FAITH CAPSULE: Know to be waiting on God.

1 Samuel 1

Praying is a way of life.
God answers prayer with yes, no, or wait.
One thing God cannot do: God cannot fail!
Are you praying or sleeping before God?
Luke 22:46 records, “…why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”  
Is your prayer at the back seat while temptation drives you into sin to become far from God? 
Jesus, in His Parable of Persistent Widow, pointed out praying before God and not losing heart.
Praying to God with persistence despite experiencing the manifestation is waiting on God. 
The barrenness challenge of Hannah did not stop her from going to Shiloh yearly to worship and sacrifice to God. 
Hannah was persistent until God opened her womb. 
Waiting on God can usually entail staying for either a short or long period. God answers individuals in different ways at His times. 
God will not answer prayer outside of His appointed time.
The Psalmist identified some different lengths of time for waiting: 
Psalm 25:5: “…On you, I will wait all day.” 
Psalm 62:1, “Truly my soul silently waits for God…” 
Psalm 37:7, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” 
Hosea 12:6, “…wait on your God continually.” 
Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” 
The time to wait on God has to be patiently, continually, silently, and eagerly. 
Waiting on God can take longer than expected, but God will always manifest Himself when we patiently wait for Him.
IN TIME OF WAITING
In your waiting, acknowledge God, remind Him, and always make your request known to Him.
Acknowledge God: He is a jealous God, and the antidote to jealousy is attention. 
God enjoys our attention. Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” 
Get to know God in your waiting to be encouraged.
Psalm 25:8 encourages, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He teaches sinners in the way.” (Psalm 25:8) 
Waiting without acknowledging the Lord is waiting in anguish.
Reminding God: Reminding God is not because God has forgotten you. The word of God encourages, “…and concerning the works of my hands, you command me.” (Isaiah 45:11) 
Anyone who remembers the works of His hands will know how to command Him as stated in His word. 
The Psalmist reminded Him in Psalm 25:6, “Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses…” God is a good and great God. 
Request from God: He wants all to ask. 
Jesus encourages us in Luke 11:9, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  
Psalm 25:16 encourages all to ask, “Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted.” 
He is the God of salvation and not a slave master, and He responds to requests to demonstrate His love for all. 

Prayer for today: Ask for the strength to be waiting on God.