Godly Perspective
by David Brenneman
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.
"He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:29-31.
"Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you." Proverbs 20:22.
"Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?" Proverbs 20:24.
"For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him." Isaiah 64:4.
Life Principle 14: God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
In this hurry-up world, waiting for anything can cause us to lose our temper and our good sense more often than we care to admit. Yet the Word of God insists we learn some of life’s greatest lessons while we wait. Though waiting rooms can be hard classrooms, God promises vast reward to those who wait for Him.
When we wait on God …
We discover His will.
God does not allow delay in giving us the desire of our hearts to lead us along. Rather, even as we wait, He reveals His will to us and works all things together for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28).
We receive supernatural energy and strength.
As God deepens our relationship with Him through times of waiting, He also increases our energy, faith, endurance, and strength (Isa. 40: 29-31).
We’re victorious in battle.
When we do things our way in our time, we end up defeated. But when we wait on God and obey His commands, He ensures our victory (Prov. 20:22).
We see the fulfillment of our faith.
Though others may encourage us to forge ahead instead of waiting on the Lord, we must remember He’s the only One who can truly help us and who will never let us down (Is. 49:23).
We witness Him working on our behalf.
While we actively wait, God actively works (Is. 64:4). Every single day, we have the greatest Mediator working on our behalf. And even when things seem to go wrong, He’s making sure that everything works according to His purpose. What a wonderful promise!
Although waiting can be one of the more difficult things in the Christian life, it’s not wasted time. God gives us instructions through periods of actively waiting, keeps us in step with His will, prepares us for His answers, and uses the time to sift our motives and strengthen our faith. When we choose to wait on Him, God will use the long pauses in our lives for our blessing—both large and unexpected—if we let Him. - Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles Devotional.
Waiting. I myself as well as most people I have ever met or known do not like the idea of waiting.
For several generations now there are billions of people who detest waiting. These generations are often referred to as the microwave generations. Even with the speed of life they’re impatient about how long things take to get done. 2 minutes in a microwave to many is an eternity.
We often go to appointments, from Doctor's offices to tire or brake shops and we check-in and are instructed to wait.
We get unexpected news and the unfortunate next steps are waiting.
We get to building something new and learn that part of the process the video we followed said is that to get the right results you do these things then wait.
Yet we read in the Bible that we're to wait upon the Lord. We are to exercise patience. We are not to make hasty or rash choices or decisions. Me? Guilty as charged.
In this season of my life waiting has been appointed by God for me.
Ever really consider it that way?
You are driving to an appointment and there's delays and many times frustration sets in. Then after some time you're moving again with no explanation. My Dear Reader, that too was of God if you're willing to accept it.
You are having a great day and then all the sudden the unexpected call comes from a friend in need. This too was from God if you'll accept it.
The things in our lives from the small to the great all come through the hands of Jesus Christ before they get to each and every single Believer in the world.
I am unemployed at this time because of nothing I did wrong. It has been because My Savior says this is for me right now. I will indeed be employed again as He sees fit in His timing. It's on me to keep busy with whatever He puts before me to be doing. Colossians 3:23-24 tells us that whatever you do, do as unto the Lord because it's Him who we serve.
God always answers prayers with only a certain set of ways.
Yes, No, not right now and wait, I have something better in mind.
Throughout the Scriptures this had always been the way things are.
Our impatience never speeds up what God had ordained on our behalf. We can choose to patiently wait upon the Lord or we can literally push Jesus out of the driver's seat and resolve things ourselves.
What a visual huh?
Our impatience is quite literally our pushing Jesus from the driver's seat.
Scripture says that those who wait upon the Lord will be saved.
Before you take further steps in deciding this or that today, stop and ask Jesus about your next steps. If He’s not involved you're on shakey ground.
We are to be followers of Jesus Christ not leaders of Jesus Christ. He leads, we follow. Regardless of whether or not it makes sense to us at all. Job's whole ordeal made no sense. Daniel spending the night with a bunch of lions made no sense. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in a firey furnace made no sense. Yet they all kept Lord Jesus as the one leading and all saw the victory.
Perspective is everything. Praying for and keeping a Godly perspective means everything.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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