Intentionally Waiting on Him

In Psalms 37:1-9 we learn of God’s faithfulness to His saints when we INTENTIONALLY wait upon Him. Waiting is an important spiritual discipline. I would confess I still struggle with waiting on Him. I know He has a plan and is actively working on its execution…but at times I just feel like He needs a little help from me. (Ha!) King David’s life teaches us about the value of following the Lord’s plan and the danger in moving ahead of Him or outside of His plan for us.

When David was a shepherd boy, the prophet Samuel anointed him as Israel’s next king. Yet he did not become the ruler for many years. Waiting for the Lord to replace him on the throne was made more difficult because the current king, Saul, turned against David and repeatedly tried to take his life. Despite the opportunity to take matters into his own hands and kill his enemy, David held back. He wouldn’t allow anyone else to attack Saul either (I Samuel 24:1-7). He waited on God and was greatly blessed for his obedience becoming King in God’s time and in His way.

King David also knew what it was like to move ahead and without the Lord. One year he INTENTIONALLY chose not to join his troops in battle, even though that was one of his duties (2 Samuel 11:1). During the time he stayed home, he noticed Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and he coveted her. Acting upon his desires, he conceived a child with her and then tried to cover up his sin. What a mess he made of his life and many others. Instead of following the Lord’s plan and being blessed, he experienced divine chastisement and much heartache.

As men of God, we want to obey the Lord, but there may be situations when intense desire propels us forward without waiting for His direction. Like David, we will experience the blessing of obedience or the heartache of disobedience specific to our decision. Be certain to seek out God’s plan before you act. Remember, strength and faith arise when we wait upon the Lord.