Those Who Wait Upon the Lord...

28Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. 30Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. 31But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NLT)

Those who know me know that I never do anything “half-way”. As much as I'd like to believe this to be an asset, I know all too well that it can also be a liability...

The word for this summer has been “relentless”, and lately we have been “feeling the burn”. Funerals, family needs, camps, VBS, concreete, pastoral counseling, church needs, etc. have come knocking on our door day after day. It is no ones' fault really, things have just stacked up in such a way that there has been little if any time for respite, for restoration, relaxation, for revival.

On one hand the sense that God is using you (of all people) as his instrument is awe inspiring. Yet, I am so often reminded that even Jesus took a time out from time to time (cf. Mark 14), as it is said, “if you do not come apart, you will come apart...”. I have been coming apart.

The first place this shows itself is my tongue, and my attitude which has been less than ideal the last three weeks or so. Words I'd hoped I'd forgotten how to say, and attitudes I'd hoped I'd left behind rose to the surface last week in particular.

Saturday as we were on our way home from somewhere, Vicki and I felt a discussion morphing into and argment and we both decided to button up for a bit. After a time she broke the silence and said, “Our problem is that we need to pray more...”. This gnawed on me all day (when God cannot get through to me Himself, he sends my wife after me). So yesterday our family went to the altar and asked for God's help. I made peace with them, and with God. Then, today as I was preparing for the day, I realized how long it had been since I had “waited upon the Lord”.

What does that mean? It will mean something different for eveyone. For me it means to carve out time every day to pray, read the word, journal, and maybe even strum a bit to God and God alone. It makes all the difference if we take time to stay our mind and heart upon Christ. It sets the tone for the day.

Vicki and I know that God is preparing to ramp things up in our ministry. As a consequence, we can feel the Enemy nipping at our heels, but we have to know that: “those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” It is clear that now, more than ever, if we are walking in our own strength we are sabatoging our own work. Not only I suffer, but my family and moreover, my church family suffer as well. But if we rely upon the Lord for strength and guidance, we can not fail.

It's time to get back on track.

God forigve me, help me to redeem the time, and help us to make the most of each day by beginning it with You.

Amen.


(Cut and paste for a favorite song that goes right along with this)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUwRX2HPLKY

AND

Here is another link for over achievers: :)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/19060705/Preaching-Preparation-by-George-Muller