
It’s no secret that we hate waiting. We live in an on-demand society.
Ephesians 1:4 For He chose us, in Him before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
We each have something deposited in us for His use according to His timing and not our own. If you want access to His plan and purpose you will have to wait.
W.A.I.T. on the Lord: Willingly Awaiting Instructions to Translate.
Today we are going to drill down on the “Willingly”
The secret to understanding this life-long struggle is found in the Lord’s prayer.
Matthew 6:9-13 (Jesus says): This is how you should pray: “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Here is the first issue: Heaven won’t fit into Earth as it is.
So, if you have prayed this, you’ve asked to yield your earthly approach to your life to the one God designed for you in the beginning of all time. So, you have asked for a heavenly interruption into earthly activity.
Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
So the (A) of this scripture says, God blesses, those of us who have yielded our will to his higher purpose
(B) The good he is working for, is not to a natural standard but His own supernatural standard. God was the first to say “It was Good”. So the good, He is working your life toward, is in agreement with His standard (not your own).
God is blessing those of us who are willing, with the upgraded version of life that He planned for our service, in the beginning of all creation.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; But I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full
When we get to heaven and God says “well done”, it is an evaluation of whether your life has assembled to His plan or your own.
Are you willing to allow His interruption into your will?
Are you willing to allow for the time to build a relationship that affords you the ability to both hear from God and trust in Him?
How far are you willing to Go?
How much of God’s plan are you willing to let dominate your life?
Are you willing to go with God and fly in the face of what others think?
Judges 6-8: A little farm boy whose people were being oppressed by the Midianites, was greeted by an angel of the Lord.
Judges 6:12: When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
Judges 6:15-16: “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
How God sees you is what He called you when He made you. How you see yourself is what the world has convinced you to be.
Are you willing to lay down what the world has called you so that you can pick up what God calls you instead?
It takes time for all of us to believe what God has called us.
Are you willing to believe there is something in you greater, more powerful, and purposed for such a time as today?
God’s desire is to move in us, so he can move through us to be a blessing for all of us.
Romans 2:5-6 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
The world can’t fix what only God can! This is when we need to be willing to hear from God.
2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Humbling ourselves is submitting our will to His. Hearing from Heaven is requesting a heavenly interruption. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done!
Are you willing to believe God?
If we are truly ready, willing, and able to serve the Lord, there are 3 things that we should always be open to:
Inspection: This comes in the consumption of the Word of God. The rehearsing of what we read in our everyday practice. The Bible in the action of our lives.
James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.An intimate, daily engagement with the Word of God will expose us to His plan and, more importantly, lay the foundation for the relationship with His spirit. This practice sustains us in trials and fortifies our obedience while feeding our desire to do God’s Will.
Correction: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
I know we like to judge, but the Holy Spirit in us corrects us as He was present when God determined what was good. He alone can instruct us and offer forgiveness when we recognize our errors in the word of God.
Only the Holy Spirit can both expose and set you free from any bondage.
Direction: If you are willing, you are not competing with God using your own plans for navigating this life. Your desire to lay down your will for His is apparent.
We saw Mary, Noah, David, and Joseph carry out God’s will and we know it wasn’t easy, but they were willing to try. Jesus knew the complete plan of God, including the horror that lay before him on the cross. When the opportunity came for Him to choose His will over God’s plan He still chose God’s will. Jesus’ life was found in agreement with the Father.
Are you willingly and readily seeking after God’s agreement in your life? Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven?
That’s all God needs from us. Today, are you willing?
Today, if you are willing, God is offering forgiveness and salvation through His son Jesus Christ.