From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4
This morning, as I prepare to teach and lead a Sunday school discussion on James 5:7-11, I review and fine tune my presentation one final time, and review another short podcast episode from DesiringGod.com entitled How Do I Wait for God. Here, John Piper uses text from Isaiah where the prophet is talking to Israelites who are "in danger from enemies, Assyrians and then Babylonians. Now, the danger that God sees is not so much the Assyrians and the Babylonians, but the temptation to run to Egypt for help instead of to God. Instead of waiting for God’s help, he sees the temptation looming large that they’re going to go after human help." We are referred to Isaiah 31:1 where God speaks through Isaiah warning Israel not to fall prey to self-reliance but instead to pray and trust and wait on the Lord. As he describes what waiting on the Lord means, Piper emphasizes that in our challenges and trials, "the first thing that waiting on God means is this: before you make one peep of an effort to solve your own problem or hire a human agency, pray. Seek the counsel of God." Piper then shares how sometimes God tells us to be still in our waiting - and we are referred to Exodus 14:13-14. Piper concludes by sharing a third way in which God wants us to wait on Him - this is to wait and act but to act with a spirit of waiting (or expectancy) knowing that it is God that must work through us and get all the glory. We are referred to God's counsel to David in 2 Samuel 5:19, Proverbs 21:31, and Psalm 33:16–17, 20–22.
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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - giving me Your Word and providing for all of my needs, most importantly my salvation. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such blessings! My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
