Winter
1987
Waiting Upon the Lord
Wade E Taylor
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength" Isa 40:31.
"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early
shall find me...That I may cause them that love me to inherit
substance; and I will fill their treasures" Prov 8:17,
21.
"Waiting upon the Lord" is a discipline that is
either unknown, or not valued by many Christians. Yet, when
one has tasted the fruit of time spent waiting in the presence
of the Lord, he can be satisfied with nothing less.
The Lord is looking for those who know His presence, and
have understanding concerning His ways. We will not be able
to cultivate these abilities in our spiritual life, unless
we first learn to wait upon Him. This "Waiting on the
Lord" must be practiced each day, if these qualities
are to become a reality in our lives.
True "Waiting" includes three steps, or parts.
The first step has to do with a withdrawal from activity,
along with a parallel entering into a quietness and rest within
our spirits. The second step is birthed within this new found
quietness, as we begin to actively wait FOR His manifest presence,
or directive.
The third step has to do with a return into activity. When
the Lord responds to our "Waiting FOR Him", and
comes into our midst, we then begin to "Wait UPON Him",
acknowledging His presence as being with us, and then cooperating
with Him in whatever way that He may lead or direct. This
third step cannot be done unless we have fulfilled the first
and second steps first.
Waiting on the Lord also includes a daily "continuous
waiting". This cultivation of His abiding presence in
our daily lives has to do with the "poise" of our
spirit being lifted toward Him in faith and expectancy, and
then "Waiting on Him" during our times of activity.
We can be shut in with God in the midst of activity. This
will take time; it does not come easily, or at once. It must
be started by our "Waiting on the Lord" during specific
times that are set aside for this purpose. Then, we are to
carefully carry His presence with us, into our times of activity.
The first step toward learning to "Wait upon the Lord"
is to determine to wait upon the Lord, and to have His abiding
presence in our lives. Next, we must set aside a time and
a place for this purpose. Then begin to "wait upon the
Lord".
We must not allow other people or things to infringe on
this time. We should not fight distracting thoughts. As air
in a glass cannot be pulled out, but must be displaced with
something else, so our thoughts must be replaced, or rather,
displaced by thoughts of the Lord.
We can do this as we begin to worship the Lord and meditate
on Him. The fact of the Lord's presence being with us, as
revealed in Jeremiah 23:24 will help us to do this: "Can
any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?
saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the
Lord." We can assure ourselves that God is present, and
that we are not alone, once the truth of this passage of Scripture
really gets hold of us.
Making use of this fact of His presence, and then "Waiting
upon Him" causes a spiritual renewing process to take
place in our lives, connecting us with God through faith,
and then leading us into a conscious revelation of Him. This
experience will grow gradually, and become our delight.
Our mind will be renewed as we "Wait upon Him",
so that out mind is progressively brought closer to His mind.
"...But we have the mind of Christ" 1 Cor 2:16.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind..." Rom 12.2. This transformation
is worked out within us as we take time to wait in His presence.
Through this, we come to know the thought of God toward us,
and are enabled to walk in His will and ways.
Waiting on God is a discipline for which few are willing
to pay the price in our day of activity and pressure. But
those who have learned the secret of entering into His presence
have found a pearl of great price.
It is my prayer and desire that you may be one of these.
