Greetings again my Brethren. Let us continue to look at some thoughts and scriptures on the proper characteristics of our waiting on God. last month we looked at early, daily, and watchfully all critical to our success in God and to our success in our waiting on God. Often in my mind (as funny as it may seem) I think of the waiting on God as a waiter stands at attention in a smart waiters suit with a white towel draped over his arm. The look is forward and respectful at the beckoned call of the master of the feast. With the master’s mere whim or whisper the waiter springs into action to unflinchingly obey every command. How wonderful that would be in our lives, but often we find it hard to spend five minutes (the average most Christians pray a day unless in a bad situation) in prayer. Maybe we should think to pray and wait before we get in dire straight. I guess God understands our nature because He also knows the best view of Him is often at the bottom of the barrel where all we do is look up.
The next and fourth characteristic we will look at is continually. In Hosea we read, “Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial 6Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” (Hosea 12:5-6) This continual waiting should be a mode of life and not merely a temporary expediency in time of need. The Psalms has much to say about doing things and having things in us and around us continually happen. Probably most recited is, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalms 34:1) We really like that verse when things are going great, but when things are not going so good what do we say about, “For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.” (Psalm 38:17) or “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” (Psalm 42:3) In these tough times and as we wait on God He is there and responds to us and our needs as we cry out, “Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.” (Psalm 40:11) If we wait for Him we shall hear His voice. The fifth characteristic in the group of 10 is objectively. In Lamentations Jeremiah’s writes, “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. 31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:” (Lamentations 3:25-31) These are some very hard words to endure to learn the truth of these words. God has a learning object here in these verses that can only be realized as we quietly wait, but first we must, “bear the yoke, sitteth alone and keepeth silence, put our mouth in the dust (not much talking with a mouth full of dust), and give his cheek to him that smiteth him.” Then “the LORD will not cast off for ever.” This waiting MUST have a definite purpose with Him being the principal objective. The sixth characteristic is expectantly. Back in Psalm we read, “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. 5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 62:1, 5-6) This waiting is with a confidence and active expectations and not in a state of mere pious wishing. Far too many Christians lack a real relationship with the LORD and substitute other things for the work of God in their lives. Instead of developing a relationship with the LORD whereby one can come into a heartfelt place of expectation (really able to count on God) based on God’s word they substitute the process and the outcomes with something much less. The waiting is too hard and can be painful at times so I will just wish something good happens. We seem not to be willing to endure the work of God (His dealings and judgments in our lives) in our lives so we have to settle for something less to calm our nerves and still the ocean that rages within our soul. I have seen this play out in so many lives and have even felt this play out in my life. God has something better for us yet we are not willing to go through the things needed to be able to receive what God has for us. Sadly many Christian denominations teach God is a Santa Claus or sugar daddy with a magic wand and He bopps us on the head and presto changeo we have or are what we are wishing for. Not so in God. This expectation comes out of real endurance and often pain. It comes out of a real understanding of who God is, who we are, and what He wants to do in us based not on our good works, but based on what He has done for us on the cross. Wishing never rises to the expectation of touching God’s heart.
Next month we will look at the remaining four characteristics so we will learn to properly wait on God. Walter Beuttler said if you build God a temple He will inhabit it. Have you built God a temple? If you do He will abide and wait for you. Written by David Stahl
