Waiting is a fine quality for prayer warriors.
That's because God moves according to his schedule - not ours.
I have noticed that prayer requests I made several years ago are being answered now. It is an encouragement to me to see that God was active when it seemed he had forgotten my requests.
"If we are to cultivate a living, vibrant relationship with God, we must learn to wait," writes Lynne Hammond in her book The Master is Calling.
Hammond has noticed that some people who pray miss God's guidance and direction in their lives because they feel they have to do something the moment they pray. They do not have the skill of waiting.
"They don't understand that sometimes God doesn't want us to do, he just wants us to be."
She says that there are times God "just wants us to get comfortable in his presence". In those times, we are aware of our great need for him and his promise to fill us with his love.
"Wonderful things happen during those quiet times," Hammond writes. "God moves on our hearts."
She notes that God works as we wait in faith, quoting Isaiah 64:4: "For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him."
God strengthens us as we wait in his presence.
Hammond says she was preparing a talk for church that evening, but her daughter asked her to accompany her to the shopping mall to buy something for school the next day. She dropped her plans, went to the mall, found a seat and closed her eyes and immediately entered the presence of God. She received the strength she needed for the evening meeting.
God also drops thoughts into our minds as we wait. Someone I know spends time every morning just basking in God's presence. Later in the day, he receives nudges from God that help him deal with problems and concerns on his mind.
Hammond acknowledges that it isn't easy to learn to wait in God's presence. But the benefits are great.
As the prophet Isaiah said: "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you." (Isaiah 26:3)
Waiting is worth practicing.
That's because God moves according to his schedule - not ours.
I have noticed that prayer requests I made several years ago are being answered now. It is an encouragement to me to see that God was active when it seemed he had forgotten my requests.
"If we are to cultivate a living, vibrant relationship with God, we must learn to wait," writes Lynne Hammond in her book The Master is Calling.
Hammond has noticed that some people who pray miss God's guidance and direction in their lives because they feel they have to do something the moment they pray. They do not have the skill of waiting.
"They don't understand that sometimes God doesn't want us to do, he just wants us to be."
She says that there are times God "just wants us to get comfortable in his presence". In those times, we are aware of our great need for him and his promise to fill us with his love.
"Wonderful things happen during those quiet times," Hammond writes. "God moves on our hearts."
She notes that God works as we wait in faith, quoting Isaiah 64:4: "For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him."
God strengthens us as we wait in his presence.
Hammond says she was preparing a talk for church that evening, but her daughter asked her to accompany her to the shopping mall to buy something for school the next day. She dropped her plans, went to the mall, found a seat and closed her eyes and immediately entered the presence of God. She received the strength she needed for the evening meeting.
God also drops thoughts into our minds as we wait. Someone I know spends time every morning just basking in God's presence. Later in the day, he receives nudges from God that help him deal with problems and concerns on his mind.
Hammond acknowledges that it isn't easy to learn to wait in God's presence. But the benefits are great.
As the prophet Isaiah said: "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you." (Isaiah 26:3)
Waiting is worth practicing.
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