Introduction
| Our heavenly Father has made incredible promises to us, his children. And while our God is completely faithful to deliver on his promises, he does not force them on us. He’s promised his nearness, his affections, and an eternal life spent with him. But we have the power to choose our own way. He doesn’t force himself where there’s no space. God’s word won’t have power in our lives if we don’t read it. We won’t hear God effectively if we’re not listening. And we can’t experience his nearness if we constantly fill our lives with other things. So, this week we’re going to talk about different ways we can experience the promises of God so that they might come to full fruition in our lives. May you encounter God powerfully as you grow in fully experiencing the incredible promises of your heavenly Father. |
Scripture
“But they 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
Worship
But I Know You | Jillian Edwards
Devotional
Throughout Scripture, God gave his people the strength they needed to both sustain them through circumstances and achieve victory over their enemies. We read examples like David defeating Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, Samson defeating the Philistines in Judges 15, and Jesus crushing the power of sin and death on the cross in Matthew 27. Truly, God has promised his people his strength. But the Bible also tells us of a principle for receiving and experiencing God’s strength. Isaiah 40:31says, “But they 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.” Let’s look today at the practice of waiting on God for the purpose of experiencing the strength and endurance God has promised us.
Waiting is a practice that seems counterproductive to most of us. In a world where those who act sooner and faster seem to be more successful, the ideas of patience and waiting don’t seem to have a place. But the wisdom of the world is not the wisdom of God. David was a man who was wise in the ways of experiencing God’s promises. He shares with us his insight into receiving God’s strength in Psalm 33:20-22: “Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” God longs to shield you from the attacks of your enemy. He longs to protect you from what would tear you down. But like a shield, he can only protect you if you are willing to stay behind him. He can only help you if you are willing to be helped. You must wait on him. You must allow him to go before you and guide you.
David also gives us insight in Psalm 33 on how he was able to so effectively wait on God. He says, “For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.” You will only be able to wait on God to the level that you trust him. Look at your own life today. Where do you struggle with running out in front of God? Where do you have a hard time waiting? Where do you lack patience? Trust isn’t simply a matter of the head, but of the heart. To be able to actively trust God, you have to believe he truly has your best interests in mind. You have to believe in your heart that he isn’t asking you to wait just to stress you out, but because he has something better for you in store.
To fully experience God’s promises of strength and guidance, you must learn to trust God. You have to be willing to wait on him. God’s guidance and timing are perfect. He knows how to lead you, protect you, and empower you. Trust in your heavenly Father today. Take the example David set and choose to wait on God. It’s in doing so that you will experience victory. It’s in waiting on the Lord that you will “mount up with wings like eagles.” Take time today to place your trust in God. Take time to encounter his love. Let his presence fill you with the longing and ability to wait on him. And live today in response to God’s word by asking for and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your life. He has an incredible day in store for you. Simply wait and follow wherever the Spirit leads.
Prayer
1. Take time to receive God’s presence. Let his presence lay a foundation for you to trust him. As you experience his presence, let his goodness remind you of his character as a good Father.
2. Now think about areas of your own life where you have a hard time waiting on God. Where do you lack patience? Where do you feel scared or lacking in trust?
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you wait on him today. Ask him to help you trust and follow him wherever he would lead you.
“But they 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
Go
Following the leading of the Spirit is about your willingness to wait and listen. And waiting and listening starts with encountering the nearness and goodness of your heavenly Father. You aren’t meant to trust in a distant God. You are created to know personally the reality of your God and his love for you, and place your trust in him as a response. Wait on God today. Grow in your willingness to follow him wherever he would lead you. The Holy Spirit has the perfect way to guide you. Simply open your heart to him and listen. So great is God’s love for you that he promises to go before you in every situation. He promises to be your help and shield. Stay behind your God and experience renewed strength for every circumstance you come to today.
Extended Reading: Psalm 33 or watch the Bible Project’s video on Psalms.