Dave’s Monday Blast – July 10, 2023

Over the last few weeks we have been chatting about our God being a God who speaks! The account in 1 Samuel 3 of the call of Samuel affirms the truth that God does indeed communicate to His children in many ways. In response to His voice we must learn to do three things well:

1. Listen
2. Obey
3. Wait

It is to number 3 that we turn our attention today. I encourage you to read 1 Samuel 4 – 6 and remind yourselves of the account of Gideon. We learn from Scripture the requirements of waiting on the Lord to receive clarity and affirmation of His voice. Waiting for God’s timing is neither passive nor idle. It takes discipline and commitment. INTENTIONAL men of God are good at these two things! Here are four basic requirements for successful waiting:

1. FAITH. The Lord’s ways and timing are nothing like ours (Isaiah 55:8 – 9). From a human standpoint, He usually does things in a totally different way than we expect. But as we trust Him more, we’ll discover that His approach isn’t  so strange after all. And when we live in harmony with God’s will, His timing starts to make sense.
2. HUMILITY. To wait for the Lord, you must be convinced of your need for Him. Submission to His divine will requires humility…you cannot charge ahead with your own plans and at the same time be fully surrendered to God.
3. PATIENCE. Are you willing to remain in your current position until you receive clear divine direction? Pausing for clarity from God does not mean that you disengage and allow circumstances to fall apart around you. Waiting upon the Lord is a deliberate decision that requires patience.
4. COURAGE. Waiting for God often takes courage, especially when there is no pressure to act. If you’re not careful, you might stop listening to the Lord and follow other advice. So keep your ear tuned to the voice of the Almighty God, and you won’t go wrong. REMEMBER the process of discerning His voice discussed last week.

Waiting upon the Lord is one the wisest, most important decisions we make in life, and contrary to popular assumptions, it is an active endeavor that requires faith, humility, patience, and courage. When you rely upon God and wait for His timing, the various facets of life fall into place (1 Kings 18:42 – 46).