Be Patient, Wait on the Lord
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
The Lord’s timing and our timing are different; we are impatient, and the Lord is patient. He answers our prayers, knowing what we ask for, and changes us as he guides us through life at a comfortable pace. When we pray for the Lord’s help when ministering to others, individually or through teaching a class, he is always there to guide us. He wants us to depend on him as we minister to others. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) We need Christ with us if we are to bear fruit by leading people to Christ.
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:26 ESV) When we are waiting on the Lord to answer our prayer, it is imperative that we remain patient and continue to serve the Lord by following the Spirit. Often our prayers are answered as we continue serving the Lord because the Lord is always changing us. When we live as the Lord’s servants, we pray based on our own understanding, but we leave the prayer in the Lord’s hands because we trust his timing and guidance.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;(Proverbs 3:5) If we truly trust the Lord with all our hearts, we will fully trust his answer and his timing. God will sometimes answer our prayers immediately, and other times, we must wait patiently and remain his servant. It is important the we trust the Lord’s will over our understanding, and regardless of the circumstance we continue to serve the Lord.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12) Having patience is a blessing, but Satan wants us to rush because he desires that we become self-focused and forget about compassion, kindness, humility, and gentleness. We continue praying, but we wait patiently because impatience can affect our Christian life.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) If we are impatient, how can we be still inside and keep our thoughts on God? Being impatient can easily take the peace and comfort from our soul. When we are rushed and impatient, we are controlled by the world and not by the Spirit. There are rare times when I am running late to be somewhere, and Satan tempts me to rush through traffic. I refuse to let the world control me and I pray for the Lord to keep me driving safely and courteously, and to remain still inside.
Today, serve the Lord and wait upon the Lord. Seek to always live with patience, making life more fulfilling and relaxing by living according to the Lord’s timing and guidance. Jesus depended on the Father, and did you ever see Jesus rushing?
Prayer: Lord, help me to be patient, to live each day by your timing and guidance, to be still inside and never be rushed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.