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How We Are to Wait

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:05:50 +0100

The fruitfulness of our time in God's waiting room is very dependent upon our attitudes and mindset in the process. Fretting and pacing not only fail to speed things up; they also result in emotional turmoil. The Lord has a better way.

Wait patiently, quietly, and dependently. This kind of attitude is possible only for those who have submitted to the Lord's authority over them. If we believe and accept that He has our best interests at heart and can work it all out for our good, then we are able to rest in His right to choose the method and timing. When we truly trust Him, there will be no maneuvering, manipulating, or rushing ahead.

Stand upon God's Word. The bible is our anchor in times of waiting. One of the wisest things you can do is to read the Scriptures every day, asking God to give you passages which will bring stability to your life. As I look back in my old Bibles as well as in my present one, I see marked verses that carried me through the tough times. Don't merely rely on prayer when you experience difficulty or require direction. Hang on to a specific word from God that will give you His perspective and promise in your situation. Then you can confidently pray, "Lord, here is what You promised me in Your Word. And You can never go against Your promises, so I will cling to this truth wile I wait upon You."

Wait confidently, believing Him. Having submitted ourselves to God and anchored ourselves with His Word, we can confidently watch for His will to unfold. He knows exactly what to do and when to accomplish it. He has the power to rearrange any detail to bring about His desired plan. All we have to do is believe Him and watch for His intervention or direction....

NEXT TIME:::: HINDRANCES TO WAITING

Why God lets us wait

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:42:28 +0100

Waiting is especially tough when a situation is stressful or a decision must be made soon. But understanding why the Lord hasn't answered our prayers, brought relief or given directions can help us trust in His wisdom and timing. Sometimes we are not ready for the next step. God has plans for us, but there are instances when He stops us in our tracks until we do a little "internal housecleaning." Maybe we have been tolerating a sin in our life or need to deal with bad attitudes or ungodly thought patterns. The Lord has places to take us, and He knows what baggage needs to be left behind.

The delay could also have the purpose of training us for His calling. David was anointed king when he was a young man, but he spent many years in the wilderness fleeing from Saul. Through all the difficulty, God refined his character and sharpened his leadership skills. When the time was right, He brought him to the throne.

In the same way, God may keep you in an uncomfortable place, a boring job or a challenging situation. But remember this: He is preparing you for something far better. Cooperation with His training program while you wait, knowing that His plans for you are good.

At times the Lord's delays are designed to increase our faith. If He instantaneously gave us everything we wanted, we would never learn to walk by faith. But when we have only a promise from the Scriptures with no visible evidence to rely upon, then our faith is put to the test. Will we believe Him or our circumstances? By confidently clinging to God's Word and knowing that He has never failed to fulfill His promises we will eventually see the evidence of His faithfulness every time.

The Lord wants to teach us endurance. Like it or not, the ability to persist under difficult circumstances is an absolutely essential ingredient of the Christian life. Scripture tells us that "tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope" (Rom 5:3-4) OUr hardships are designed, not to crush us but to refine us into the image of Christ. When we abide under the pressure with complete reliance on the Lord for His strength and perspective, we come out of the process looking more like our Savior.

Perhaps our attention needs to be refocused on Christ. It's easy to become so absorbed in our own concerns that we forget about Him, but nothing grabs our attention like a difficult or confusing situation. If God doesn't rush to give an answer or fix the problem, then we, in our desperation, start to make Him our main focus. However, there is a difference between seeking the Lord and seeking His intervention. If our thoughts are only on what we want HIm to do for us, we've missed the mark. To wait for the Lord means our focus ins on Him, not simply on our desired outcome.

Next time : How we are to wait

Life's Most Difficult Lesson ~ Taken From In Touch Magazine

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:02:07 +0100

"Lessons are an ongoing part of life. Although an academic education comes to an end, we never cease learning vital spiritual lessons. The truths that God teaches us are invaluable and practical because they affect our character development, choices and lifestyle. Their influence reaches beyond our earthly lifetimes all the way into eternity.

One of the most difficult faith lessons we will ever learn is to wait upon the Lord. Maybe you are facing a critical decision and don't know which way to go. Or perhaps you have been praying about a certain matter, but God is simply not responding. Is a difficult or painful situation wearing you down because there's just no end in sight?

At such times, the only thing we want is instant relief or immediate direction, yet Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes wait for the Lord." To wait for the Lord means to remain in your present circumstances or environment until He gives further instruction. Far from encouraging passivity, this verse calls for an active choice to be at rest, trusting in God and His timing. It's not a cessation of daily activities but an internal stillness of spirit that accompanies you throughout the day.

NEXT WEEK: WHY GOD LETS US WAIT.....