Wait Upon the Lord
by Margaret D. Mitchell
Week of August 11, 2013
"Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD." -Psalm 27:14
Like my father, I enjoy a good auction. And if ebay has taught me nothing else in these accelerated times in which we live and work, I’ve learned to wait for just the “right” item. No compromise. When it’s God, there’s nothing missing, nothing broken, and there’s no remorse added to it. Long before ebay existed, auctions—and life’s big crossroads—have tested my faith that God will bring just the right thing at just the right time and at just the right price, value and benefit.
But do we always listen to the Holy Spirit when He tries to guide us? Do we really believe God at His word? Or do we need to repent of unbelief? Some areas are easy for us to trust God. Others aren’t.
Just recently, I sat behind a young couple in church who were clearly in distress. While a leader ministered to them, the Lord spoke to me to encourage them to trust Him.
What is it within us that causes us to doubt God’s best for us? To think His best will never happen for us? Fear? Past trauma? Weariness?
Despite our life experiences, God’s truth is that we are who HE says we are, not what others say. Others’ views are limited by their own mental lenses. Only God sees the entire plan He has for us on earth as it is in heaven. And no matter what we’ve been through in life, we can forgive, repent and intentionally choose to get our thoughts, words and behaviors in alignment with God’s truth so that we don’t miss His best.
Galatians 6:9 tells us that “ . . . we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Some difficulties we must endure. Other challenges, God delivers us from instantly for the asking. Yes, God allows both. Each way is a path for God to do a unique work within us. Endurance forges patience and divine grace within us if we process through the journey God’s way. And when the breakthrough comes, we will often enter into it with ease because God has prepared us incrementally over time for the new season that we are birthed into.
When God delivers us from troubles instantly, our faith is encouraged. When He allows us to endure them, our faith is tested. In this way, He matures our faith and refines us, causing us to lay down everything that tries to interfere with that for which we believe God to produce in our lives. We must be careful with whom we share information and revelation during our seasons of waiting upon the Lord. Remember, God is testing us in the wait, not necessarily them. Some will not have any understanding of the unique work that God is doing in our lives. Some promises we need to hold in our hearts until the breakthrough. Then share our testimonies. Hebrews 13:21 says, "may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen."
God always has a best strategy for us to receive His best. It’s up to us to seek Him first and ask for His wisdom in all things; then be obedient every step of the way. And especially guard against ungodly fear, the enemy’s tool to produce distraction and interference. God instructed Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). God gave Joshua unique strategies for his battles to take dominion, to win. In this way, Joshua was dependent upon the Lord for his very life and the lives of others as well as the future of a nation.
One of the most endearing scriptures the Lord gave to me when I was going through a challenging journey was Ecclesiastes 3:11 : "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." I knew He was lovingly telling me that the beautiful thing He promised me would come to pass in His perfect time. I choose to trust that God knows best and to believe Him at His written and revealed word.
What are you depending upon the Lord to bring about in your life? Choosing to wait upon Him will produce beautiful things in you and for you. You’ll see . . . in His time.
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.
Originally published Sunday, 11 August 2013.
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