Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.
This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)
Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!
Today's word: wait
What does it mean to "wait upon the Lord"?
WHY do we, why should we wait on Him?
HOW can we wait on Him?
Let me know what you think!!
"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteFor someone like me it is not easy to wait. However, things always work out better, when I do pray and wait for God to act in a situation, rather than rushing ahead in my own very limited strength.
God Bless - hope your weekend is blessed - Nita
Oh Sharon - it is HIS word - and I must say I don't like it at all - it is the hardest word ever for me!
ReplyDeleteBlessings Sharon,
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine why the word WAIT is on your mind.(lol). If I knew all of the answers to these fan flaming ???s,I would not be doing a month long study on WAITING on GOD. So I'm gonna WAIT on this one... but meanwhile here are some key thoughts I added to one of my comments on the WAITING study post (1):
Essential Factors in Waiting on the Lord
1. Waiting Necessitates the Passage of Time
"When the psalmist wrote in Psalm 130:5-6: “I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning,” he was comparing waiting expectantly on the Lord to the night guards of the city who watched the passage of time in anticipation of the coming dawn when they would be released from duty. The coming of the dawn was certain, but not without the passage of time. In our “I want it now generation” we must understanding and accept the fact that waiting on the Lord always involves the passage of time just as it does when we are waiting for the news, a special TV program, for a plane to arrive, or for retirement. Waiting on the Lord inevitably means enduring the passage of time, but it means more, much more."
2. Waiting Means Confident Expectation
3. Waiting Involves an Expectation Based on Knowledge and Trust
4. Waiting Involves Negatives and Positives
5. Waiting Involves Seeking the Lord
6. Waiting Involves Taking Action at the Right Time
7. Waiting Involves Resting in God’s Timing
8. Waiting Means Trusting in God and His Goodness
9. Waiting Involves Taking the Right Action
10. Waiting Involves Learning to be
Content with God’s Provision and Timing
Why We Should Wait on the Lord?
"To wait on the Lord, we must know what waiting on the Lord means and involves. But we also need to know why. One of the keys to obedience or appropriation of something is motivation. There is, of course, great motivation to wait on the Lord."
These 2 stand out to me (from the study):
Because of Who God is and what He is able to do
Because of Who We Are and What We Are Not Able To Do
Far too many benefits but waiting on the Lord, I read; sustains and satisfies, , strengthens and enables (from my favorite passage in Isaiah), straightens and builds character, lifts us out of despair and causes us to praise, Encourages Others and Gives Greater Ability to Witness...
As you can see Sharon, these ???s are loaded and I would not being doing a whole blog month on this, if it was a brief topic... far too much to
write about in a comment. The whys, the hows, etc. but your 1st comment on this did answer these very well at my blog. You share such wealth of wisdom concisely. I thank you Sharon for choosing this, I'm waiting to see the responses of your wise blogging friends.
Love and blessings,
Peggy
hey we're on the same thing..I posted about waiting...not being discouraged....trusting His time is perfect. Have a great weekend out there.
ReplyDeleteI'm too late to fan this flame, but I did like reading the other comments from the members of Sharon's Fan Club.
ReplyDeleteAdmit it... that was kind of punny...
Nita - I'm like you, it's not easy to wait. And evidently I'm a slow learner - because yes, things always seem to turn out better when I wait on the Lord - so why does it take me so long to turn to Him?! Thank goodness, He is a patient and loving Father!
ReplyDeleteSandie - I love how you phrased that - that "wait" is HIS word! That was really profound. Waiting is HIS way of shaping us from within and without - using circumstances to mold us, to conform us into the image of His Son. And yes, OUCH - it is the hardest thing ever!
Peggy - I so enjoyed reading your comment! Yes, I am thinking a lot about the idea of *waiting* - and thus, I am enjoying your current series so very much. I was incredibly blessed by all this new wealth of information that you left here. So many shades of meaning to the word *wait*. Thank you for taking the time to add all that. I really, really liked the essential factors - I'm going to copy that down for future (or more likely, DAILY!) reference!
Nikki - Thanks! Yes, I did notice that you and I were thinking and talking about waiting. You might really enjoy Peggy's series on waiting, too. Her website is: www.mazmagi.blogspot.com We have much to learn about the *art* of waiting. And our faith has much growing to do in the process.
Debbie - You're never too late for me. I've been WAITING for you!! LOL. And yes, you are one of the punniest women I have ever met - besides me.
GOD BLESS!