“Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord!” We sang that worship refrain several times last Sunday. None of us like waiting, but we often enjoy the results when we do. Waiting slows us down. It causes us to stop and catch our breath. Waiting focuses us on the present reality. Isaiah said it this way…

"He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might he increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:29-31 NASB )

First Church is in a season of praying and waiting. As we preach and teach through the first few chapters of the Book of Acts on Sunday mornings and wrestle with the concepts of Simple Church on Wednesday nights; we’re seeking the heart and mind of God with renewed passion. We grow weary when we attempt things on our own; we gather strength as we wait on the Lord and seek His face continually. The Holy Spirit provides the power we need to accomplish His promises and His purposes.

Mary Nethercutt shared her morning devotional with me today from October 8.  I don’t know the author but I thought the word was for us all today:

God is a God of order; everything He does is by appointment. An appointment is simply a meeting or event that has already been set up. God has a scheduled time for bringing to pass two things in your life: His promises and His purpose. You can count on that! Whatever you’re going through today, there’s peace in knowing that nothing the enemy does will preempt these two things.

The problem arises when we try to rush God’s timing. When the Lord gives you a promise it’s like a seed; it needs time to take root and bear fruit. Every mother knows the order – first the seed, then the pregnancy, then the development within the womb, and finally the day of delivery. And what does she do during this time? Prepare! She gets ready for the joys and responsibilities of parenthood for when her due date arrives that little one announces, “Ready or not, here I Come!” The Psalmist writes: “Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing” (Ps 37:34).

You must learn the difference between what you can do and what God can do. Fools rush in. If you don’t want to risk delaying the fulfillment of God’s plan for your life, learn to wait. The prophet said, “The vision is…for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come” (Habakkuk 2:3). Each time you get anxious and impatient remind yourself, “My life cannot end without certain things happening. God said it and He will bring it to pass!”

God is good! Thanks for your faithfulness in praying and waiting with expectation of the Lord! God is up to something good!

I look forward to being with you this Sunday as we discover what happened “The Day The Holy Spirit Showed UP!” Read Acts 2:1-13 to prepare yourself.

Blessings!

Yours in Christ,
Mark