Header Graphic
Devotions > Waiting


14 Jan 2013

 

If we would ask twenty five of our best friends concerning their lives, in how many cases would their first sentence contain the word busy?   We seem to live in a very busy culture.   If fact our culture seems to silently applaud busyness.   

This two edged sword, busyness, seems to both defend our honor and wound our lives and families with the same silent action.   Busyness can cause our precious time to be captured by good while we are energetically emancipating God’s best.   There can also be a twisted sense of self protection subconsciously sewn into our over packed margin free schedules.     Filling every margin space with incessant motion will inevitably keep us far from the search light of the Spirit.

How do we get into this over-activity trap?   What are we trying to prove? It seems that if we want to prove our worth to others we must stay very busy, conversely, if we want to realize our worth in God we must set aside time to wait and linger and listen.  

Isaiah 40:31 (NASB77)
31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

God seems to be clear in His word that He has tasks for us to do.   However, we must report to headquarters to get our orders.    Sometimes when we report to headquarters we may have to stand in line and wait until the General is ready.   Perhaps waiting is at the same time both an attitude and an action.

 Lamentations 3:25 (AMP)
25 The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God’s word].

Psalms 42:5 (AMP)
5 Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.

Waiting seems much easier when we can wait expectantly.    But what is the key to waiting expectantly? Have you noticed that those who know God intimately seem to always expect good things from Him and are usually content to wait for them?

There is nothing that is more worth the wait than the Lord!   There is nothing that is more sure than His love!   He is our real bread and drink.  He is our shield and staff!   Lord help us today to begin to slow our lives and sincerely seek Your Face.

Isaiah 30:15-18 (AMP)
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not,
16 And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses! Therefore you will speed [in flight from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will they who pursue you be swift, [so swift that]
17 One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill.
18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!

Friends, let’s take time to wait on the Lord.  Let’s take time to be holy, to seek His face.   These are some of the paramount ways to prepare ourselves for revival.

Take time to be holy, Speak often with God, Find rest in Him always, And feed on His word, Make friends with God’s children Help those who are weak, Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy,  The world rushes on; Much time spent in secret,  With Jesus alone,  By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be;  Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness will see. “    -   William D. Longstaff

Jeff Williams