The Connection Between Thrones & Thorns

You may have seen a bicycle built for two. You have never seen a throne built for two. It is rather ludicrous to imagine someone approaching Alexander the Great sitting on his throne and saying to him, “Alexander, move over a little so I can sit next to you on the throne.” Thrones are built for a single occupant. Yet, that imaginary interchange happens in real life on a regular basis when it comes to a throne even greater than that of Alexander the Great.

How do thrones apply to the follower of Christ? When you trusted Jesus alone for your salvation, you entered into a personal and permanent relationship with Christ as your Savior and Lord. In an instant, you were made a citizen of the Kingdom of God. A kingdom has a king. In God’s Kingdom Jesus is the King. As King He is to take His rightful place on the throne of your life. Up until the moment of your salvation, you were on the throne of your life.

If you verbally acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King, yet remain on the throne of your life, your supposed salvation is really mere head knowledge. It is an empty profession. You are not truly converted.

Now, it would be great if climbing down off of the throne and recognizing Jesus at the rightful occupant was an easy and once-for-all event. As you well know, we still make our attempts to control our own lives.

Let’s be clear. Once Jesus is on the throne, He is there to stay. You cannot dethrone Him. If you could, you would be more powerful than Him. If you are more powerful than the god your serve, I suggest you get rid of him immediately.

We, instead, attempt a more subtle tactic. We approach the throne and ask Jesus to move over so we can sit on the throne next to Him. We do just this when we pray answers, rather than presenting requests. We do just this when claim a personal exemption from a clear command from our King. We do just this when we grumble and gripe. We do just this when we act like we are more important than we really are.

Here is where the thorns come into play. Those who have been around the Bible for a while will have a certain episode come to mind when you hear the word thorn. It is the ‘thorn in the flesh’ passage in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:

• “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

All too often the very first phrase of verse seven is overlooked and ignored. This phrase drives both the meaning and the application of this text. Paul writes, “To keep me from becoming conceited…” Whenever we get prideful and puffed up, we exalt self. Whenever we exalt self, we are attempting to sit on the throne with Jesus.

As Paul approaches the throne, ready to ask Jesus to move over, the Lord sticks him with a thorn. I can almost hear the reaction of some as that last sentence was read. “Satan did this. How can you assert that it was the Lord?” I agree that Satan did this. The text says exactly that. However, Satan is the secondary agent carrying out the plan of the Primary Cause – God. Satan is on a leash and God holds the leash. God is wise enough and powerful enough and sovereign enough to even use Satan to assist in carrying out His will and His plans.

Three times Paul pleads with the Lord to take away the thorn. God does not say, “I’m sorry Paul, but Satan is the one behind your thorn and there is nothing I can do about it.” What God does say ranks high of the list of spiritual truths in which we need to trust and on which we need to rely. Read God’s answer slowly and carefully: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

Here is a straightforward way to address this matter. There are two options for Paul:

• Conceited and no thorn.

• Not conceited and with the thorn.

Which option makes a person more useful in the work of the Lord?

I can only imagine that this episode went a long way in curing Paul of attempting to climb up on the throne with Jesus.

What about us? Are we contending for a co-regency, a shared throne between us and Jesus. We will have none of it. I wonder how many of the struggles, difficulties, illnesses, etc. in our lives are in the category of thorns that the Lord employs when we demand that He move over and let us sit on the throne of our lives with Him?

The thorn cured Paul of his conceit. His conceit, demolished by the thorn, made him a prime candidate for Christ’s power. Thank the Lord for thorns. Thank the Lord that He is on the throne. After all, thrones are built for one.

The Connection between Denial & Discipleship

Assert yourself. Promote yourself. Esteem yourself. The posture of our culture is that self is good and positive. Thus, self-fulfillment is the ultimate goal in life. Therefore, anything that stands in the way of this goal needs to be avoided and, if necessary, beaten away. The overwhelming majority of hyphenated words in the dictionary that begin with ‘self-’ are in the ‘self is always good’ category.

When this attitude is imported into the life of the follower of Christ, it produces a discipleship in which Jesus is expected to work and act as a bellhop. His job is to help the person find the self-fulfillment that is being pursued. This reduces Jesus to a personal attendant to tend to our wants and meet our desires. It is, in essence, self-discipleship. A pseudo-Christianity, a nominal Christianity is the sad result.

The Bible presents the opposite as the connection with discipleship.

• Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).

Self-denial, viewed as a phobia by the world, is promoted. The Bible is clear that ‘self’ is the problem, not the solution. ‘Self’ is the enemy, not the friend. Sin has seen to that. Self asserting itself is the very essence of sin.

When we admit that our direction is the wrong way and begin following Jesus as He leads, discipleship is underway. When we understand that our mind is corrupted by the fall and begin to seek the Lord’s wisdom through the Bible, discipleship is underway. When we find ourselves looking less and less to ourselves and more and more to Jesus, discipleship is underway.

The connection between denial and discipleship is for our good. It rescues us from our worst enemy – ourselves. For the disciple of Christ, the closer you are following Him, the better it is for you. When you are promoting self, you are going the wrong way. When you are following Jesus, you are going the right way.

The Connection between Adoration & Attitude

It has been a challenging week. Family struggles and vocational frustrations have taken their toll. Even with some kick-back time on Saturday, when Saturday evening rolls around you realize that your attitude is still not right. You think about going to church tomorrow morning and conclude that with the state of your attitude, attempting to engage in adoration and worship would be hypocritical. What do you do? Do you go the church and go through the motions? Do you stay home?

What is the connection between adoration and attitude? The Bible has some answers for us. As in a number of issues we face as followers of Christ, we begin with a vitally important foundational consideration. It is the battle between being God-centered and me-centered. Is my focus on God or me?

• Adoration is God-centered and Christ-focused.
• Attitude, robbed of its spiritual oversight, is me-centered and circumstance-focused.

We use the word adoration as an umbrella term that covers worship, praise and celebration. The Bible presents this activity as a vital staple in our spiritual habits. The more we engage in adoration, the more we focus on our Lord. The more we focus on our Lord, the less we focus on ourselves and our circumstances.

• "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” (Psalm 95:2)

• “Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.” (2 Chronicles 16:28-29)

When this takes place, the exhortation of Philippians 2 begins to take root in our spiritual lives.

• “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5).

Jesus, in His incarnation, displayed an attitude that was patently God-centered.

Adoration is a major weapon in combating the attitude struggles we face. Adoration provides the spiritual oversight for the Lord to keep our attitude Christ-centered. To cease adoration until our attitude is corrected is to play into the strategy of our arch-enemy. Anything he can do to get us to stay home from church and to cease in our daily personal adoration of the Lord will bring a sadistic smile to his face.

Invest time into your daily personal worship and adoration. Go to church. Be an active participant in the worship service. Be a follower of Christ who experiences an attitude that is saturated with adoration of Christ.

"Lord, help us to deepen our adoration so that we will ‘be made new in the attitude of our minds’” (Ephesians 4:23).

SPIRITUAL CRAVINGS

Like newborn babies,
crave pure spiritual milk,
so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 1:2,3

Cravings are real and powerful. Placed in the lives of fallen people in this fallen world, they often become conduits for that which harms. But when Christ gets involved, cravings can be turned to that which helps.

The Bible uses the word 'craving' to address our spiritual lives. Much spiritual junkfood is available, presenting a potentially serious problem. Writing about Israel during the exodus, the Psalmist records, “In the desert they gave way to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test" (Psalm 106:14).

The craving is not the problem. That which is being craved is the issue.

Peter presents the other side of this issue when he exhorts, "…crave pure spiritual milk…" It is clear that this pure spiritual milk is the "living and enduring Word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).

Craving emotional experiences or the latest fad invading the church will lead to the decrease in the craving that is an essential for our spiritual life and well-being.

Do you crave the Word of God? If so, great! Keep feeding that craving and the craving will strengthen. If not, face the issue head-on right now. Turn away from the junkfood. Turn to the spiritual nourishment that satisfies and strengthens.

"Lord, I pray with the Psalmist, 'Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word'" (Psalm 119:37).

A Victorious Partnership

Followers of Christ are citizens of the Kingdom of God. At the moment of conversion, at the second that we trusted in Christ alone for our salvation, we experienced a change of citizenship. One moment we were citizens of the kingdom of this world where Satan yields tremendous power; the next we were citizens of God’s Kingdom where Jesus is the Sovereign.

I really need to give a sentence of explanation about being citizens of the kingdom of this world. In Satan’s domain we were his slaves. Satan does not give up his slaves easily. This angry, spiteful being becomes even more angry and spiteful against those who have the audacity to flee his kingdom to follow Christ. So the battle is on and it is intense.

If you read the above sentences and think to yourself, “I don’t experience this battle...I am actually quite ignored by the enemy,” it is more than likely that you remain far too satisfied and intrigued with the offerings of this world system. If this describes you, Satan does not need to attack you; he already has rendered your spiritually neutral and ineffective.

For those on the front line of this battle, you know that nothing strange is happening. This is exactly what Jesus promised would take place and the Word of God informs you will be the experience of citizens of Christ’s Kingdom living in this fallen world.

• Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).
• In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials (1 Peter 1:6).
  

Of all of the spiritual treasures of our inheritance, Jesus and the Bible top the list. Interestingly, both are revealed to be the Word and to be the Truth. However, both are not only spiritual treasures, both are essential for our spiritual victory as citizens of God’s Kingdom living as strangers and aliens in this fallen world.

To claim citizenship in God’s Kingdom and then live in a manner resembling citizens of this worldly kingdom is spiritually suspect. It should cause one to examine the reality of his conversion and evaluate the level of his consecration.

• But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33).
• But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:20,21).

This partnership of Jesus and the Bible, the Truth and the Word, needs to be cherished, valued and esteemed above everything else in life. Above spouse, children, possessions, profession, education, EVERYTHING!

"And They Lived Joyfully Ever After"

“And they lived happily ever after.” This typical ending to fairy tales needs to remain in fairy tales. Unfortunately, it has found its way into the mainstream evangelical message. It affects the way the Gospel is presented: “If you trust Jesus, your life will be much happier and you will have fewer struggles.” It affects the way the Bible is taught: “God has willed that you be wealthy and healthy. Just have more faith and your wallet will be immediately overflowing and your health will be free of sickness.” It affects the way people wander away from the church: “I was promised fewer problems, more money and better health. This has not happened to me, so why stick around any longer. It is time to try something else.”

Therefore, the “they lived happily ever after” doctrine is not only wrong, it is dangerous. It is dangerous because it is not Biblical. Here is a truth upon which you must build you life in Christ: A non-biblical doctrine is a dangerous doctrine.

• It is dangerous because is ignores and neglects the clear biblical teaching on the intensity and the impact of sin and the total ruin that is the result.
• It is dangerous because is attempts to put God is a box that we have constructed based upon our fallen desires and our earthly expectations.

Let me encourage you to…

…Engage in Biblical Examination. Become a Berean. This applies to this blog. Don’t believe this because I wrote it. Scrutinize this content in the light of the Bible. “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). Notice that the Bereans searched the scriptures daily! Steady, systematic examination of the Bible is an absolute essential for every follower of Christ. Neglect it to your own spiritual peril. Neglect it and the insidious false teachings of the present evil age will begin to seep into your life and sap you of every ounce of spiritual energy.

…Develop Biblical Expectations. Expect victories and defeats. Expect easy days and difficult days. Expect positive events and negative events. Expect triumphs and tribulations. Expect satisfaction and suffering. Expect some people to like you and some people to hate you. If you expect only the easy, the positive, the healthy, the victories…you will be disappointed and become disenchanted with all of life.

…Thank the Lord for All Experiences. Our lives, which mean our day-by-day experiences, are under the control of our Sovereign Lord. He is always working for His glory and the good of His people. Therefore, the Bible calls us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). In fact, a Biblical case can be constructed that the greatest spiritual work is accomplished in our lives during times and situations that we would term painful, negative and difficult life experiences. Charles Spurgeon highlights this in the opening paragraph of a sermon he delivered in 1857 on Jonah 2:9: “Most of the grand truths of God have been learned by trouble; they must be burned into us with the hot iron of affliction, otherwise we shall not truly receive them. No man is competent to judge in matters of the kingdom, until first he has been tried; since there are many things to be learned in the depths which we can never know in the heights. We discover many things in the caverns of the ocean, which, though we had soared into heaven, we could never have known.”

The Lord has designed something far greater than happiness for our lives. He is at work to develop profound, practical holiness in every follower of Christ. That He is our Lord calls us to relinquish our control of our own lives and gladly submit our lives to His control.

Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). “Be joyful always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

Therefore, the follower of Christ can live ‘joyfully ever after.’ And this is literally true, both here on earth and in eternity!

The Old-Fashioned, Bible-Saturated Way of Doing Church

It is rare that I quote extensively from other sources in my writing, teaching and preaching. This post will be an extended exception to this general rule. An article came across my desk written by Pastor Gregory Barkman of the Beacon Baptist Church in Burlington, North Carolina. I e-mailed him and received permission to present this article. Please read it carefully and thoughtfully.

"It's finally happening. Church attendance in America, as a percentage of the population, has declined significantly, according to recent polls. That has been the case in Europe for decades, but America remained resilient to this disturbing trend in Western civilization. The United States, it seemed, was still a religious and mostly 'Christian' nation, but now the situation points in a different direction. Liberal, mainline denominations have been in decline for years, but Evangelical churches have enjoyed uninterrupted growth for decades, evoking self-congratulations for being alert to people's 'felt-needs' and being successful in molding and shaping 'church' to appeal to an ever larger segment of America's population. Now, 'success' formulas seem to be less effective, and although there are high profile ministries that are still growing, the general trend manifests decline. All this in spite of the huge emphasis upon 'church growth' techniques and new churches, each committed to pursuing a slightly different success formula, springing up on every corner. What's wrong?

"The current decline follows several decades of rapid change in the way most Evangelicals 'do church.' Apparently, the seeker-friendly, market-driven philosophies produced short-term gain, but long-term loss. Treating church like a product to be 'sold' to consumers has encouraged a shift in the way people view their relationship with churches. More often than not, there is no more commitment to church than there is to a particular grocery store or restaurant. People 'shop' for the church that offers them the biggest return on their investment, and consumer Christians search for the best bargains. In consumer goods, the best bargain is the one that gives you the most product for your money, and in churches, the best bargain is the one that offers you the best experience at the least cost. Cost in church relationships usually boils down to how much is expected in return for your participation. In the market-driven philosophy, virtually no commitment is required, because expectations of commitment might cause some to stay away. After all, there's always another church that offers a similar product with no demands, so why pay a higher price for the services this church offers?

"This consumer attitude is seen in the way many Christians regularly hop from church to church, seldom settling down, and frequently moving to sample what different churches have to offer. Have you noticed that when a new, highly advertised restaurant comes to town, many can't wait to be the first one to try it? Have you noticed how similar that is to a new church, sometimes even franchised from a 'successful' ministry elsewhere in the country, and how many Christians rush to try out this new experience. Not many would equate their actions with a consumer mentality, but that's what it is. Sadly, that's exactly what the church-growth, market-driven philosophy has encouraged. When the Bible says we reap what we sow, it isn't kidding!

A serious approach to doctrine in another casualty to modern trends. Formerly, churches were intent in teaching people Bible doctrine, the more the better. Churches used to believe that their main responsibility was to produce a congregation of knowledgeable, well-taught believers. Not any more. Now, people can attend church for years, and still know next to nothing about the Bible. Recent polls have documented the astonishing ignorance of Evangelical Christians regarding the simplest doctrines, including the Gospel itself. The majority of modern Christians cannot even give a coherent answer to the question, 'What is the Gospel?' This has also been demonstrated in the way people move from church to church, often running the gamut theologically from one extreme to another, seeming to recognize no difference in teaching. Of course, if the church is doing little teaching, there won't be much difference to recognize, will there? Even where some level of doctrine is taught, many Christians apparently pass it off as of little importance. What's really important, it seems, is not what is taught, but how much do I enjoy the experience? Christianity in many cases, is no longer a system of doctrine to be believed, but an experience to be, well, experienced, and a warm, positive feeling to be shared. Has it come to that? So it would appear.

"It's no wonder then, after several decades of churches themselves encouraging people to develop no commitment to Bible doctrine, nor to any particular local congregation, that now, 'Christians' have decided that they really don't need church after all. If I can get my 'needs' met some other way, why attend church? If learning the Bible, and deepening my understanding of sound doctrine is not important, why attend church? If I can enjoy a satisfactory religious experience watching TV, or plugging into the internet, or in some other way, why not choose that option?

"Maybe the old-fashioned, Bible saturated way of 'doing church' wasn't such a bad idea after all. I wonder if it's too late?"

That is an insightful analysis to which I say, "AMEN!"

Our Non-Spontaneous Lord

We tend to spiritualize spontaneity. Something done on the spur-of-the-moment is labeled as being led by the Spirit. Too often, this is simply an excuse for our lack of planning or our lack of preparation.

As we approach our celebration of the cross and the empty tomb, it is a good time to be reminded that the Lord has never done anything spontaneously. Additionally, the Lord has never had anything catch Him by surprise. The Cross is a shining example of God's pre-arranged, sovereign will coming to fruition exactly as He has planned.

First, God takes great care to inform us in the Old Testament that Jesus would become a man and the He would die on the cross:

"Surely, He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.

But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,

and by His wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquoty of us all."

Isaiah 53:4-6

Second, the Lord reminds us that Satan was not acting independently when he conspired to have Jesus crucified. Rather, Satan was God's pawn doing exactly what God had pre-determined would happen:

"Indeed Herod and Pontus Pilate met together with the Gentiles

and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against

Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.

They did what Your (God's) power

and will had decided beforehand should happen."

Acts 4:27-28

The Easter season is an appropriate time for every follower of Christ to be reminded to lift our eyes above our circumstances, our struggles and our uncetainties. Instead, we fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scoring its shame, and sat down at the right had of God (Hebrews 12:2).

With varying degrees of intensity, all of us have at least one current issue providing proof positive that we live in a crumbling, crisis-filled and cruel world.

Take heart, brother and sister in Christ. Our sovereign God took the most evil, despicable act in all of human history - the death of the perfect, sinless God of God - to accomplish our salvation and redemption! Then He rose from the dead and is now applying His glorious salvation to our daily living.

Meditation Is Becoming a Lost Spiritual Discipline

Unfortunately, because of hounding heresy hunters, meditation has become suspect as a spiritual discipline.

Let me explain. There is a troubling movement invading the evangelical church that is often labeled "contemplative prayer." Blending eastern religious practices and new age tactics, this movement uses visualization as a central thrust in contemplative prayer. Followers of Christ should be wary of this movement.

However, some overly zealous heresy hunters now view meditation as suspicious. According to them, meditation runs the risk of entering a gray area that is just too close to contemplative prayer. Therefore, since it might be done improperly, it should not be done at all. This is what happens when the focus is so riveted on the error that our eye is taken off of the truth. We need to be just as vocal against those who are holding meditation hostage as we are of those who are promoting a non-biblical contemplative prayer movement.

Meditation is clearly taught, promoted and encouraged in the Bible as an acceptable and a necessary spiritual discipline for the follower of Christ.

In a small volume by Puritan Thomas Watson, Heaven Taken By Storm, there is an excellent chapter on meditation. What follows is distilled from this chapter.

Here is a working definition of meditation: It is a holy exercise of the mind whereby we bring the truths of God to remembrance, and do seriously ponder them and apply them to ourselves.

Three vital considerations must be at the very core of meditation:

• Meditation is God-centered, Christ-centered and Bible-centered.
• Meditation necessitates that we retire alone, locking ourselves off from distractions and interruptions. Meditation is a work and that cannot be done in a crowd.
• Meditation is a serious thinking about God. It is not a few transient thoughts that are quickly gone, but a fixing and staying of the mind upon heavenly objects.

We are the more to provoke ourselves (discipline, strongly commit) to this duty because:

• Meditation is fiercely opposed by the old nature and the fallen nature that still wars against our life in Christ. You will find many excuses and diversions that will make establishing this discipline extremely difficult.
• Satan does what he can to hinder this duty and discipline. The devil cares not how much we hear if he is certain that we meditate little. Hearing begets knowledge, but meditation begets devotion.

You do not need a handbook to meditate...you simply need your Bible

You do not need to attend a seminar/retreat to meditate...you need a quiet, uninterrupted place and time.

You do not need a certain aptitude to meditate...you need a zeal and desire for the Lord and His will for your life.

The following Scriptures are more that sufficient to get you started in this vitally important discipline:

• Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Joshua 1:8a
• Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1,2
• I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:12
• Let me understand the teaching of Your precepts; then I will meditate on Your wonders. Psalm 119:27
• I lift up my hands to Your commands, which I love, and I meditate on Your decrees. Psalm 119:48
• I remember the days of long ago I meditate on all Your works and consider what Your hands have done. Psalm 143:5

God commands meditation in His Word. That settles it. It is for all followers of Christ in all generations in all situations. And, as with every other discipline, it is for our good and will allow us to even more fully live to the glory of God.

Strengthened By Waiting for the Lord

What do you associate with waiting? Most entries on such a list would be on the negative side of the ledger. Impatience, irritated and wasting time come to my mind.

In our own human thinking, we would probably not enter on such a list that waiting is a source of spiritual strength. Here is the rub. As followers of Christ, we are not to pursue, but forsake, the human and worldly manner of looking at life. Instead, we need to be developing wisdom that comes from above, a spiritual discernment grounded in the Word of God.

Psalm 27 is one of those majestic Hebrew poems that highlights God's provision and goodness in the midst of life's serious struggles. The concluding verse makes it crystal clear that waiting for the Lord is a source of spiritual strength:

Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

The reason we view waiting as a negative is that we view is as a time issue. It is not. It is a faith issue. Biblical waiting is not idleness, passivity, uncertainty or a time to pray telling God to hurry up.

Other English words used to translate the Hebrew word are eagerly look and hope. Let me suggest this working definition: Waiting is the confidence that the Lord is using all of my life situations to deepen my trust and develop my character. Faith believes that God can...waiting (hoping, eagerly expecting) believes that God will!

Before you read any further, grab your Bible and read Psalm 27. Read is slowly, read it out loud. Listen with your ears, your mind, your will and your heart.

With our finger on the text, notice first, that...
...God is in the replacing business!

• God replaces darkness with light, 1a
• God replaces lostness with salvation, 1a
• God replaces weakness with strength, 1b
• God replaces fear with confidence, 2,3
• God replaces many things with one thing, 4
• God replaces trouble with safety, 8

Next, notice that...
...We are in the responding business!

• Our response of prayer, 7
  
• Our response of seeking the Lord, 8-10
• Our response of learning God's ways, 11-12
• Our response of confidence, 13

That is quite a bit of activity during the time of waiting, both on God's side and on our side.

Being strengthened by waiting for the Lord moves us beyond believing that God can to the place of believing that God will!

Waiting is not expecting the disappearance of the negatives of life. Rather, it is the eager expectation that God can and will use every situation in my life for my good and for His glory!

Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

You will be glad you did.