Waiting On God

Waiting On God

Have you ever asked God this kind of question?
“God, what do you want me to do with my life?” 

Well I have. 

In fact, everyday I seem to say, "God, please show me what you want me to do. Please make it clear to me on how to proceed with my life." Being that sometimes I am impatient, through a changed life, I have been able to make it a habit to wait on God's revelation on how to live in sync with His plan, and make my next move accordingly.

What I have observed from my past is that God had brought me to a particular crossroads in my life where I sensed something was about to change and I knew God was going to tell me about it and show me what action I needed to take. I was able to confirm with what I believed God was telling me through my connection to the Holy Spirit, prayer, God's Word, Church Sermons, interviews with wise Godly men, books and articles by people of faith, worship, and songs and confirmation through a sense of peace about what I was about to do. So even with my desire to act, what I needed to remember was I had to wait on God because through experience I knew His timing was always perfect. 

Interestingly enough, I began to realize that God puts the desires for change in my mind and my heart. This change includes character, desire, behaviors, work, obedience, maturity, faith etc.  I myself like to stay comfortable yet I realize change in God's kingdom means I check out of the comfort zone motel. you see, God is always trying to get me to step out in faith and trust in Him. This is a hard thing to do because through His process of sanctification, I  have to rid myself of the sin that hinders me or do something that stretches me, going beyond in what I think I am capable of doing. For many reasons I believe that God has the power to do anything. Too many times I have put God in a box thereby setting limits on what I think is possible. A big lesson for me is that God can do the impossible!

So when God is ready to move in my life I know I need to be prepared to walk through whatever change or door He has opened for me. This idea of preparation is a process by which I  have to grow in my faith and trust in God. The more I trust God the more I am prepared to act.. The cool thing is God strengthens me and equips me for everything He has called me to do. This is my confirmation that He wants me to do something. He also puts the passion in my heart and gives me the strength and ability to accomplish His purpose.

So many of these changes I have actually gone through have had to do with character, integrity, spiritual growth, habits, worldview, and service to God. So when God is moving in my life, preparing me for personal changes, or ministry, there will be evidence of sanctification and equipping topped off with lots of passion and excitement about what lies ahead for me.

As far as ministry is concerned It is great to be used by God! It could be everything from helping those in need spiritually to using the resources I have been given to care for those really struggling to survive.  Whatever it is, it is an honor and a privilege to know that God allows me to be part of His plan to help others find hope in a fallen world.

Since I am human I still have my own desires and passions that I have that I still feel a desire to pursue. This is where the Human perspective comes into play. There are times I want to change my job, my housing situation, find a new state to live in, find new avenues of service to God, and increase my level of comfort. Leaning on my own perspective and desire I have sort of planned my own new reality and circumstances by which I would like to live in.  However, these days I  always realize find out God has the master plan. 
To help me get a bigger picture about God's plan I seek out His Word to confirm what
His purpose is.

The Bible tells us that God has a purpose and plan for our lives:

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been

called according to his purpose.

Philippians 1:6 NIV  1984
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion 
until the day of Christ Jesus.

The Bible tells us that God wants us to become more like Jesus:

Romans 8:29 New Living Translation

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Ephesians 4:22-24 New International Version 1984 

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Trusting God while I wait for His direction: 

Even though I have dreams and desires for my life I fully trust my Heavenly Father for charting the course of my days. He knows what’s best for me and may have other plans for my life that serve a greater purpose than the ones I desire for myself. There are times when I ask my self, “What is God trying to do here”? From a worldly human perspective, waiting on God doesn't make sense since we are told over and over again by the prevailing culture to follow our dreams. I am glad God does not always give me what I desire. Some of my desires/dreams would not have been beneficial to me nor the kingdom of God. What we have to remember is that waiting on God becomes even harder when we focus our energy on figuring out what God is up to.

The Bible tells us that there is a reason why it is so hard to figure out what God is up to:

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV 
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Patience:

Even though I trust God, I still struggle with being patient with Him. I am so conditioned to get things done quickly that waiting for God to act is somewhat unsettling. However, God's timing is always perfect. He does have a plan and I need to live with great expectation that He will act for His greater purpose. It is good to know that God will use periods of time to test our faith and obedience. During these times God desires that while we wait, we worship. That while we wait we trust that He desires to do good in us and through us. That while we wait we come to Him in prayer, and completely open up our hearts to Him. This is the kind of personal relationship He desires.

The Bible explains the spiritual importance of coming before God with our daily requests and concerns:

Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version 1984 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I am also thankful that God continues to be patient with those who still have not received the Gospel. Many in my family have yet to become followers of Jesus.

There is a very important reason why God is so patient:

2 Peter 3:9 NIV 
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Historically speaking God had to be really patient with me because of my many years of rejection and lip service directed toward Him. I am forever grateful for God's unfailing love, mercy, and grace sprinkled with tons of patience.

We have to consider while waiting on God for whatever reason, we still have a purpose

that is primary to a meaningful existence. While we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, we are also to love our neighbor. This means that one of the greatest acts of love we could do while we wait on God is to reach out to the unsaved. A great part of our purpose is to share the hope we have though Jesus' work on the cross.

The Bible reminds us to set ourselves apart to Christ especially when we fulfill our mission to share the Gospel with others:

1 Peter 3:15 NIV 
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

When we are set apart to God and trust Him with our lives we should be willing to wait for His affirmation and biblical wisdom before we act or make important decisions.

Lamentations 3:24 NIV 
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

Psalm 27:14 NIV 
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 130:5 NIV 
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Isaiah 40:31 New King James Version 
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; 
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Lamentations 3:22-25 New International Version 1984Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail.They are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,to the one who seeks him;

When we wait for God we ultimately pronounce His worthiness to lead and guide our lives especially when we are going through difficult circumstances. By persevering we are allow God to continue His work in us and through us.

James 1:2-5 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Romans 5:3-5 NIV

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

So even when it becomes difficult to wait on God to change our circumstances, or even answer our prayers, we can be confident that God is continuing to work for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose. Remember, God will work to perfect us by even allowing our prayers to go unanswered and to keep us in our circumstances for a time in order for us to learn something about ourselves and to test our faith and trust in Him. 

What will help us in this time of anticipation is to remember believers have the awareness to experience God's perfect timing and to experience just how amazing the mind of God really is. With that realization, we understand how blessed we really are to part of God's family and that gratitude that permeates from within our heart has the potential to change us from the inside out.

We are assured that anyone who is truly a follower of Christ has been changed.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

So while we wait, let us live the way God intended, set apart to Him on the road to Christ-likeness.

With patience comes blessing.  

Isaiah 30:18 NIV

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Jesus promises us that He will one day return to bring us to our heavenly home. With this promise we can live this life with hope and with confidence, waiting on the Lord to fulfill this eternal blessing.

John 14:1-4 NIV

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Waiting on God is worth the wait!

Just Sayin………………..Dave