PROACTIVE WAITING
When we stop - our minds continue in high gear but the focus turns to the negative like anger over the lack of movement or worry about the situation. All this only turns worse the more we dwell on the lack of action, and the next thing we know there's the spiraling downward of our emotions. The more we focus on the fact that things are not happening like we think they should be, the worse things get. And so it continues…
What do you do? The Bible makes it clear that we are to "wait on the Lord." In fact, we are told He would really do some great things in our lives if we would "wait on Him."
Isaiah 40:30-31 (ESV) 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
This great promise is often quoted by preachers and memorized by people hoping to find strength to carry on when things aren't happening as quickly as they would like. It can get discouraging to find yourself waiting for God to provide a new job, the restoration to your marriage, or help with your financial picture. Let's face it - we all hate to wait and to just tell someone to memorize this verse and get happy does not cut it.
In the Bible, waiting does not mean to just be idle. The Bible even commends the woman described in Proverbs 31for not eating "the bread of idleness" and the book of Ezekiel describes God's displeasure with actions of people who were filled with "an abundance of idleness." As active and fast paced as we find ourselves today, it's easy when we have to wait to just do nothing. Idleness does allow the negative, the worry, and the anger to set in. Proactive waiting does help and the Bible speaks of productive things we could be doing when we find ourselves having to wait.
If you are in the state of wait, here's a great passage of God's prescription for proactive waiting:
Philippians 4:4-9 (ESV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Notice seven things in this passage:
1. Be joyful. - It's easy to dwell on the negative and spiral downward emotionally, so ask yourself: "What's good about my life or about the situation right now?" If you can't find an answer, ask yourself "What could be good about this?" If there is nothing else – where is the Lord Jesus Christ in your life right now? He is the true source of REAL JOY.
2. Be considerate. - Have you ever noticed how cranky and inconsiderate people get when they have to wait? If you'll focus on being considerate your wait will be much easier on those around you and in turn on yourself.
3. Pray instead of worry. - You'll either be praying or worrying. If you are worrying you are not praying and if you are praying you are not worrying. God is so interested in hearing from us and so interested in what is bugging us that He even tells us in the book of Hebrews that dumping our problems on Him really touches His heart.
4. Be thankful. - Can you name five things in your life right now for which you are thankful? Try it, right now. The attitude of gratitude is the most empowering thing you can do. It makes sense that God gives us this activity to do. We could turn a "wait" into a power session simply by making a list of all the things for which we are thankful and begin thanking God.
5. Allow God's peace to fill you. - He has promised peace whenever we pray and are thankful, but we tend to be so quick to move on that we miss it. In another scripture (Col. 3:15) it says to "let the peace of God rule your heart" or give peace a chance. God is calming your insides so quit resisting and allow it to happen.
6. Fix your thoughts. - It takes a determination of effort to focus your attention on the positive because as soon as you let go the negative will come in like a flood. God knows that so He made sure we understood what we think on should be things true and honorable and right as well as things pure, lovely and admirable. Tto put it another way, we are to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
7. Act rather than react - Waiting can lead to reacting in a negative way. You'll avoid the negative reactions when you follow a plan of action. God tells us that sticking to the plan of action (doing the things we know we could and should be doing) will lead us to a way of peace.
Waiting is never easy, but it can be a very productive and empowering time if we take a proactive approach rather than see it as a stalled time of idleness. It takes preparation and determination to make the most of a wait but the dividends are out of site.
Psalms 37:34 (ESV) Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
Bob is the pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, Florida. See www.ccpconline.org for church information and listen to Bob’s latest sermons.
PowerBreak News:
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The International Christian Triathlon Network Endurance Camp is set for January 2010. For details, click here http://www.ictrinet.com/. Hi everyone,
I'd like to invite you all to the 5th annual International Christian Triathlon Network Camp. It's in sunny Tucson, AZ January 29 - 31 (Friday - Sunday). I've attended this camp and have met several great folks. It's a combination of physical training, spiritual training, fellowship, worship, and networking with other Christian Multisport athletes from around the continent.
In addition to getting some great training in with other folks (in sunny AZ in the middle of winter), this camp is a great opportunity to recharge your spiritual batteries and connect with some great folks. It's not just for triathletes -- we often have single sport endurance athletes joining us as well: runners, swimmers, XC skiers, cyclists, adventure racers, climbers, hikers, and mountain climbers. There will even be a cycling challenge up Mt. Lemon in Tucson.
Feel free to spread the word and please let me know if you have any questions. Hope you will consider joining us!
Here's the link:
http://www.ictrinet.com/
