is an opportune time, a call for action, conversion, and transformation. However, by definition kairos means more than ‘mere time or season’ It’s like a perfect moment, a special opportune moment in time ~ one seemingly designed just for “this,” whatever “this” is. And for Christians, kairos means something far deeper.
“There are moments in history when a door for massive change opens.
Great revolutions, either good or evil, spring up in the vacuum
created by these openings. In such divine moments, key
men, women, and entire generations risk everything
to become the hinge of history, the ‘pivot point’
that determines which way the
door will swing.”
~Lou Engle
My Kairos Moment
One of the most impactful and transformative moments in my life occurred when I encountered the concept of “Kairos” and the importance of Kairos Moments. It was a pivotal moment in my life! I was supervising and monitoring patients in the Obstetrical Unit monitoring the progress of patients in labor. Determining how long it would take the doctor to arrive before she went into full labor and delivery of the baby was a challenge.
Unfortunately, this particular night there were no OBGYN/Labor & Delivery physicians who remained in the hospital. It was this mother’s second baby, and I felt my assessment and timing were on target with the progression of her labor. Familiar with the situation and the physician, I was challenged to be fairly accurate in my timing. I was always reluctant to call this particular physician fearing my timing may prove inaccurate, and he would not arrive in time for the delivery of the baby. Feeling confident in my assessment of the progress of her labor, I called the doctor to come for the delivery, and the mother was taken to the delivery room. I could not bear the thought of the Physician not arriving in time. The nurse assisting me had a look of panic on her face. There was complete silence between the screams from the mother’s labor pains, and things were moving faster than anticipated.
Then, I began to hear a different scream from the mother. I knew that scream! I had been in labor before and knew what was about to take place. Dressed in my sterile attire and prepared for the unexpected, her labor continued to progress at an accelerated rate, and she was crowning (the baby’s head was appearing). I began to pray for the physician to walk through the door. As I stood there praying and looking for him to walk in the room any minute, a feeling of calmness came over me.
I delivered the baby!
After the baby arrived, the physician walked into the delivery room. I stood frozen in my tracks ready to offer an apologetic explanation. The doctor said, “Good job!!” and gave me an approving smile. I have always had delayed responses in many situations, especially those times when life and death are suspended in the scales fighting for control.
Reflecting! I look back and thank God for His guidance and protection. Later that night, I began to reflect again on what had happened. What if the baby did not begin to breathe and the heart ceased to beat? Or what if resuscitation measures had failed? I took another deep breath and prayed again thanking God the delivery was a success. Praise God!! The amazing intricacy and design of the human heart is the sum and total of human life. There is no physical life without a heartbeat.
We All Have Kairos Moments
We’ve all come to these points in our lives when a decision is made that changes every day that follows. Many times, you weren’t even aware that you in fact were standing in such a moment. A tipping-point or a kairos moment is usually discovered behind the scenes of an ordinary day. It’s the moment when desperation and courage collide. It’s the moment when great opposition threatens all that you know and you choose to remain unmoved by fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author, and finisher of your faith. It’s the moment when a choice of faith propels us into divine destiny.
But there’s an even better moment in life than “a golden hour of opportunity,” a time so true and perfect it could only have been designed by the Master of the Universe, God Himself. Ancient Greeks used the word kairos for this, and it means “time” or “season” by definition, but kairos is more than mere time. It’s like a perfect moment, a special, opportune time—one seemingly designed just for. And for Christians, kairos means something far deeper.
A kairos moment occurs when it is God’s time to act in our life. It is a decisive moment within time when and gives the opportunity to respond. It is a precise moment when God creates an opportunity for essential growth and incredible transformation
Moses experienced that kind of moment when God spoke to him out of the burning bush in the 3rd and 4th chapters of Exodus. Through this remarkable event, Moses encounters God on Mount Horeb, and God reveals Himself. The burning bush as described is a theophany, the appearance of God in a form that is visible to man. The bush was in the form of the angel of the Lord who “appeared to him Moses in flames of fire”.
At the burning bush, God revealed His holiness in a way it had never been revealed before. Moses was so awed by this experience. God revealed Himself to Moses out of the burning bush for several reasons. He reveals Himself as a fire in that it is an image of His holiness as an image of His glory. The burning bush symbolized God’s intent not to consume or destroy His people, but to be their savior, to lead them out of bondage in Egypt and into the Promised Land. This was a Kairos Moment for Moses because God gave him His own personal name: “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you! By identifying Himself as “I AM,” God is declaring that He always exists in the immediate now. He isn’t bound by time like we are. There was never a time when God wasn’t. He has no fixed point when He was born or brought into being. He reminds us in Revelation 22:13 He has no beginning or end. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last! God to be self-existent, without beginning, without end. This is also expressed in the term “Yahweh,” meaning “I Am the One Who Is.” It is the most significant name for God in the Old Testament.
God often works behind the scenes of our lives. When this happens, He will interrupt the pace of our day to get our attention for what He has for us. This is a defining moment, a kairos moment, for us to respond to what God has for us. When we respond, it positions us for a life-changing and transformative moment for us to walk in our purpose and reach our destiny!
Pay Attention
Many today are faced with the challenge of living in anticipation of some life-changing event that would change the trajectory of their lives. They must make the choice to STOP and believe by faith what the Word says. The Word of God is clear, He wants you to be free and walk in purpose, His purpose, He designed for your life! Being obedient to His call will allow you to persevere and embrace what He has for you. This kind of life reflects living by a faith that exceeds the boundaries of your present situation which will help change your focus. A focus that sees beyond the present and glimpses the reality which can be gained by great sacrifice and belief in your divine potential.
There are times in all our lives when we make a decision that changes EVERYTHING! We’ve all come to these points in life when we make a decision that changes every day that follows. It’s the moment when commotion and courageousness collide. Remain alert to God’s move in your life, the time when He speaks. Remain alert to your Kairos Moments when great opposition threatens all that you know and you choose to remain unmoved by fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. It’s the moment when you act in FAITH propelling you into your divine destiny.
Please Share Your Kairos Moments
Please take this opportunity to share a kairos moment(s) you experienced and the results of change, conversion, and/or transformation!