Wait on the Lord

Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

Have you been in prayer for a loved one or a dear friend for a long time? Have you sought the Lord on how to pray? Have you searched the scriptures, declaring and believing the truth of the Word? Have you fasted in an effort to break the stronghold that seems to have a grip on someone you love? Have you longed in desperation and cried out for the mercy of God to set someone free? Have you done all of these things and yet you are still waiting to see the fruit of your prayers?

The Word of the Lord is true. When you are in the place of "waiting" it does take strength and courage of heart to wait and press on in faith. It is my personal belief that not one tear, nor one prayer goes into some void. God hears it all. He answers our prayers for our loved ones. Things are happening that may be unseen to our eyes but God is always faithful to hear the prayers of His children.

God Himself knows how painful "waiting" can be. We cannot even imagine the pain of waiting and watching as His only Son bore the physical pain of the beatings and crucifixion not to mention the horror of taking on our sin on the cross.

Be encouraged today dear one, the Word of God in Jeremiah says "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you, declares the Lord..." (29:11-14a). God has a good plan for your loved one, don't give up.

The Word says in Matthew, "Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened" (7:7-8). EVERYONE who asks, EVERYONE who seeks, EVERYONE who knocks......don't give up.

The Word says in Proverbs "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight" (3:5-6). What you see in the natural may not make any sense at all, but God is worthy of your trust despite what you see in the natural. Don't give up.

Dear one, while you are waiting press on toward the goal, "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1c-2). "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time, we shall reap if we do not grow weary" (Gal. 6:9). DON'T GIVE UP, WAIT ON THE LORD.

God bless you, keep you, may His face shine upon you and encourage you this day as you wait on Him, Who is faithful, Who is able, Who is worthy of your praise and your trust. God bless you with the grace to stand strong and courageous while you wait for the fullness of His plan, His future, His hope to be released into the life of your loved one.

To Him be all the glory and honor and praise.

Patricia L. Wenzel
Graduate, Women of Character

Scripture is from the New American Standard Translation 1978

DIGGING DEEPER
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?