The Fine Art of Waiting

"The Fine Art of Waiting"

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" (Psalm 37:7)

Yesterday's Freedom Fighter addressed the issue of being still and waiting in the Lord's presence. Our verse today has a strong relationship to Psalm 46:10 that tells us to "Be still and know that I am God." Both speak of the need for God's people to live patiently, quietly and confidently in the presence of the Lord.

Most of us aren't too good at resting. We run from daylight to dark and cram more into one day than we ought to put in a week. We live as though everything depends on us. It's as though God can't do anything unless we run ourselves ragged. Many of us think we don't have time to be still . . . to wait . . . to rest in the Lord.

What does it get us, all this rushing and working? It doesn't draw us any closer to the Lord. It doesn't nurture our relationship with Jesus. It does make us tired. It does make us weak. It does make us less than God designed us to be. How do I know this? I know it by experience, and I know it by the instruction of the Word of God.

When I work so many hours that I don't have time to rest, to be still, to wait, I end up weaker rather than stronger. Neglecting time with God doesn't help me accomplish more of what is genuinely important. On the contrary, a lack of time with God makes me less effective in just about every area of my life. Jesus knew that when He told us in John 15: 5, ". . . for without Me, you can do nothing."

The context in John 15 is the same as Psalm 37 and Psalm 46. In Jesus' words we think of abiding. In the psalmist's words we think of resting, waiting and stillness. If we genuinely hunger for deeper fellowship and a closer relationship with the Lord, we must make time to be still and rest in His presence. We'll learn things in the stillness that we'll never learn by "being busy for the Lord."

The Word of God assures us that carving out time to be in God's presence is worth the effort. Will you join me in finding fifteen or twenty minutes a day this week to sit quietly in the Lord's presence? Allow God's Spirit to minister to you and guide your thinking during that time. You'll never know what God might do in your life unless you give Him the time. - John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist of Toms River

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 4; Isaiah 20-22; Ephesians 6

Great Quote: He that is down needs fear no fall. He that is low, no pride; He that is humble, ever shall have God to be his Guide. -- John Bunyan