Posts with the tag “waiting”

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5:7If you want to grow in intimacy with Christ, you should fast. If you want clarity to better hear what God is saying to you, you should fast. If you are waiting for a breakthrough, you should fast. If you want to purge sin and addiction from your life, you should fast. And if you want to increase your faith… well, you should fast.Fasting is s...  Read More

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” - Luke 15:22-24I want to continue our examination of the Prodigal Son. Yesterday, we hea...  Read More

“He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” - Genesis 16:12We have been discussing why we should not step outside the will of God. We know that He has a perfect plan for our lives, and that when we follow that plan, good things will happen. This does not mean everything will always be...  Read More

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” - Isaiah 40:31We talk about waiting a lot — waiting on God, waiting for His timing. The Bible talks a lot about waiting on God. Why so much? Because it is that important. We have spent the last couple of days discussing how to avoid get...  Read More

“Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” - Ephesians 5:16-17We have spent the last several days talking about what to do “in the meantime.” This is the time in between where you are right now and where God is taking you. This is the place your dreams, visions, and goals lie that only God can lead you int...  Read More

“He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.” - Isaiah 30:23  There is a scene in the movie, “Facing the Giants,” where the head football coach questions his faith in God to the school’s head intercessor. The man turns to the coach and gives him the story of two ...  Read More

“He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.” - Isaiah 30:23  While you are waiting on God, there are three things you can be doing in the meantime. As we have referenced the last couple of days, we see this from a woman in 1 Samuel 1, who was childless and spend...  Read More

“Be very careful, then, how you live— not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” - Ephesians 5:15-16  Do you have promises that you are waiting on God to deliver? Do you have hopes and dreams that you know God will fulfill—it is just a matter of time? This can be a very exciting feeling, being able to claim the promises of God and knowing that He w...  Read More

“He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.” - Proverbs 2:8  Yesterday, we talked about how the waiting periods in our lives are necessary for preparation. However, the wait also protects us from danger.   Sometimes, what we want and what God wants for us are in direct competition. We want the career now, the promotion, now, the relationship now, and the peace now. We hav...  Read More

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17  Do you want something that you have yet to receive? Maybe God has promised you something, and it just feels like it is taking forever for Him to answer your prayer. Quite often we’re not mature enough to handle what God desires to give us. So, God has to enroll us in the un...  Read More

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10  Yesterday, we talked about the story of the man who was called to push the rock. There was a huge boulder in his front yard, and he was tasked with pushing the rock. The man became frustrated with God when the rock was not m...  Read More

“‘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  Yesterday, we discussed not making decisions that are driven by desperation. Often, these decisions are made because we have already determined the way in which God should w...  Read More

“‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will delver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.’” - Psalm 91:14-16  When it comes to following God, you must not let desperation drive your decisions. In Genesis 16, Abram ...  Read More

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had one him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 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.’” - Genesis 16:1-2  In Genesis 16, we learn that Abram has struggled with the fact that what the Lord has promised him has yet to happen. It is challenging for Abram to wait...  Read More

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, has borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 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.” - Genesis 16:1-2  If you are a sports fan, you might recall Michael Jordan’s short-lived stint in baseball. Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time, decided in...  Read More

“Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” - Genesis 18:14  If you are reading this, God wants me to tell you that the thing you’ve been waiting for is about to come to pass. It’s on the way. The miracle, the healing, the deliverance, the breakthrough, it’s on the way. And when God does it, He’s going to blow your mind.   T...  Read More

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7  Have you been waiting on God to move a mountain in your life? Matthew 7:7 speaks of God’s willingness to answer those who sincerely seek Him. These are promises that God provides through prayer, not a means of spiritual manipulation that guarantee God will answer any and everything t...  Read More

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks find; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” - Luke 11:9-10    The good news is when we invite God into our home, some things are guaranteed to happen—things start moving and shifting. You do not just have to wait for t...  Read More

“Do not fear, For I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” - Isaiah 43:1-2  When it comes to God’s delivery, one thing is for certain; God will be with you. So of...  Read More

“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” - Luke 6:38  One of the primary ways to show God you are committed to Him is through sacrificial giving and tithing. We might believe God can and will do what He said He would, but when we fail to give, we aren’t...  Read More

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6  Have you ever questioned God? Have you called out to Him and blatantly asked Him, “Are you going to do what you said you would do, God?” First Lady Jill Biden recently spoke about struggling with faith after her stepson di...  Read More

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” - Isaiah 55:8  When it comes to questioning God, sometimes it is not a matter of if He will do it, but how He will do it. As believers, we know God’s Word, and we believe God’s Word. We just struggle with God’s methods. It’s the problem the prophet Isaiah is trying to address in Isaiah 55 when he says, “For ...  Read More

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2  The Bible speaks a lot about trusting God and on waiting for His timing because both of these commands can be challenging. One reason is because of the fear that is associated with trusting in the u...  Read More

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” - Proverbs 3:5  The original movie, “The Karate Kid,” is about a young boy named Daniel LaRussa who wants to learn karate so that he can defend himself. He’s tired of being bullied and beaten by the ex-boyfriend of a girl he likes. He asks the janitor in his building, an elderly Japanese man named Mr. Miyagi, who is a ...  Read More

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” - Isaiah 30:18  Most people don’t go into the kitchen and start eating a cup of sugar, a cup of flour, or some salt. They do not drink a tablespoon of vanilla be itself and say, “what a great meal!” Why is that? Because they recognize tha...  Read More

“Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.” - Psalm 37:34  Before Abram asked God about who would inherit his estate in Genesis 15, there were a series of challenging events Abram faced. Most notably, he was at war and fought to secure the return of his nephew, Lot. After this, he was in the valley of Shaveh, trying to...  Read More

“But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’ He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the...  Read More

“But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’ He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the...  Read More

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9  The gap in time from when we want God to answer to the revelation and manifestation of that prayer can be very tough to wait through. This kind of waiting requires spiritual stamina. Abram and his wife Sarai wai...  Read More

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” - Hebrews 10:23  Have you ever noticed that most of the things that you badly want will require some time and patience to reap the rewards—a degree, an executive positive, a spouse, a child. Waiting is something that life requires. You must wait in line at stores, wait at the doctor’s office, and wait for your car ...  Read More

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1 Faith operates in the realm of the unseen and it requires a level of trust and hope that can appear to be counter-cultural to society’s standards. However, with faith comes new heights and new opportunities. 24-year old American track-and-field athlete Gabby Thomas was determined to not settle where she...  Read More

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12 On April 30, 1945, an unknown Jewish writer left a note for a friend who helped him escape Nazi persecution by hiding him in his home. In the note, he writes, “thank you for what you did for me. You and your family have shown grace ra...  Read More

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, Wait patiently for the Lord.” – Psalms 27:14 Author and speaker Joyce Meyer once said, “Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.” There is a process that you must endure; but if you remember that there is purpose in the wait, it will help you to navigate difficult days. In Genesis 37–50, the story is told of a young Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers out of hatred and jealousy. Joseph went from being a personal servant and being falsely accused of rape followed by imprisonment, to being the highest official in ancient Egypt to serve the pharaoh. He ultimately established peace with his brothers. Joseph said to his brothers, “do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives…God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Joseph understood that his journey had purpose and meaning. No matter what you are going through, there are a couple of things that you can do will waiting on God. First is to pursue your faith. Instead of filling yourself with worry and doubt, use that time to pray. Stand on the Word of God. Use that time to develop patience and understanding. Second, change your attitude. Your next level will require a stronger and more mature version of yourself. Challenges will be on that level as well. Taking on an attitude of gratitude will make the wait more manageable. Third, serve others. When you are helping others, you have less time to focus on your problems. If you are faithful with the little things, God can trust you with the larger things. Don’t waste your waiting period of the things you cannot control. Allow God to prepare you for what you are going to receive and continue to live out His will for your life in the meantime. God’s ultimate purpose is to make you more like Jesus. And that is worth the process.   Read More

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” – Psalms 27:14 Few things are more frustrating in life than waiting. For the impatient, waiting can be torture. When you are a child, you must wait twelve years to graduate from high school and hopefully leave your parents’ house. When you are applying to college, you must wait for the acceptance letter to find out whether you have been admitted. When you meet someone special with whom you see a future, you must wait for the relationship to develop and mature before you can move through its various stages. When you are expecting a newborn child, you must wait nine months, oftentimes through pain and discomfort until the baby finally arrives. Life is filled with periods of waiting. And when you must wait, discouragement can set in. It can cause you to lose sight of your goals, your dreams, and your aspirations. As time passes, you begin to question and wonder if what you are waiting for will ever come to be. Will your time ever come? God uses waiting periods to grow and mature us; the wait strengthens our faith and gives us the tools we will need on the next level God has for us. The best lessons are learned in the journey and not the destination. God does not want you to give up though. If you are currently waiting on God, do not waiver. You will never regret waiting on Him. His timing is always perfect.   Read More

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4) A while back, a group from our church took a trip to Italy. While we were there, we had the privilege of seeing the famous statue of David. But what’s interesting is that most people don’t know the history of the statue.   It all began in 1466...  Read More

“Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.” – Psalm 126:4There is so much we can learn from this short verse in the middle of Psalm 126. In verse four, the psalmist is asking God to bring greater deliverance than anything the Israelites have already experienced, just like He fills the streams in Negev – the dry, parched desert in the south of the land – with massive amounts of water. ...  Read More