These many uses of the word 'wait' may be divided and grouped under four general divisions, thus giving the word four general meanings. I want to consider these four uses and thus open to our hearts what God means when He says, to wait upon the Lord.
THE FIRST meaning of the word is SILENCE--TO BE SILENT.
That does not sound like prayer or intercession does it? Of course not, for prayer is supposed to have been made and now the soul is hushed and, bowing in silence (in faith) it waits before God. The heart has been poured out, and now lifted upon the wings of prayer the message is wafted up and away through the silent reaches of space to the Father's throne. And while the Father hears and works, the soul is bushed in silence, waiting.
The Psalmist makes use of this meaning of the word in Psa. 62:1, 5.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God;
From Him cometh my salvation.
My soul, wait thou only upon God;
For my expectation is from Him.
It is as if in some great trial or pressure he had found great comfort in prayer and had encouraged his heart in the hope of God's help; then in quiet faith casts himself upon God. This waiting is like a holy benediction, a breath from the life-giving spirit to quiet. It is like the dew of heaven which distills and waters our feverish hearts.
We are living in an age of intense activity. The very atmosphere is charged with a spirit of hurry and rush. This spirit influences our spiritual life in too great a measure and works damage to its development. Our souls are too noisy. In prayer life alone see how it hinders. Our hearts are much distressed and burdened, so we go to prayer and maybe spend much time pouring out our petitions before the throne.
And too many times we get up immediately, rush out of His presence and often try to answer the prayer by some efforts of our own. We do the praying but not the waiting.
Let us not be afraid to be silent before Him thinking it is wasted time. He does not want us to be all the time talking--telling Him so many things about which He already knows more than we do. Time is needed today for proper adjustment to Him, our vision properly focused, our hearts hushed, and minds subdued. This is not all accomplished by prayer.
Prayers are needed. They are the winged messengers to carry the need to God. But it is in the silent hour before Him, quietly waiting in His presence that the miracle is wrought.
Excerpted from the book : BROKEN BREAD by John Wright Follette at THE GOOD NEWS © 1998-2005. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).
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