Monday, March 19, 2012

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Saturday, March 17, 2012

Wait on the Lord, I Say Wait


Waiting on the Lord. Patience. Unction. What does it all mean? Many think they understand, but putting it into realistic practice can show whether there is a true understanding deep down. The verse actually reads: “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)

Learning how to wait, truly wait, comes with faith and a true understanding of scripture. Waiting also requires that one learn how to be still. We wait every day in traffic, in the grocery store line, on the phone when we are put on hold. But that type is waiting is temporary, and we know what is going to happen... and we can “see” with our natural eyes what the outcome will most likely be. Waiting on the Lord is quite different. No longer are we looking with our natural eyes, but if we truly have the faith and the understanding, knowledge and wisdom that comes from scripture, we will see waiting with our spiritual eyes. When we truly decide to wait, we are saying that we don't see the outcome already, we don't know how long it will take, and we don't know how God will work it all out. We purposefully put ourselves in a position to simply step aside.

Waiting on the Lord requires not only faith and understanding, but good courage? For sure. We know God wants us to do all things without murmings and disputings (Philippians 2:14), He wants us to pray always with prayer and supplication (Ephesians 6:18), He wants us to be of good cheer (John 16:33), and He wants us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Being of good courage is a combination of those things, all put together. When we decide to wait on God in situations in our lives, we must not complain while we wait, we must continually pray to remain in communication with God, we must remain positive, no matter how long we wait, and we must still seek Him in all things while waiting and even after the waiting period is over.

While we are waiting, according to scripture (Psalm 24:14), our hearts will be strengthened. What does this mean? We are made stronger. Our hearts are strengthened in love for God as we draw closer to Him during our waiting season. Our faith is strengthened as we see God work in and through our lives. Regardless of whether it is a short wait or a long season of wait, God will work. Sometimes we recognize His workings immediately and other times, how God chooses to work may come in a way so differently than we expected that before we know it, we are through the wilderness period and on the other side of our challenges. Our knowledge, wisdom and understanding is strengthened as we stay in the Word. The more we seek the Lord, the more strength we have in knowing how to run a good race and fight the good fight of faith. (1 Timothy 6:12)

What happens when we choose to wait? “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) Simply put, God sees us as we wait, he acknowledges our wait and he blesses and rewards our waiting.

How does the word “unction” (quick definition: holy anointing) fit into waiting on the Lord and being strengthened by the Lord? Believing in the Lord, constantly seeking to draw closer to the Lord, walking with the Lord, waiting on the Lord, worshiping and praising the Lord, and living for the Lord can grant us an unction from the Holy One to know all things (1 John 2:20). “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (1 John 2:27) Through God's loving-kindness and grace, we are given what will equip us for this journey called life. What we are given is for us, but it is also for helping others along as well.