Waiting for Gods Will

We often hear, 'just wait on God' and 'in His time' and its easy for it to simply become cliche. Something we say were doing, but not truly understanding what it means. Now when the Bible speaks of waiting on the Lord, what does it mean? Well for one thing it doesn't mean God wants us sitting around and not doing any thing, because that's called slothfulness and God rebukes this behavior. Waiting on God is more than simply 'waiting', there's a deeper meaning and it could be said in one word. Seeking. While waiting is a passive word, seeking is aggressive. It implies action and determination. The Word of God tells us in Deut. 4:29, that in order to find God (will of God) we must seek Him with all our heart and soul. Over and over the Bible sends a strong message to seek God and tells of blessings for those that do. How can we know what Gods plan is for our life if we don't seek Him? How will we know what promises to wait for. How can we serve a God we don't really know? Jesus talks about how people will come before God explaining all the great things they had done for Him and He will dismiss then saying, 'I never knew you'. It is essential for us to seek God, so that we can understand what His purpose and will for us is. Jesus was able to pray in the garden of Gethsemane, 'thy will be done', because He knew the will of the Father. How can we as believers pray, 'your will be done', if we don't take the time to seek out His will. Are we just saying we want His will to be done or are we actively seeking it?

You may wonder, 'well how do I seek God?'. The key is walking in the Spirit. The Bible tells us that our carnal minds, or our natural way of thinking and operating, goes against Gods way. So the first step to seeking God is submitting ourselves to the Holy Ghost and not allowing our flesh (natural way of thinking and operating) to rule us. For instance, I may feel to pray, but my flesh says, 'no, I'm too tired' or, 'I'd rather read the paper'. See how there's that struggle, but until we listen to the voice of the Spirit, were never going to be able to reach that place of knowing the perfect will of God for our lives.

Waiting on God, is stilling our heart as it cries out with its never ending desires, and tuning in to His Spirit. Its coming to the understanding that He is God alone and we were bought with a price. The key is understanding that God has our best interest at heart. Everyday I need to realize that I am His creation and He made me with a purpose and design. His plan for me is my very reason for being alive, so why should I allow my will to dictate to me which direction to go and when to go there if I am not the author of my story. The Bible says He's the author and finisher of our faith. That is why I must submit every thought, every word and every desire to Him. He holds the keys to true joy, peace, and happiness.

What happens at times, is that we don't take enough time to get to know Him and so we fill in the blanks of His character with our notions, emotions and experiences in life. Without being aware we take our own human flaws and assume God has these issues. For instance, we have all, at one point or another have been forgotten, maybe our best friend forgot our birthday or a parent forgot a performance or perhaps someone has forgotten to acknowledge us for a job well done or even someone we shared a great connection with and the next time they see us they don't even remember us. Were all probably guilty of forgetting important things now and then, but God never forgets about us! He doesn't just overlook us because He's so big and were so small. In fact the Bible says He knows the number of hairs on our head! I don't even know the number of hairs on my head! Which speaks volumes to me, what that tells me is that God knows me better than I know my self, inside and out.

While waiting on the Lord is not the 'easy' path it is the more rewarding path. Hannah sought God and He gave her a promise, but she had to wait. Abraham and Sarah were given the promise of a child in their old age, but they had to wait. Ruth waited and God blessed her with Boaz. There are numerous stories in the Bible that talk of God giving a word or a promise and people having to wait. The moment we step outside of His will is the moment we open ourselves to attack from the enemy and much sorrow.

I am going to seek out His will and wait for the fulfillment of His plans for me, because if He knows how many hairs are on my head, maybe, just maybe He may know whats best for me.

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

1 Chronicles 16:10, 1 Chronicles 16:11, Psalm 25:3, Psalm 25:5, Psalm 25:21, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 33:20, Psalm 37:7, Psalm 37:9, Psalm 37:34, Psalm 39:7, Psalm 59:9, Psalm 62:1, Psalm 62:5, Psalm 69:3, Psalm 69:6, Psalm 130:5