The Devotional Period

White Ribbon, Volume 29, Issue 3, 1 August 1957, Page 3

The Devotional Period

• WAITING ON GOD" Dex otions taken 1 v Mri Flett, of Dunedin a* Dominion Comention, Nelson Scripture Reeding: Psalm 40. Dent 2:31. W.R. Hymnal, No. 140 A great deal is said in the Scriptures about waiting on God, and we know that it takes more patience to just stand still and wait than it does to walk. Patience is such a rare virtue. This attitude of waiting cannot be too strongly enforced. Much of our trouble in life comes from our restlessness, ami yes, our oft-times restless haste. We are told to stand still, to wait patiently on God, but how impatient we grow of God’s delays. We read in Psalm 37:23 that a good man’s steps are ordered by the Lord. At this verse, George Aiucller had a note in his Bible: “And the stops also." We do not always wait for the fruit to ripen ere we pluck it. Often times we think that our prayers are not heard, Ixr.uisc the answer is delayed, but we must remember that that for which we ask may require long year l * in preparation for us. God exhorts us to walk w th Him, and often God walks \ery slowly. There is another side to this lesson of waiting God udten has to wait for us. Many times we fai 1 to receive the blessings He has for us because we do not go forward with Him. While we miss much by not waiting, we also miss much by oxerwaiting. At times the Christian must find his strength in just waiting upon God, but at other times he must go forward with a firm step Great things were promised to Abraham, but be had to go forward, leaving home, friends, and country to follow into unknown paths. He pressed on in unfaltering faith in God, to receixc the promised blessings. In the story of the ten lepers we remember that they were told to go and shoxv themselves to the priests. What xxould have happened had they remained where they were: They had to obey, and the moment they did so, and their faith began to xvork, they were cleansed. The people, of Israel xverr commanded to go forward They were to rise from their knees and pi ess on. We, too, must do likewise. We are set to fight c rtain battles, and there are times xvhei. x\o think that we can never win, hut remember, as xvc enter the conflict, there comes One xvho fights by our s'de, and through Him xvc :.rc more than conquerors. If we v.ait, trembling and fearing, for our help to come, xve may wait in vain, for that would be the oxer waiting of unbelief. God is waiting now to pour within us His strength and power and blessing so let us press forward with assurance and confidence to take xvhat is ours by right. God says, “I have begun to gixe"; begin now to receive Prayei Eternal Father. Who art our rcfug«. and our strength, xve thank Thee that we can make known to Thee our inmost needs At all times Thy presence is within reach of our prayer?*. At any time and in any place, we can speak to Thee. So often we show ourselves unworthy ot Thy great love. We liaxe let slip those opportunities to do good: we have sa ; .d the unkind word, and liaxe failed Tl ee so oticn, but xve thank Thee that there is forgix eness with Thee. Guide us in all tlie work we seek to do for Thee. Through Jesus Christ ami for His sake. Amen.