Waiting for God’s Time, Part 6

But those who wait on 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. 
Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

Waiting times are also times for soaring. God wants us to be like the eagle, not like the creatures who live in tunnels or caves. From the caves we develop a human point of view toward our waiting times—a point of view that feeds cynicism, skepticism, and doubt. From the skies we develop a heavenly point of view—a view that feeds faith, confidence, and praise.

We can fly in our waiting times because our wings are the wings of faith, and the promises of God are the winds that give us lift. We don’t strive to fly; we simply extend our wings of faith, move them in quiet steps of obedience, and allow the winds of God’s promises to send us soaring.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.

Waiting for God’s Time, Part 5

“I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.” Psalm 130:5 KJV

Waiting times are also times for gathering things together. As we gather, we look at what God is teaching us and revealing to our hearts.

We gather together our thoughts and weigh them against the truth of God’s word. We gather together our feelings and make sure they are not taking us in a wrong direction. We gather together our desires and make sure we are not trying to force God’s timing.

In our waiting times we are also to gather together our remembrances. God wants us to be filled with memories of His goodness.

We are to gather together the times when God has been faithful to us in our needs, when He has kept us from falling during times of temptation, and when He has comforted us in our trials. He also wants us to remember the times when He has blessed us with favor, when He has smiled upon us and been gracious to us, and when He has brought us unexpected joys. He wants us to remember that He will continue to be to us in the future all that He has been to us in the past.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.

Waiting for God’s Time, Part 4

“Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” Isaiah 50:10 KJV

“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.” Psalm 62:5 KJV

In faith, Abraham waited with expectation for Isaac to be born to Sarah; Isaac, when he was a young man, waited with expectation for his father’s servant to return from a distant land with a promised bride; Rebecca waited with expectation during her long journey that brought her to the man she would marry but had never seen.

During our waiting times, expectation helps to keep us spiritually moving ahead instead of becoming passive and indifferent. Expectation moves us from twiddling our thumbs to exercising our faith.

Expectation is what keeps the fisherman coming back to the river in search of a trophy trout. It is what keeps a gold miner panning as he looks for nuggets. It is what keeps the mountain climber going as he anticipates the view that awaits him at the summit. It is what keeps the farmer planting seeds in the springtime as he awaits the summer’s harvest.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.

Waiting for God’s Time, Part 3

“Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee.” Psalm 25:21 KJV

Another aspect of waiting is expectation. Our waiting times are not meant to be times of heaviness and drudgery. Expectation is like the wind blowing away the clouds that would try to settle over our souls.

A man once built his home on a high hill. His back porch faced east. Each morning he would awake an hour before sunrise. He would shower, make himself a cup of coffee, and sit on his favorite rocking chair out on the back porch. In the darkness, he would quietly wait with expectation for the sun to come up and cast its brilliant, golden light across the landscape.

Faith is our back porch rocking chair. In it we rest with expectation for the light of God’s promises to dawn upon us. Faith keeps our heads lifted, our eyes focused, and our purpose clear.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.

Waiting for God’s Time, Part 2

“Let none that wait on Thee be ashamed….” Psalm 25:3 KJV

It is important to understand that waiting times are not times of denial but are times of preparation. When it is God’s time to bring something into our lives, He will often do it after He has prepared us to receive it.

God may withhold an overflow of finances until He has taught us how to give. He may withhold a place of leadership until He has taught us how to serve. He may withhold honor until He has taught us humility. He may withhold possessions until He has taught us contentment. He may withhold a relationship until He has taught us to be complete in Him. He may withhold an active ministry until He has taught us how to be still. He may withhold guidance until He has taught us what is pleasing in His sight.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.

Waiting for God’s Time, Part 1

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him….” Psalm 37:7 NKJV

One of the ancient meanings of the word “wait” is “to bind together by twisting.” Binding cords together by hand takes time. It is a process with a purpose that takes patience.

God, like a master weaver, does a creative work within us during the waiting times in our lives. It is during our waiting times that God binds our lives with His, as a rope-maker binds together threads of twine. When this happens we experience the stretching of our faith and the testing of our patience.

As He works, He strengthens us and pulls us closer to His heart. He does this because He desires intimacy with us. Before He gives us what we are waiting for, He wants to give us more of Himself. In the waiting times we are strengthened with His strength, and the fiber of His character is worked within us.

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This is the first of a 5 Part series called Waiting for God's Time.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.

Clothed With Joy

When Jesus worked, He worked as no man had ever worked. When He found the sick He showed them the way to healing, when He found the impure He showed them the way to cleansing, when He found the broken He showed them the way to wholeness, when He found the heavy of heart He led them to the fountains of joy, when He found those in darkness He led them to His glorious light, when He found the thirsty He led them to the rivers of living water.

When Jesus spoke, He spoke as no man had ever spoken. He spoke with authority. His words went deeper than the mind—His words reached deep into a person’s inner-most being—piercing the heart, touching the conscience, stirring the spirit, restoring the soul. What He said could be trusted, and every heart that trusted what He said was changed forever.

Jesus still works and He is still speaking. What is He working in your life? What is He saying to your heart? Is there a new step of faith to take? Is there a new ministry He is leading you to do? Is there a change He wants to make within you? Is He asking you to trust Him at a deeper level? Is He saying to be still and wait? Let Him work, let Him speak, let Him have His way with you and your obedience will be clothed with joy.

I take joy in doing your will, my God. Psalm 40:8 NLT

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved. 

God’s Will is Not by Chance

Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Hebrews 10:9 KJV

“Chance” and “luck” do not sit on the throne of heaven, but a loving, personal Creator does. Life is not a gamble and fate does not guide your destiny. God did not bring you into this world to live without a purpose, to exist without a reason, or function without meaning. He loves you, cares about you, and wants you to know Him and do His will.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.