Waiting On God (Revisited)

Waiting On God (Revisited)

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, every day 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." Even though many times I get impatient, because of my changed life, I have been able to wait on God and not always act out of fear or self-determination. I know it is God’s desire for me to live in sync with His plan, and make my decisions based on what He reveals to me through His Word, good Godly counsel, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

What I gather from my past encounters with God is that He brings me to a particular crossroads in my life where I sense something is about to change. He reveals His will to me just at the right time. He then shows me exactly what action I need to take and when to take it.

I am able to confirm what I believe God is telling me through my connection and relationship with the Holy Spirit, constant prayer, confirmation from God's Word, Church Sermons that speak directly to my circumstance, counseling from wise Godly people, books and articles by people of faith that come to my attention, worship and praise of a loving God who keeps His promises, and confirmation through a sense of peace about taking action based on all the guidance I have been given. What I need to take to heart is that waiting on God requires that I remember His timing is always perfect. 

When God wants me to act He puts those desires for His direction and change at the forefront of my thoughts. The changes I am referring to include changes in my character, desires, behaviors, work, obedience, maturity, faith etc.  I happen to like comfort and would choose to remain so if it were not for the fact that change in God's kingdom means I check out of the comfort zone motel. I have learned that God is trying to help me to step out in faith and in the process trust in Him completely. This is a hard thing to do because my human nature, which at times I mistakenly rely on for perspective, hinders me from doing something that God is trying to do to in order stretch me spiritually. After years of wrestling with God, I have many reasons to believe that God has the power to do anything. The evidence is the change in my own heart. Too many times I have put God’s power in a box thereby setting limits on what I think is possible for Him to get done in me and through me. A big lesson I have learned is that God can do the impossible! He changed my heart from being million miles away from Him to one that embraces Jesus’ good news of salvation. Truly this is a miracle for a Jewish person (me) who used to mock God and His Church.

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 faith and trust in God has matured to the point of action. 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.

As far as ministry is concerned, it is great to be used by God! It as an honor and a privilege to serve Him and give Him the glory He deserves. To this day I am still amazed that God allows me to be part of His plan to help others find hope in a fallen world.

Since I am like most people I still have dreams and passions that I feel the desire to pursue. This is where I battle the human VS eternal perspective the most. There are times when 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. I have a tendency to plan my own reality and dream hopeful circumstances that I prefer to take place and reside in. However, this reality I have created for myself for the most part is opposed to God’s master plan. The reason why I know this is because God is conforming me into the image of His Son and not into the image and circumstances I have created for myself. My identity is designed for me to be in Christ and not Dave the guy who does this (fill in the blank) for a living.

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:

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”   (Proverbs 16:9)

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.  (Romans 8:28)

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

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. (Philippians 1:6)

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

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.

(Romans 8:29)

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. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

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 myself, “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:

"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. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

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 and faith He desires.

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

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. (Philippians 4:6-7)

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

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

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. (2Peter 3:9)

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. 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 lost and brokenhearted. 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 and share the Gospel with others:

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 (1 Peter 3:15)

These verses below exhort us to wait on God:

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

(Lamentations 3:24)

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

(Psalm 27:14)

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

(Psalm 130:5)

Here is the blessing for waiting on God:

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.

(Isaiah 40:31) 

Because 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;

(Lamentations 3:22-25) 

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.

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.

(James 1:2-5)

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.  (Hebrews 10:35-36)

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. (Romans 5:3)

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.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

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:  

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!

(Isaiah 30:18)

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.

"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."  (John 14:1-4)

As I write this I am reminded about one more thing. Those whose identity is in Christ will be opposed.  The enemy is looking to bring down anyone who a follower of Jesus.  For this reason we have to remember that Jesus warned us about the troubles we are going to face as His followers and we must not forget to always put on the armor of God.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,   (Ephesians 6:10-13)

Even with the opposition from the enemy and the world, living for God is worth any struggle we will face. Jesus died to rescue us so let us die to self and wait for Him to direct our path and to be patient while He changes us from the inside out!

Just Sayin………………..Dave