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WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD (PSALM 40:1-5)

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Wait patiently for the Lord” To wait patiently means to endure ​for a long time with calmness or without complaint or hurry despite delays or difficulties.  To wait patiently for the Lord means to endure in faith or put one’s trust in the Lord’s salvation despite the delays, agony and challenges. We shall consider the benefit of waiting patiently for the Lord as a believer:

1. The Lord answers our prayers when we wait patiently for Him.

2. The Lord manifests His glory through us when we wait patiently for Him

3. The Lord gives us a testimony when we wait patiently for Him.

Firstly beloved in the Lord, when we wait patiently for the Lord, He answers our prayers. The Psalmist confirmed this fact when he wrote “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. (Psalms 40:1-2). Similarly, Hannah also proved that when we wait patiently for the Lord He answers our prayers. After many years of waiting patiently through prayer, God gave her a son, during her thanksgiving, “When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him“ (1 Samuel 1:25-27) Abraham and Sarah, who had been without a child for many years were told by the angel of the Lord, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:14) Beloved in the Lord, one of the tests of faith is the ability to wait patiently for the Lord. Sometimes we wait but we wait with doubts, complaints and faithlessness. Today we are greatly encouraged to wait in prayer, hope, faith and with a positive declaration that “it is well with me in the Lord” I do not know what you are currently going through but I do know that “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Secondly, the Lord manifests His glory through us when we wait patiently for the Lord. It is for this reason the Psalmist wrote, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. 4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. (Psalms 40:3-4) In other words, God uses us to prove His presence or glory among mortals and false gods when we patiently wait for Him. When people experience the glory of the Lord in their lives, they fear the Lord and put their trust in Him. When God delivered Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego from the burning furnace or fire, King Nebuchadnezzar glorified the Lord,  Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” (Daniel 3:28-29) Dear friend, when we wait patiently for the Lord in our challenges, God will glorify Himself in our lives to the admiration of our enemies and to all who have not yet encountered Him. Sometimes in our troubles, we see negativity and impossibility, yet Jesus assured us that “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26).

Thirdly, our mouths will be filled with testimonies when we patiently wait on the Lord. The Psalmist testified to this fact when he wrote “Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. (Psalms 40:5) Joseph, gave a testimony to his brothers many years after they planned to destroy his life. He said to them “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:19-20). David, after considering all that the Lord has done for him, testified, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalms 23:4-6) Dear friend, your testimony will come soon, however, between now and your day of testimony, you need to wait patiently on the Lord through prayer and faith. Let us be greatly encouraged by Hannah’s thanksgiving prayer when she said “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honour. “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; on them he has set the world. 9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. “(1 Samuel 2:8-9)

In summary, we have discovered that it pays to patiently wait for the Lord. When we wait for the Lord, He will answer our prayers, manifest His glory in our lives, and fill our mouths with testimonies.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen us to patiently wait for the Lord. Amen.