The first thing I would do when I wake up every morning, is to listen out to God's voice - what He is speaking to me, His heart, what He is thinking about, what He wants me to do... On Monday, I woke up to His voice speaking a familiar verse... Wait upon Me, I will give You strength...
Perhaps this verse is too familiar. I thought, ok... this is nothing new... oops! I immediately repented and said yes, Lord, show me Your heart... Even in the familiar and mundane, God can show me new revelation, God can move my heart! Yes Lord, speak Lord, I'm listening...
As I went about the day, I picked up a CD randomly (or so I thought) and played it. My heart moved when the chinese song in the English album was played- 我想飞 . Same theme as what God has spoken! heh... Since then, it's been on the repeat mode on my CD player... p/s: I can't find the song on youtube..
Later in the day at the House of Prayer, the Lord continued to tease me..."Do you want me to show You something new?" ... knowing well that I'm still not totally over my own thought of what's-new-in-this-verse-that-I-read-so-often... I once again silenced my own thoughts... submit to God! (as if God can't hear them :p ) and said yes to God sheepishly...
In His grace, He refreshed me as I read Isaiah 40. In His love, He gave me this verse because that's what I so needed... He gave me this verse in advanced of what is to come...brilliant God! Loving God! My God!
Circumstances that brought apprehensive thoughts.. feelings of vulnerability... These just swept past me over and over again and they weakened me. I can't pretend these feelings are not there and so gung-ho over them. I wanted to face them head-on, recognise where I am, and overcome by God's strength. Even the most mighty man can become so weak... remember Elijah, Gideon? I clung onto this verse and waited upon the Lord. When the feelings are so real, He strengthened my resolve to press in as I choose to wait upon Him... Here's what I wait upon Him for...
A) Wait upon the Lord... for STRENGTH
Isa. 40:29-31
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
Shall renew
their strength;But those who wait
on the LORD
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and
not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Strength to live a life that's inside out as God strengthens me deep within...
Strength so that I can develop a strong conviction deep within me based on God's word and not how I feel or what the circumstances tell me...
Strength... just because God said those who wait upon Him, shall renew their strength! I want! I need!!
B) Wait upon the Lord for... REVELATION
Isa. 40:6
The voice said, “Cry out!”
And he said, “What shall I cry?”
As I wait upon the Lord, my heart's cry is for understanding of His heart, so that I can speak forth and proclaim boldly what He is saying. Many times, I think I know, but I really do not know... it's not in me through and through yet... Or I know it cognitively but the knowledge remains but a good concept and not reality in my life? Thus my prayer... what shall I cry?
So I wait in expectation for revelation to strike my heart... and as I diligently pore over His words for "... the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."... and as I seek to live out / apply what is in the word in all discipline and hunger.
The paradox of christian life continues to swirl in my mind - it's 100% God, and it's 100% about us doing something about it...
We draw near to Him (cleanse our hands you sinners, purify our hearts, you double-minded), He draws near to us (Jas. 4:8).
We hunger and thirst, He fills us... (Matt. 5:3-12).
We receive, treasure, incline, apply, cry out, seek, search.... then God will give understanding... Prov 2:1-5.
Yes, I strive, Lord! Yet in You I rest...I wait... in expectation, like an eager beaver... for Who is like You O Lord... to whom will we liken God? Our everlasting God, our Creator God... His power is great, His strength is immense.... Yet He, the same great God, looks upon us, and gives power to the weak.. He increases strength to those who have no might.. more than recharged, I think my fuse will blow! in a good sense ;) Now where's my umbilical chord to the Most High?
C) Wait upon the Lord... for the glory of the Lord to be revealed!
Isa. 40:5
"The glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
The mandate of the forerunners is laid out in Isa. 40:3-5. They are charged to rise up as a voice, preparing the people of God for His coming, for the day where the glory of the Lord will be revealed in a global dimension. Every eye will see it... wow! Like what Habbakuk says in Hab. 2:14,
"For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,
As the waters cover the sea."
What does this mean? Simply put, we can see the knowledge of God manifesting in the way we live, the way the world is governed, the way business is conducted... every sphere of life will display who He is. Progressively, from now till the Millenial Kingdom and into Eternity...
Isaiah 2:1-3 speaks of how nations will learn the ways of the Lord from Jesus, who will sit as the literal King over Jerusalem in the Millenial Kingdom.
" The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days
That the mountain of the LORD’s house
Shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be exalted above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it.
Many people shall come and say,
“ Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore."
So in our waiting, this is the ultimate of ultimate that we are waiting for... in that day... we press into the heart of God, preparing ourselves and the people to be ready for His coming, lay hold of God's promises in prayer and live our lives and carry out our ministries as the burning and shining lamps, turning people to Jesus!
In our waiting, may we be like the Psalmist who says in Psalm 5:1-8
Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.
For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.
Already looking forward the the 7-day Global Bridegroom Fast in 5-12 Dec... to wait upon Him!
