Waiting

Waiting on God is possibly the most neglected aspect of prayer.

Essential to Spiritual Health
Most of us are happier talking than listening and we take this into our prayer lives. We present ourselves with our requests and maybe some confession, thanksgiving or praise, but we do not have the inclination to sit and wait. Yet for those who have learned the secret of waiting upon God, it becomes an essential part not only of prayer, but of daily life.

Developing Intimacy With God
Dick Eastman in The Hour That Changes the World describes waiting as "wordless worship" or "silent soul surrender". It is the single most important thing we can do to develop intimacy with God. The psalmist wrote, "be still and know that I am God" (Ps 46:10). Waiting is the key to answered prayer (Ps 40:1 & Ps 130). It is the place to find spiritual refreshing as those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength (Is 40:31).

Bound Up With ChristIn his little book "Breaking Through In Prayer", Dan Chesney says this, "the Hebrew word for 'wait' in Isaiah 40:31 is 'qaveh' which means 'to twist or bind together'. Therefore, as we are waiting (fellowshipping) upon the Lord, our lives are being twisted or bound up together. Christ is literally being melded into our being. The nature, abilities, characteristics and substances of Christ becomes intertwined with our recreated human spirit."

Wait Until He Unveils HimselfAndrew Murraysaid, "Take time in the inner chamber to bow down and worship; and wait on Him until He unveils Himself."

The truth is that until we master the art of waiting on God our prayer lives will be limited for we will be living and praying according to our own agenda rather than that of the Lord.

Prayer College Assignment
Set aside part of your quiet time each day simply for waiting on God. It may seem difficult to start with but if you persist you will be blessed with a fresh experience of Him for He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Heb 11:6).