God does not wait until we go through something to work it out, He works it out before we go through it. He knows what is going to happen in our lives before it happens; He made us. But before He can give us what we pray for (if it’s His will), or bring us out, He first must prepare us to receive it. So we must open up and let God prepare us to receive all our stuff. We must not be so quick to say, “The devil is holding up my stuff;” no, God is preparing you to receive. The devil does not have the power to touch nothing that belongs to you without God’s permission (if you belong to God). Remember Job, satan had to ask permission to touch him (Job 1:6-12).
God is about timing; He will never give you anything before the right time. You might think you are ready to receive but God is saying to you today, “Wait just a little longer.” If God gives you something before time, it might destroy you or cause you to turn from Him; just wait a while longer. Trust Him and it will be alright. Be willing to wait on the Lord to give you what you need; don’t get in a hurry. A good example is Saul; he disobeyed God when he was instructed to wait on Samuel for seven days so he could offer the burnt offering for the sacrifice (1 Samuel 13:7-23).
1 Samuel 13: 8-12: 8 “Saul waited seven days, according to the set time Samuel had appointed. But Samuel had not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from Saul. 9 So Saul said, Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do]. 10 And just as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came! Saul went out to meet and greet him. 11 Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines were assembled at Michmash, 12 I thought, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord. So I forced myself to offer a burnt offering.”
But Saul got in a hurry and offered the sacrifice himself and time he finished, Samuel showed up; he lost his kingdom because he could not wait (vs. 13-14).
13 “And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God which He commanded you; for the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever; 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out [David] a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.
Saul lost out because he did not wait on God. However, look at the ones who did wait on God and received His blessings: Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Esther, Ruth, Job, David, and the list goes on and on of people who waited on God. Therefore, let us wait on God until He makes manifest what we need; let’s not move out of sync with Him. God knows exactly what we need and when we need it; let’s not be another Saul.
Scriptures to encourage you and help you wait until God move in your life: Philippians 4:6 says: “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.”
Isaiah 40:31 says: “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”
Psalm 27:14 says: “Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.”
1 John 5:14-15 says: 14 “And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.
15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.”
In His Service,
Dr. Hooks
All Scriptures are from the Amplified Bible at www.biblegateway.com
