Wait!

Wait!

Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.

Psalms 27:14 AMP

The Context and Focus:

Usually, most psalms written by David, either as a shepherd boy, or as a king, would have introductions stating the reason why the psalm was composed. There was a psalm of repentance after the incident with Bathsheba, and there was another when God delivered him from the hand of Saul who was seeking to kill him. David's life teaches me about finding God in every situation he brings me to, and to know that everything about my life is laid bare before Him. Nothing about me catches God by surprise, so it is no use complaining or grumbling to Him about being slow to act or defend me; as long as I remain his child, he has got my back. How he defends me is His prerogative; I just need to trust that whatever He does is in my best interest. Can I trust God this way? Now, there were other psalms that had no life story laid out. They were just songs that came out of a personal encounter with one of the many character traits of God. Today's verse is taken from a psalm with the header: 'A psalm of fearless trust in God'. Three words jump out to me here: fearless, trust and God. My heart's condition is mentioned, what is it expected to be and do is mentioned, and the target of the action, reaction and response is also laid out. I must not omit any part, if I want to get the full picture of what God intends for me. 

The Message:

David charges me to wait for and confidently expect the Lord. For a world that sets up pursuits and seeks to reward those who come 'first', no matter how they ran, this can be a very difficult message to preach. In a world that is pursuing after success, not even sure what it looks like or when it has attained it, this message needs to be carefully presented as God's expectations for all who seek peace. I cannot run and hustle the same way the world does, because what the world gives and what God gives are always opposite to each other. The world teaches hustling, but God teaches us to wait for Him. I note that waiting does not mean inaction. It simply means being in a state of readiness and expectation so that when God comes, you are ready. The preparation of the world for success is quite different from the preparation required for the success God promises. The world can give you wealth, but it would usually demand or take someting from you. God blesses you and adds no sorrow to it. The world's definition of success and wealth is also different from how God defines it. If i want God's version of anything, I must seek it in line with His will. I cannot go outside His prescription, and then expect that I will get his recommendation. He has laid out His perfect will; I have a choice to follow. 

The Conclusion:

This is where the condition of my heart matters. The heart is the place where the priority is sorted and the pursuit is defined. It is the place where actions, reactions and responses are first debated and considered before they are then made manifest. The heart of man has to be made subject to the influence and control of the Holy Spirit if its thoughts and deliberations will bring glory to the name of the Lord. It is only a heart that God controls that He is able to fortify, guard and strengthen against the influences of the world. No man can of or by himself assure his heart about anything. Our ignorance about tomorrow, or even the next minute makes it hard for us to plan the right way for that which is ahead. With God, you can face whatever tomorrow brings. With God on your side, you can confidently expect God to act on your behalf, in line with His will, and to bring glory to His Name. No one waits for God and is put to shame. Even if things don't go according to our well-thought plans, he can guarantee that all things will work together for the good of all of us who love God. It pays to wait for God. Do I truly love God? In fact, does God know and hold my heart? God's time of favour is here.