Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Do not grow weary in waiting

The Lord spoke these words:
"Do not grow weary in waiting. Do not give up while waiting. Keep your focus on Me, and remain in My peace. Having given thanks for your answer, wait on Me and receive a fresh outpouring from Me. Never limit how I am going to make it happen for you!"

People of God, have you recently been discouraged or tired of waiting for your breakthrough or answer? For some of you, it even feels like you are losing it (or losing the battle), and you are on the verge of giving it all up - be it in waiting for your complete healing, a financial breakthrough, an answer to your problem, or a God-given prophecy/dream/vision to come to pass.

Admittedly, waiting time is never easy. But take heart, because Isaiah 40:29-31 says, 'He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint'.

The words 'wait on' here is 'qavah' in Hebrew, which can mean 'to collect from, to gather from, to look patiently, to wait expectantly'. In other words, it is a confident expectation (or a divine hope) that God will do what He has promised; yet He knows best how it will happen, and when it will happen. This word 'qavah' also implies while you are waiting, He is also in the midst of building you, preparing you, and works all things together for your good.

You may have heard people say 'waiting time is never wasted time'. There is a truth in this saying, provided you allow yourself to see your 'waiting time' as God sees it. In Isaiah 40:29-31, it is clear that God doesn't see 'qavah' as a dormant or passive time, but He sees it as a time of building and preparing you for the greater things to come.

On your part, it is a time of actively receivingcollecting and gathering from Him - be it His strength, His refreshing, His renewal, His wisdom, His anointing, and even His substance (or His character), so that when your breakthrough finally comes, you'll be ready for that next level!

But be vigilant and sober, because at a time of your waiting, the enemy will not sit still. In fact, he will do just the opposite from what God does for you. After all, he is called the adversary (1 Peter 5:8). The enemy will try to do anything to discourage you, or make you think your trust in God is in vain - that God doesn't remember you anymore, and God doesn't keep His promises! The enemy's final aim is that you'll give up on all that God has spoken to you. And when that happens, he wins! And I believe that is why Isaiah 40:29 says so emphatically (for those who are in a time of waiting): 'He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength'! Indeed, people of God, this is a crucial time to keep your focus on Him, and remain in His peace. This is your time to receive a new strength from Him!

Let us not be like King Saul who grew restless and anxious when the nation of Israel were besieged by the Philistines; so much so he began to take matters into his own hands (1 Samuel 13:1-14), instead of waiting for the arrival of prophet Samuel who had spoken earlier that he would SURELY come and show the way (1 Samuel 10:8). Interestingly, the name 'Samuel' in Hebrew represents 'The Lord has heard'. In other words, King Saul failed to see that 'The Lord has heard' is a God who keeps promises, and 'The Lord has heard' will SURELY come! In the end, King Saul's impatience cost him dearly.

But let us be like King David who in a time of waiting (for his victory and breakthrough), continued looking to the Lord and trusting in the Lord, as written in Psalm 121:1-4, 'I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep'.

Indeed, the Lord your God shall neither slumber nor sleep, but He is very much awake and alive, whatever your situation may be at the moment. This is your time to give thanks in advance because your victory and breakthrough will SURELY come! This is your time to declare that 'The Lord has heard'! And never limit how He is going to make it happen for you, because His ways are always higher than the ways of men (Isaiah 55:8-9). In Jesus' name. Amen!