WAITING FAITHFULLY
So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
Deuteronomy 11:13-15 (NIV)
For the Israelites, rain was a matter of life and death. They depended on the land for their crops, their livestock and ultimately their survival. For much of the year, the ground was dry and barren, so the promise of rain meant far more than a change in the weather—it meant life, provision and hope.
There's a scene in Facing the Giants where someone tells Coach Taylor about two farmers who really needed rain. Both of them prayed for it. But one went out and got his fields ready, while the other didn't. That raises a pretty good question: Which one was actually expecting God to answer? They were asking for the same thing, but one was putting some action behind his prayer. He couldn't make it rain, but he could get the ground ready.
God made it clear. Be faithful. Follow my instructions. Do what I've already given you to do.
I think about that when I'm waiting on God. Sometimes I get so focused on what I'm waiting for that I forget there's still something I can do today. I can keep showing up, keep praying and take the next step God has already shown me. That doesn't mean everything will happen the way I want or when I want. But I don't have to see the clouds before I get to work. I can prepare my field and trust God with the rain.
APPLICATION: Today, consider what God has called you to do. Give yourself fully to it, do it with excellence, and trust Him to provide what you need when He knows you need it.
PRAYER: Father, help me wait faithfully when I cannot see what You're doing. Teach me to be faithful with what You've placed in front of me today, rather than worrying about what comes next. Keep my heart close to You and my eyes fixed on You. I trust Your timing, Your wisdom and Your goodness. Help me wait with hope, knowing that You are always at work. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don’t let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?