What Do You Do While You Wait on the Lord?

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Can You Hear Me Now?

What Do You Do While You Wait on the Lord? By Rick Warren — Mar 5, 2015 “I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer.” (Habakkuk 2:2 NLT) After you withdraw to a quiet place to hear from God, you need to wait and calm your thoughts and emotions. You have to settle down! Habakkuk 2:2 says, “I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer” (NLT). This means stay put and be still until you hear from God. Why is that important? Because hurry is the death of prayer. The reason why you don’t hear God is because you’re in too much of a hurry. “God, I want to hear from you. But hurry up! I’ve got to make it to my next appointment.” God speaks to people who take the time to listen. You must want to hear from God, withdraw to a quiet place away from distractions, and then calm yourself and wait. There are four things you can do while you wait to hear from God. Relax your body. When your body relaxes, it relaxes your mind. Then you’re more open and able to hear God better. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (NIV). Wait quietly. Psalm 62:5 says, “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him” (NLT). Busyness ramps up the RPMs in your mind. It gets it going. Have you ever gotten your mind going so fast you can’t slow it down? Waiting quietly allows your engine to cool down. Wait patiently. “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act” (Psalm 37:7). Inner calm creates the intercom to God. In other words, it makes the connection. When you get quiet, you can focus your mind on God and what he wants to say to you. Wait expectantly. The Bible says in Psalm 130:5, “I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised” (TLB). God speaks to people who expect him to speak to them. God is watching you to see if you’re ready to receive his word. You need to wait quietly and patiently and in expectation of his answer. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What are the distractions that work against you as you try to relax your body and wait patiently? Is there a specific question that you are waiting on God to answer? How are you waiting expectantly? What are some physical and mental exercises you can practice to help relax your body? Seasons of Sowing TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” (Psalm 126:5, NIV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria The Scripture talks about seasons of sowing and reaping in your life. In Psalms, it talks about sowing in tears and reaping in joy. That verse is saying that the sowing seasons are usually the most difficult. It’s hard to keep a good attitude when all your friends are being blessed, but you’re not. You may feel like they don’t work as hard as you do. You may feel like they don’t give like you do or don’t deserve the blessing. That’s a time of testing. It’s hard to go through disappointments and stay positive and hopeful. These are seasons of sowing. If you’ll do the right thing even when it’s hard — when you sow in tears — you will always reap in joy! Have a new attitude toward what God has placed in your heart. It may be taking a long time, but God still has a plan to bring it to pass. Don’t give up. Your time is coming. It’s never too late! God is saying, “This is your season. Keep your faith stirred up.” Keep sowing because in due season, you will reap the bountiful harvest with a song of joy in your heart! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to serve You and sow into the lives of those around me. I ask for Your strength today to do Your will and keep a good attitude. Help me recognize my season of sowing so that I can be ready in the time of harvest. I love You and bless Your holy name today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. PS... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpTjqmjXB9Q