Merriam-Webster defines waiting as staying in a place of expectation. In this generation where instant is the new normal; people find it hard to wait if it is extended beyond their expected time. We want everything instant whether it is food or anything else during our daily routine.
Scripture teaches us to wait while the world teaches contradictory.
We all have something that we are waiting for but it matters to God if we are waiting in the right way or not.
Attitude matters:
Most of the time we say that “we are waiting on Lord for this…” but our attitude shows us something different. Our attitude while we wait for matters to the Lord. Samuel asked Saul to wait for him but instead of waiting with the right attitude, he became impatient and fearful-ended up losing something that was given to him by Lord (Read 1 Samuel 10-13). Yes, it is true that if we do not wait with the right attitude-we can end up losing our promise. Our attitude while we wait reflect our faith, trust in the Lord because the one who has faith will wait with love, joy and, patience.
“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”
1 Samuel 10:8
“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
1 Samuel 13:13-14
Waiting develops fruits of the spirit:
Waiting upon Lord with right attitude develops spiritual fruits. We tend to become more joyful, patience, kind, self-controlled, faithful, loving.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Abiding helps:
The word abide means to accept and act in accordance with. Jesus asked us to abide in Him, to be one with Him just as father and Jesus are one. We need to accept the will of God for our lives and act according to it whether it is a no from God or it is about His timing. We need to be connected with Him every second of our lives. Apart from Him we can do nothing. We can not even wait with the right attitude without Him. (Read John 15)
Stop Reasoning:
While we wait; one thing most of us do is reason among ourselves and try to fulfill the promises of God with our strength. This is exactly what Sarah did. Abraham and Sarah had a promise and while they were in their waiting, Sarah saw the things with her physical senses and ended up having Ishmael in her tents. Self-reasoning causes us to visualize everything with physical senses and worldly wisdom, knowledge and understanding. The promises of God require breath, wisdom, understanding and power of God. They can not be fulfilled with human wisdom, strength, knowledge and power. Not one can get them done until it is God’s timing and even if we try-we would end up having Ishmael and none of us wants Ishmael in our tents.
so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
Genesis 16:2
We are ought to be people who walk by faith. Faith sees supernaturally.
For we live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Isn’t it funny that we try to fulfill the promises that God made with our physical abilities? How dare we even think that we can accomplish it by our strength? We are made of dust and the life in us is the breath of Almighty God.
Waiting renews strength:
Let us read this Scripture:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
The people who wait upon Lord-their strength is renewed and they can never grow weary or faint. It means that tiredness, fainting, weariness and loss of strength are signs that we are not waiting upon Lord. As we walk in faith everyday while waiting-Lord gives us his strength. His grace leads us through this waiting time. God said that He will never leave us nor forsake us, He is with us and will carry us. It means that His grace, strength, power is accessible to us as we wait upon him. So, no wonder that this scripture says that they shall mount up with wings as eagles.
End time Church and waiting:
The Church of Christ is waiting for the promise of coming back of her bridegroom. The attitude of the Bride as she waits will matter whenever the bridegroom comes. The parables that Jesus spoke about the last hour include people who remain faithful and the ones who will be drifted apart from truth. We are familiar with the parables of faithful and unfaithful servants (Matthew 24:42-51), and wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). Both of these parables reflect the conditions of end-time Church and we would either be found as wise virgin/faithful servant or foolish virgin/unfaithful servant. While the master was delayed in the parable of faithful/unfaithful servant – the unfaithful servant went and started to eat and drink with drunkards. Many reach this stage because their waiting seems to be longer than they expected
We are not called to be drunk people but to live through the spirit of God. Sometimes being drunk does not mean to consume alcohol. Spiritual drunkenness is different. It means to be consumed in our ideas, thoughts or to be consumed by desires of the flesh. It is no different than the state of physical drunkenness. Spiritual drunkenness is harmful for souls and many tend to become spiritually drunk while they are in the waiting period.
Waiting reveals the condition of heart:
The hearts of Israelites were revealed during the waiting season. Saul’s heart was exposed while he was asked to wait. The heart of the wicked servant in the parable was revealed while the waiting seems to be long. Similarly, the hearts of people are revealed during this season. The condition of their heart is exposed as they wait. The right attitude to wait is the result of a pure heart, the heart that is burning for God. The heart of many will be exposed in the end times.
He is working while you wait:
Most of us think that God is silent during the waiting time. God is not silent. He is mindful of everything. He will continue to be there with us as we take every step closer to our promises. He is working everything for our good.
So, whatever you are waiting for-Be encouraged and strengthened. God is working.
Prayer: I pray that God shall work with your heart just as you wait upon Him. May you be found faithful. I pray that God shall strengthen you and give you grace as you wait. I pray that God will release hope and expectation as you walk through every day. With every new morning-may your heart is filled with hope and expectation. May you taste the fruits of your promised land and remain in it. In Jesus name, Amen
Maybe you are reading this and never knew about the Lord who is a compassionate and loving father who discipline and cleanses us; want to give your life to him; Read this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart and forgive my sins. I receive you as my savior who died and was resurrected for me. Come and do what you want to do in my life. I surrender my heart, mind, and soul to you. In Jesus name, Amen.
“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Heb. 13:20-21)
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