“Wait for and confidently expect the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the LORD.” Psalms 27:14 AMP

Waiting is one of those difficult realities of being a servant of the Lord! We are generally doers when it comes to life. We rarely want a minute to pass us by thinking that maybe we missed the mark. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Scripture reminds us that it is Him who is at work to accomplish His plan! 

“So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. 13For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 AMP

God is at work preparing us for the moment that He needs us to accomplish his purpose. For 28 years that I was serving God, He was in the process of putting everything in place for His purpose. Did I see it that way? No! In many ways I was bucking His work trying to make something of myself that was not in line with His plan. One day as I was sitting in the Kings living room, the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit spoke to me. “Do you now understand what I was doing in your life these past many years? You thought you had missed the mark when you hit the target exactly as I desired! Everything you experienced, trained for accepted put you in this place for exactly this time!” Wow! Hindsight is 20/20! A humble servant of the Lord from Pittsburgh placed beside the King of Saudi Arabia! Only God can do that!

In our opening verse we read the words, “…confidently expect the LORD” It isn’t easy to wait confidently. My first question is always, “How long Lord? One day, one week, one month?” It is during the waiting that out faith is formed and our motivations tested. We must all answer the question from the Lord, “Do you trust Me?” Remember Proverbs chapter 5?

“Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.” Proverbs 5:5-6 AMP

When we trust and confidently rely on the Lord we demonstrate our faith and love for Him! If we do not trust Him with the small things in our lives, how then can we trust Him with the larger issues? I am reminded of the verse in the book of Deuteronomy.

“And you shall remember [always] all the ways which the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart (mind), whether you would keep His commandments or not.” Deuteronomy 8:2 AMP

God knew exactly what was in their hearts. The exercise was so that “they” would know what was in their hearts. None of us know for sure how we will respond to circumstances. Hopefully, the more we grow in the grace and knowledge of His grace, the more we can trust and rely on Him. Let me encourage you today to be strong and courageous, waiting expectantly for the move of the Holy Spirit in your life. In the meantime, allow Him to complete the work so you may be found ready and fit for the Master’s use! Have a confident day! Pastor Ken