Waiting and Working

SCRIPTURE: Psa. 37:7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

OBSERVATION: Who likes to wait!! Yet, that is what we are called to do. On the other hand we are never called to just "hang out", we have something we are supposed to do. The Psalmist here suggests a couple of things; first, when you wait, wait in the presence of the Lord. There He will give you patience, peace and, when it is time to move, clear direction.

We need to shun the attitude of "I will wait for the Lord, but I'm not going to like it and I am going to be grouchy and sullen about it." The waiting period is the time when God can most effectively change us. In fact, it seems, sometimes He makes us wait just to get us into a place to change. Yet, that change only happens if our attitude is open and right.

Sometimes while we wait we notice that others, maybe those less faithful to God, seem to be at the front of the line in being blessed while we are waiting at the back of the line. Earlier in this chapter David gives us a good perspective, he reminds us; "For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither." We need not get upset about the undeserving who seem to be being blessing--their time is coming and it is not very far away. They will reap what  they have sown.

APPLICATION/CONFESSION: I find it hard to be still in the presence of the Lord. I want to act. I want to get Him to act. I want us both to get busy. How much more healthy and productive to simply know that God can, and will, get it done when it needs to get done.

PRAYER: Lord, please give me the grace to wait. Give me the faith to believe that You will act when it is the right time and the grace to not jump in and get ahead of your will.