"Waiting" - 01/20/15 - Genesis 25-26

"Isaac was sixty years old when they were born."(25:26)

The word ABBA has given me today is, "waiting". 

Isaac began praying for Rebecca to become pregnant as soon as they were married.  He was 40 years old at the time.

I wonder what went through his mind during those 20 years.  Seeing his half-brother, Ishmael, with his 12 sons and who knows how many girls.   Ishmael son of Abraham, the son that Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's maid, bore to Abraham.  Did the tragedy surrounding them taking things into their own hands motivate Isaac to have only one wife. 

To wait upon the Lord's time.

So often we want the instant gratification and do just as Abraham and Sarah did.  Instead of waiting, we "do".  Usually "doing" as we see fit and then end up in a pickle.  I know I have over the years.  Often.  And thankfully, my ABBA is always there to help me out of whatever I have gotten myself into.  There have been times of facing the consequences and times where He rescued me. 

But never - never - has He left me behind in the mess I made.

I am learning to pray and wait. 

Again, ABBA used His word to bring the point home to me.  When picking up my devotional for the day, I had to smile when reading the title - "The Rewards of Waiting".

We have all experienced many times of waiting - in doctors' offices, traffic jams, or checkout lines.  While there, we have nothing to do but wait for our turn.  In God's Kingdom, waiting is defined as an active stillness - active because we are continuing in our present situation, and still because we are focusing our attention on Him for guidance.  A lifestyle of active stillness requires a purposeful and expectant attitude, a patient and determined frame of mind, and a prayerful and obedient heart.

There are rewards for waiting on The Lord.  One involves receiving the super-natural strength needed for godly living.  When we feel overwhelmed, we might be tempted to get out of step with God.  Even though we know He is calling us to keep a steady pace, we may start lagging behind.  At other times, our schedules leave us little time to think.  So we make quick decisions, pushing ahead of Him. In either case, we risk becoming weary and emotionally spent because we are operating in our own strength.  Patiently waiting on God will bring us the physical energy and emotional reserves we need to keep going.

Here are two additional benefits for waiting:  discovering God's will, which is always for our good (Romans 8:28), and gaining spiritual victory in life's trials. 

Our omniscient and omnipotent God is always right on time.  It is we who leave too early or arrive too late.  Pick a situation in which you are tempted to overrule The Lord's perfect timing .  Then submit to Him, realizing the issue is a matter of trust.

Be like Isaac.  Waiting.  God's time.  God's way.