Wait Upon The Lord

Waiting upon the Lord is something many Americans don’t comprehend. Our culture is so busy, so loud and so full that there doesn’t seem to be time for quietness. When someone is waiting, there is an atmosphere of serenity and quietness. You’re just waiting.

I know that waiting can bring up bad attitudes and pictures in our minds. Waiting sometimes represents a doctor’s office with sick people coughing and babies crying. Waiting sometimes represents sitting in the hospital waiting for the report from surgery. Waiting sometimes represents the verdict of the judge. These are all negative pictures. What we are discussing today is very positive. Waiting upon the Lord produces huge benefits.

Let’s look at a scripture about waiting on the Lord.

Isaiah 40:31 King James Version
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

This word “waiting” has a different meaning in God’s realm than it does in the world’s realm. Waiting upon the Lord is an attitude of ministering to Him, listening to His voice, allowing Him to have input into our lives. He is speaking, but much of the time people can’t hear Him, because their minds are so busy with the thoughts for the day, the agenda for the day, and the duties for the day. In order to hear someone speaking, we must take the time to focus on them and what they are saying. If our minds are cluttered with other words, we won’t “hear” what someone is saying.

I think that the Amplified Bible gives such a specific understanding of this scripture. Listen to it.

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

There are key words here. We who take time to wait upon the Lord, expecting Him to show up, looking for Him, and hoping in Him shall receive something. We shall renew our strength. Why is that? We exchange our weariness for God’s strength as we are in His Presence. He is strong and mighty. We exchange our weaknesses for His strength. With this sense of His Strength, we shed our weariness; we do not faint in our walk on this earth; we do not become tired of doing what we are called to do. God gives us new perspective on our life. He encourages us. He gives us newness of life. The Bible is full of scripture passages on God’s strength and newness of life. Take some time today to look up these verses and see yourself becoming strong.

We could camp all day on one of the scripture verses on strength in Ephesians 6:10. We will close our Pearl today with that scripture in the Amplified Bible. Take it personally as yours. It will make a big difference in your day.

“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].”

Don’t you love that scripture! Repeat after me:

I AM STRONG IN THE LORD. I AM EMPOWERED THROUGH MY UNION WITH HIM. I DRAW MY STRENGTH FROM HIM, THAT STRENGTH WHICH HIS BOUNDLESS MIGHT PROVIDES. I AM STRENGTHENED IN THE LORD. AS I WAIT UPON HIM, I RENEW MY STRENGTH AND POWER. I WALK IN VITALITY AND JOY. I DO NOT GROW WEARY OR TIRED. I DO NOT FAINT OR QUIT BECAUSE GOD IS MY STRENGTH. I AM STRONG IN HIM.

See yourself strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Some time today, take 15 minutes, sit before the Lord, and don’t say a word. Wait upon Him. It may take a number of days before your mind will cooperate and be quiet. Continue to do it. You will enjoy the results.