"PAUSE and WAIT!"

MOST days I post a few words from Max Lucado and Dr. Charles Stanley.  Today, after posting what The LORD had put on my heart for today, I checked my email to see what was there for me from Dr. Stanley.  Sometimes I CAPITALIZE a few words for EMPHASIS!  I feel as though today's email would ALL have to be capitalized, as for me to "WAIT ON THE LORD" is so foreign to today's culture.  Psalms 27:14 (KJV) says "WAIT ON THE LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: WAIT, I say, ON THE LORD."  

See if you agree!

December 22

A Necessary but Challenging Lesson

Psalms 27:14
There are many lessons for us to learn in God's School of Obedience. With space for just two, I have chosen principles that aren't easy. Yesterday, we learned that Christians must trust the Lord. Today, let's tackle patience: Believers must learn to wait upon Him.

Have you ever wondered why the psalmist coupled the admonition to wait upon God with encouragement to be strong and courageous? The reason is that sometimes DELAYING IS THE HARDEST THING TO DO.

Modern culture is in such a hurry. Gotta have it now! Gotta do it now! Can't wait! We've been primed to stay in a permanent state of readiness. It takes COURAGE to be still when the world is rushing past. Everything in us hollers, "GO!" while God whispers, "WAIT." But people are quick to act, because they are afraid of missing out on something. Believers who buy into that attitude make a move and then hope God will bless them.

God leaves nothing to chance. He does not place a decision before us with the hope that we'll make the right choice. That would be irresponsible and out of character. The Father is more than willing to show His children what to do, because He is personally interested in their welfare. But until the Lord makes clear what is the way forward, we've got to "PAUSE and WAIT". 

Waiting upon God is not passive. It is not lazy. It is not an excuse to be careless. In fact, the opposite is true. Those who pause are seeking His will—which means that they are praying, searching Scripture, perhaps even fasting. And they are still serving the Lord wherever they can.