The Art of Waiting on God

The Art of Waiting on God 

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk

and not faint.

ISAIAH 40:31

In the passage from Isaiah 40:31, we are reminded that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles. But what does it truly mean to wait on God?

Waiting on God is more than just saying prayers or going through the motions of religious rituals. It is an attitude of oneness and union with the Creator of the universe. In fact, waiting on God is an ancient lost art, which was lost when Adam sinned and hid from God.

Before the fall, Adam, as a son of God, always waited for God to come and commune with him. But after he sinned, his waiting for God ceased. However, through the obedience and waiting of the second Adam, Jesus Christ, this lost art was restored.

To wait on God means to come before Him, to know Him, talk with Him, see Him, and walk with Him. The saints from the Old and New Testaments, as well as the early church fathers and even present-day believers, have learned to walk intimately with God through the practice of waiting on Him.

One example of waiting on God is seen in the life of Moses. When God desired to speak with Moses, He told him to go up to a certain place on the mountain to meet with Him. Moses diligently sought God's presence and waited for six days until God's presence manifested.

The Bible uses the word "waiting" in various contexts and with different meanings. In Hebrew, there are four different words used to convey the concept of waiting. These words include standing still, waiting in silence, gathering together in oneness, and waiting earnestly with a loving anticipation.

When we combine these definitions together, we get a comprehensive understanding of what it means to wait on God. It means to be still in our thoughts and intents of the heart, to wait silently with faith, to gather everything within us in oneness, and to wait with a longing anticipation for God's presence.

When we wait on God, we purpose in our hearts to come and wait on Him, to learn from Him, and to commune with Him. This involves subduing the resistance within us to be still, quieting the noise within us, and bringing all our thoughts, emotions, and physical senses together in oneness. We must also wait as long as it takes, with an earnest expectation of encountering God's presence.

The words of Jesus in John 15:5, where He urges us to abide in Him and let His words abide in us, provide insight into the process of waiting on God. Abiding in Him means staying, dwelling, and remaining with Him. It is a continuous act of being connected to Him in a deep and intimate way.

In 1 Corinthians 6:17, we are reminded that those who are joined to the Lord are one spirit with Him. To wait on God is to cease from all other activities and distractions and be fully present in His presence.

Waiting on God requires us to be still and quiet, both externally and internally. Although it may be challenging to quiet our restless thoughts and emotions, it is essential to enter into the spiritual realm. God is waiting to manifest Himself to us, speak to us, and show us His Kingdom. Our part is to desire and long for Him.

Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin shared his experience of a turning point in his life when he prayed the prayers in Ephesians 1:17-21 and 3:14-21. He spent six months praying these prayers several times a day, and the Spirit of revelation began to function, leading him to a deeper spiritual growth and understanding of the Word.

The real art of waiting on God is the ability to quiet and still all that is within us. It is when we can silence the voices in our minds, subdue our wandering thoughts, and quiet our restless bodies. Only then can the Holy Spirit come and carry us, lift us up in the spirit, and take us to places of deep communion with God.

Waiting on God is not an easy task, as it requires discipline and patience. The time it takes to enter into a deep state of quietness may vary from person to person. However, the reward of waiting on God is worth it, as it leads to a renewed strength, intimate fellowship with God, and a soaring on wings like eagles.

Are you willing to pray the following two personalized prayers for the next six months or until your spiritual eyes and ears are opened? Let's do it:

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EPHESIANS 1:17-21 …that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

EPHESIANS 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant me, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith; that I, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that I may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think, according to the power that works in me, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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