Wait…Then Wait Some More

Psalms 27:13-14 “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

So I had to go to court today in an attempt to have a ticket dismissed. To make a long story short I didn’t know I had to take defensive driving, then I received a letter from the court, then I had 15 days to complete defensive driving and turn in the certificate. Well the certificate was due yesterday and I had not received it in the mail yet, so I was pretty anxious. When I called the court and explained things I was told I had to see the judge, who was not very pleasant last time I was in his court. So I was almost to the courthouse and I thought, “I need to pray real quick as I walk in.” The Lord spoke and said, “Why would you wait until you are right in the middle of the situation before asking for my help.” Needless to say I stopped what I was doing, got quiet and spent some time praying before I got to the building. I was still a little nervous going in but the judge called my name and took my certificate like it was no big deal. It was a huge blessing for me because I really don’t need a ticket on my record. The moral of this not so short story is to wait on the Lord, He is good, He has good for me if I will just wait on Him instead of running in “half cocked.” This was a cool day for me, I spent a lot of my time praising Papa and staying in His presence as I went through the day. Also, it led me to this Psalms which I really enjoyed.

Wait for Him

Genesis 15

After Abram’s meeting and interaction with Melchizedek, Abram has a vision and meeting with God, through a vision.  In this vision and interaction with the Lord, Abram is promised that “… one who will come from  your own body will be your heir.” (Gen 15:4)  In fact, the Lord then tells Abram to go outside and count the stars – if he’s able – because that’s how many descendents Abram will have.

I mention this to set the time of day of this vision.  It is clearly nighttime, otherwise Abram would not have seen any stars.  Keep that in mind.

Abram, in a sense, asks for some “proof” – “… how shall I know…?” (v8) and the Lord gives him some instructions to gather some animals and bring them to him.  So Abram does.  He cuts them in two and placed them opposite of each other.  Then he waits on the Lord.  Verse 11 says that Abram waited so long, he had chase away vultures who were trying to come eat the dead carcasses.  Verse 12 begins to discuss what happens as the sun begins to set.

Gen 15:17: And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.

OK.  Abram has been up all night (remember, he counted the stars), thru the morning, the afternoon, the evening and into the night again before the Lord showed up and passed through the sacrifice and made covenant with Abram.

I, for one, am very impatient with the Lord.  In my “everything gets wrapped up in a 30 minute episode” world, I expect that I will pray it, and God will do it, and then I’ll move on to the next thing.

Sometimes God’s timing isn’t my timing.  Sometimes following His directions can be a little confusing.  I can imagine while Abram is chasing off the vultures, he’s thinking “Uh… Hello… Lord…. remember me?  Down here!  It’s me Abram…. I got the animals you asked for.  What do you want me to do next?”  ….. (silence) …. (crickets chriping) … (more silence) ….

I know I feel that way sometimes.  “OK God.  I’ve done X-Y-Z as you asked me to.  Now what?”… “Hello!”… “Are you there?”….” Did I do something wrong?”…  This is where the enemy likes to start throwing in the seeds of doubt.  This is where he says I didn’t hear God right, or I missed God, or I’m out of God’s will.  Sound familiar?

The pictures of the vultures is a GREAT visual here!  I don’t believe for a minute that it is coincidence that it’s in the bible.  Moses didn’t need any “filler” when he penned it.  There is a spiritual truth to that physical episode.  Isn’t the enemy just like those pesky vultures?  How often does the enemy come and try to steal, destroy and eat away at that which God has told us, or promised us, or instructed us to do!  Just like Abram, we have  to drive them off! (v11)

But, in His timing, God DOES come and he DOES deliver and he DOES promise and he DOES bless.  Thank you God!

Teach me Dad to wait for you in quiet confidence and in complete belief and faith.

1 Samuel 21

David screwed up now.  David runs away and lies to everyone he sees.  First he lies to Ahimilech and tells him that he is on a mission from Saul.  Takes the holy bread and the sword of Goliath and heads into Goliaths home town, another bad idea.  He then lies or fakes being crazy in Gath in front of Achish so he wont get killed then.  Its interesting how quickly men of faith turn to great fear and unbelief.  When we get into a hurry or find ourselves trusting in our own plans or other people we find ourselves out of the protection and blessing of God and we find ourselves running into the camp of the enemy.  Incredible what fear and pride will do to us if we allow it to.  David got into some trouble and forgot what it meant to wait on the Lord, he quickly forgot how God had provided every step of the way and had gotten little Davey out of far worse than this.  David decided not to wait and he ends up in a bad news bears type of situation.

Wait, then Obey

Psalms 27:8, 14- When You said, “Seek My face,”  my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! 

 

I was talking to Papa tonight, asking Him what He had for me, the passage He told me was Psalms 27. In my bible it’s titled “An Exuberant Declaration of Faith.” I had a feeling while reading the passage that what Papa had for me was more of what He gave me last night mixed with some of Chan’s from tonight.  The message I feel like He was giving me is pretty simple (so I may have some trouble with it) anyways, “Seek Me, stay in my presence. Wait on my commands and I will build you up, wait and obey when I speak and you will be fine.” Like I said, it seems really simple, but He may be trying to prepare me for something.

Papa, I welcome the chance to grow my faith and love for You, I’m a little worried but I know that I cannot do it on my own. Your word says that if I wait on You and be of good courage, You will strengthen my heart. I love You, and constantly praise You.

Wait and Be Blessed

Isaiah 30:18 -19 says, “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. O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.”

This is how Papa will act when I am stubborn and try to flee, verses 15-17. How great and awesome is He. What originally stuck out to me was the end of verse 18, “Blessed are all who wait for Him.” I was able to reap the blessings of doing just that this week and it was such a…blessing for lack of a better word. But as I read further I was reminded of His unconditional love for me. Now when you say “God,”  I think of His love, but the wording of it really hit me. “As soon as He hears, He will answer you.” How blessed am I to be in relationship with a Father who “longs to be gracious to me,” who “rises to show me compassion.”

Papa, I praise Your name, above all else You are great. You are kind and loving, and will never forsake me. Thank You for being quick to answer me and for actually wanting to be gracious to me. Thank You, You are way out of my league and I don’t deserve You, but I’ll take it. Thank You.