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my wife's grandparents loved to travel so when her grandfather was scheduled for heart surgery
his first question to the doctor was would he still be able to travel the doctor said yes of
course but I want you to be the last one on the plane and the last one to leave he said
never wait in line waiting in line will kill you I never forgot that waiting is hard but God often
does that Abraham and Sarah waited until their 90s to have a child Joseph spent many years in prison
before he would become a world leader Jobe waded through all kinds of devastation for the Lord's
restoration Simeon waited most of his life to see the Messiah but why why does he ask us to
endure while we wait for him well join me today as we meditate deeply reflect and pray about how
to wait from Psalm chapter 27 verse 14 but first join me in a time of opening prayer Lord God I so
often find myself waiting at the grocery store the bank on the phone and it's hard it reminds
me of how often I wait on you too sometimes I confess it can be discouraging so Lord God
lifts up my heart to live on your time and not mine in Jesus name Amen so when you're ready
softly close your eyes breathe deeply and begin to wait just relax and wait on him now in prayer
what are you waiting on God to show you whisper those things to God now in confession and need
continue to wait on him as he prepares your mind and listen for a word or a phrase or a
thought from this passage that he will give you to guide you through today listen carefully to
Psalm chapter 27 verse 14 wait for the Lord be strong and let your heart take
courage wait for the Lord what part stuck out to you what did you notice take a moment right
now to Center on that word or that thought that God just gave you and ponder on it now
in the midst of waiting the passage says for us to be strong and courageous why I
wonder why do you need strength and courage while you wait ponder that now in prayer
with I still closed listen again as I read from the amplified version of Psalm chapter
27 verse 14 wait for and confidently expect the Lord be strong and let your heart take
courage yes wait for and confidently expect the Lord to hear the difference there was a
slightly different phrase confidently expect how is simply waiting different
than confidently expecting the Lord ponder that in prayer before God
take a moment and think back over those things in your life that you're waiting
on from God are you simply waiting or are you confidently expecting
them change your focus to expectation and consider how it feels now in prayer
one definition of expectation is a strong belief that something will
happen so belief and faith play a role in waiting are you believing and have faith
in God's response to your prayer bring those things to him now again by faith
listen one and final time as I read you reflect on Psalm chapter 27 verse 14 trust the Lord be
brave and strong and trust the Lord this version from the contemporary English version has the
word trust it reminds me of a story in mark chapter 11 Jesus had just entered Jerusalem
on Palm Sunday he and his disciples spent that first night though in Bethany early the next
morning as they were riding back into Jerusalem they passed a fig tree Jesus was hoping for
something to eat but he found the tree did not have any fruit on it so he cursed it the very
next morning when the disciples were walking by that same fig tree it was now withered away to
its roots and they were shocked I want you to take a moment with your eyes closed deep
in your imagination be there what does the fig tree look like that first morning with
no fruit how did Jesus's words sound as he cursed it what does the tree look like the
next morning withered away to its roots are you surprised be there and ponder what you see
stay there for another moment we were next to Jesus with his disciples that second morning
just like his disciples you were shocked to see what Jesus had predicted has come true you hear
Jesus say these words have faith in God truly I say to you whoever says to this mountain be taken
up and thrown into the sea and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will
come to pass it will be done for him therefore I tell you whatever you ask in prayer believe that
you have received it and it will be yours what do you hear in Jesus's words tell him now in prayer
do not doubt but believe Jesus says believe twice come back to Jesus now in prayer believing in
what you ask of him focusing not on waiting but believing believe with him now in prayer
take time now to thank him praise him for the gift of believing for giving you the
courage and strength to believe in him and for what you need come to him now in Thanksgiving
you
join me now at a time of closing prayer dear Lord God you work all things for good because
you are goodness itself you do all things in your perfect timing and you use the waiting to
make me better right now I give this over to you take my anxiety take my impatience
instead give me peace let me trust you with my whole heart holding nothing back strengthen my
heart and give me courage to wait with patience in Jesus name Amen so when you feel ready and
not a moment before slowly and softly start to open your eyes but before you run off I want you
to consider this try to forget about boundaries today prayer isn't separate from the rest of your
life prayer is a reminder and the more you pray the more it becomes part of your life it becomes
effortless so stop today and wait he is here so wait on your heart to open to him just close your
eyes softly today be still and wait and I hope you do that often just as I hope you come back
here often for christ-centered meditation reflection and prayer on abide thanks for
joining us one to experience deeper peace try more meditations with abide download the app for free