Wait…

Each morning I wake up somewhere around 4:30 – 5:00 a.m. and begin my day with taking care of my beloved rat terrier, Pete and getting myself my morning cup of coffee mixed with organic raw cacao, Grade A Dark Robust Syrup and a little cream. We head to the sofa, Petie waits for me to put the blanket on my lap, and then he lays down waiting for me to cover him. If I don’t, he attempts to do it himself. I prefer to keep the house dark. It’s quiet. No one is around but us. I can hear the roosters crowing in the darkness. I grab my phone and tablet, opening it for my morning quiet time with the Lord. I look forward to spending this time with Him and guard it. If I don’t, if any interruptions make it not possible, my whole day is off.

Sunday morning I finished up 21 Days of Prayer for Your Business. It took me 41 days to complete. My personality type wanted to “keep up”, “stay on track”, just “get it done” and don’t fall behind. I fought that temptation the entire time after Day 4. “Catching a Vision” created a stumbling point for me. You see, that’s exactly why I was doing the 21 Days of Prayer. I felt I needed some direction; a vision. Now I was being asked to “Catch a Vision” and I struggled. I wrestled. I prayed. I waited. Nothing much. Finally, I figured out that it was okay to not have THE vision, I simply needed to have A vision to keep on keeping on. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” It’s one of the verses for the day. Just keep walking, believing, praying, listening, and going on…to Day 5, 6, 7, etc. I was waiting.

I’m a do-er. I can set a goal and crush it if I put my mind to it. I’m not competitive with others. I compete with myself. Which means I can be really hard on myself when I don’t live up to my own goals and expectations. Yet, I decided at the beginning that I would take the time to do the 21 Days of Prayer, not rush through them. I would take my time. I never would do two days at once. It was recommended to not do that. Holding on to the wisdom of the leader, I took my time, filling a journal with notes, quotes, Bible verses, prayers.

Sunday was Day 21. Finished. Completed. Ready to hit the road with my Game Face. Right? No! I found I’m still waiting. What is with this, Lord? What is with all the waiting? I’m ready! Let’s go. Game On! (That’s Day 21, by the way).

This morning is Tuesday morning. I wake up to my usual routine, sitting myself into my comfy sofa, opening my devotion, eager to hear what the Lord has to share with me. It reads: “Use this day to pray, journal, and reflect.” Seriously?!? Oh, wait, there’s a Scripture verse. Yay! I click on it.

“but those 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.” Isaiah 40:31 ESV

Ugh! My heart drops. I bow my head. My heart prays, my mind has no words. After a few moments, I flip on the light, grab my Bible and my journal. A Word study, I decide. What word was jumping out at me? Of course, Wait. I love words. I’m one of those people who loves to know what the Hebrew or Greek says about words in Scripture. I find it makes the Word of God come even more alive and take on such deep meaning. Our English language can sometimes limit the interpretation and often given the scholars word choice of whichever translation we choose to read. I like to flip through many different translations and when possible look at some original language information. I’m not a Greek or Hebrew student, although some day I would love to study them.

Wait, qavah – “To wait for, look for, expect, hope.”

That is a great way to wait! Not wait, like, is this ever going to change? Am I ever going to have a direction? Lord, will you ever give me an idea or spark of creativity on where to head next? How I see it is, waiting expectantly, knowing God will move and act and give direction. He will keep His promises.

The Amplified version of Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.”

Oh! I love this! Lord, thank You! To have a season of waiting, although difficult, can also be a season of gaining new strength, renewing power, preparation to receive what the Lord will bring next. Oh, Lord! This is encouraging.

Is it encouraging to you? Are you in a season of waiting? Have you wondered if the Lord will ever hear your prayers? Have you thought that perhaps the Lord might have you in a season of waiting because He knows you need a season of looking to Him with expectation? Perhaps He is allowing you this time to gain new strength, to renew your power, and build your faith and trust in Him as you expectantly await Him to move mightily.

I pray this encourages you! My whole outlook changed when I started waiting expectantly, with hope, to look for the Lord to move, then I can fall in line with what He is already beginning. Yes, Lord!