Sunday, July 9, 2006 - Wait on the Lord

It's summer - a time of relaxing, refreshing, and releasing anxieties by sipping lemonade, resting by the lake, and slowing down to spend some much needed time with the family. Summer also holds an important ingredient for our Christian lives - quietness and rest with God. This is called waiting on the Lord, and it was the focus of our Sunday conversation.

Waiting on the Lord is actively listening and submitting to the Holy Spirit as He speaks and leads. It is the other side of prayer. Prayer is connected to us talking to God, while waiting on the Lord is connected to God talking to us. But it's not just God speaking, it is important that I listen, and when I listen, I must be ready to submit to what is said. And the benefits of waiting are multiple:

1) Waiting builds my faith.
Psalm 5:3, “…Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”

2) Waiting gives me courage to make a stand.
Psalm 27:14, “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous…”

3) Waiting frees me from worry.
Psalm 37:7 – “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry…”

4) Waiting gets God’s attention.
Psalm 40:1 – “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.”

5) Waiting produces rescue from the enemy.
Psalm 59:9, “You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my place of safety.”

6) Waiting helps me cope with pain.
Psalm 69:3 – “…My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.”

Waiting is so important, and the second part of this message will be on Sunday, July 16th.

The worship in the first service was great today, as we took to heart that we could sing of your love forever. The second service lacked some engagement. I can't be too critical, as I do not see people's hearts. But there was an expectancy in the first service that many in the second service did not have.

Overall, it was a great day as we had 123, even though it is the middle of summer. It is good, and the Lord continues to bring new people into our path, as we had several new faces - Christina's husband Doug, and the Tullis's friends (whose names I can't remember at the moment). Good day at The Journey!