FAITH CAPSULE: Waiting on God can usually entail staying for either a short or long period of time.

1 Samuel 1
 
Jesus, in His Parable of Persistent Widow, pointed out that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. Praying to God with persistency when answer is yet to be manifested is waiting on God. Hannah’s barrenness did 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 of time. God answers individual in different ways and at different times. God cannot to be rushed ahead of His appointed time of manifestation. The Psalmist mentioned 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.” Clearly the time for waiting on God has to be spent patiently, continually, silently and eagerly. Waiting on God can take longer than expected but God will always manifest Himself when we patiently wait on 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.” What do you know about Him that needs to be activated for your breakthrough? The Psalmist’s statement acknowledges Him, “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. God encourages us in Isaiah 45:11, “…and concerning the works of my hands, you command me.” It is only those who remember the works of His hands that 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 us to ask so we shall be given. Jesus encourages us, “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.” (Luke 11:9) The Psalmist requested, “Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted.” (Psalm 25:16) He is the God of salvation and not a slave master and He will respond to our request to demonstrate His love for us.
 
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be persistent when need demands it.