While You Wait Part 1

Time flies when you're having fun, huh? Well it definitely doesn't fly when you are waiting on something. Actually it seems to stop. Well.. your time seems to while everyone else's is moving right along and honey that will frustrate the strongest of saints. I don't know about you, sis. But patience is something I struggle with. It is something that I am working on, praying for and learning how to apply. I heard a minister say recently that praying for patience was risky because if God gives you patience that may mean you have to wait longer for what your "it" is. I agree. But I also believe with my whole heart that the God that created time, knows better than anyone when it is time. We frequently comment that "all things happen in God's time." And despite how convincingly we make the statement, we are not always okay with that. You're human sis, I know you get impatient too. Waiting on that check, house, new car, husband, promotion, new job, baby, opportunity, revelation or peace...OMG! When, Lord?!!! 

Whatever it is you are waiting for, you want it now! I'll be honest, there are some things that I want NOW as well. But I know that the reality is that I very well may not be ready for them or prepared for all that these things may bring. I understand that I need to prepare, practice, and plan for whatever my "it" is and when God, the Giver of all things, feels I am ready, it'll come. God's time is not like man's. Why do you want it now anyway? Is it to make life easier on yourself, to make yourself happy, or to fulfill God's purpose? Check your motives instead of the clock. While we only see the clock on the wall, the sunset or sunrise, the calendar numbers change... He see's the beginning, the end, and an entire picture of how all aspects surrounding every situation will be effected. While we may only be thinking about our position or promotion, God is strategically arranging things so that they will work together for the good of all of those that love the Lord! (Romans 8:28)

Although I know these things, there are still times when the wait is a bit difficult. The anticipation of what is to come can cause us girls a mountain of stress because we are wired to over-analyze situations. Stress is brought about when we are not aware of what is going on or we feel that we are not in control. I certainly understand and have too laid in my bed for hours unable to sleep thinking about "when". This can be especially frustrating when God has shown you or confirmed the "it" to you, but there is not a direct timeline available. Or maybe you thought there was a designated time and it has come and gone. Chances are that designated time was not God's time therefore it was irrelevant. Remember sis, anytime we feel anxiety because of lack of control or uncertainty about what is going on during the wait or why, we are not fully trusting God. We want to know what day, what time, what hour, and what minute. It is very easy to exclaim that we have faith, but worrying (caused by thinking too much usually) means that faith is not being put into practice. It is just being announced. You know like I do that faith without works is dead. (James 2:17)

The wait isn't a bad thing though. Hear me out, beloved. There are several reasons why the wait is beneficial. Our Heavenly Father knew this concept would be hard to grasp and harder to practice so He gave us plenty of encouragement in His word regarding the wait. (I'll give you a few go-to scriptures later.) The struggle to wait on the Lord's promise is also not something new. It has been an issue with man since back when God promised Abraham and Sarah they would conceive as they approached and surpassed childbearing years. Recall with me that Sarah, impatient in the wait, had her servant Hagar sleep with Abraham to bear a child for her. (What Sarah?!) Yeah, you may not be able to relate to Sarah's impatience but if you think a little I am certain you can recall a situation in which you tried to take time into your own hands and make something happen.  I have learned that when we attempt to take time into our own hands, we are taking our lives out of God's hand. How many messes have you made with your hands? How many messes has God made with His? I think you would agree with me that His hands are the best place for our lives to be because clearly we've messed it up before. Maybe you haven't... but I have. 

Waiting serves several important purposes. Generally we are not ready for what we are waiting for. God understands that there is a process for promotion. Any step up in additional responsibility requires some level of preparation or training. You may be waiting on a new car but are not in the best financial position to make the payments. You may be waiting on a husband but there are some personal, financial, or emotional issues that you need to work out before committing to someone else lifelong. You may be waiting on a new job but there are skills that you need to acquire or discipline that you need to obtain before entering a new career. On the other hand, you may be ready to receive what God has for you but it isn't ready for you. Maybe God is working on getting the interest rates down on the car, cleaning up your credit so that you can get a better deal, making that man into a husband (There is a difference. We'll discuss that later), or situating the new career opportunity to make it a smooth transition. There are some things going on behind the scenes that you can't see. 

It is also likely that if the prep period is rushed, we may not be prepared once we receive it. That may lead to us misusing or being disobedient with it, causing us to lose it. Something that we have waited on so long.... gone... all because we weren't ready. The right thing at the wrong time may as well be the wrong thing! Think about some of the things that you've been praying for and waiting on. If God has yet to reveal what you should be doing while you wait, seek guidance. Meditate on these things and meet me back here in a couple of days to explore the wait further. Yes... you have to wait for the next post! :) 

With Love, 
-Kimyatta

Daily Prayer: Lord, I trust Your promise. I pray that Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Thank You for our daily bread and enough grace to make it through today. Help me to wait on Your plan and prepare me for whatever will bring You glory. 

Instead of a scripture to study, please check the follow up post for a few scriptures that you can jot down or bookmark to help you, to encourage you while you are waiting. Let's be transparent and real with each other while we are struggling with waiting, ladies. God has not forgotten us. :)

Telephone,...It's God!

The most frequent complaint or cause of frustration for many of us is when we feel as though we can't hear from God. We are praying and praying and not hearing anything back. Well, sis, there are a few reasons why you are not hearing anything. You very well may be on the right track, following directions that God has given you so the second time you ask there is no need for Him to say anything. (When people constantly remind you of something they've asked you to do, it shows a lack of trust.) In this instance, continue doing whatever the last thing is He confirmed. Joyce Meyer's said once that she felt like she couldn't hear from God so she just kept doing the last thing He told her to do until she heard from Him again. There is no need for a teacher to continue correcting you if you are doing well.

But in other instances we can't hear from God because maybe we missed the call! Jesus is on the mainline, sis!!! Maybe God has already given you the direction you are seeking but you were too busy to answer the phone. Maybe you are seeking advice from everywhere but God; friends, family, websites, coworkers....anybody but God! Take your prayers and petitions to Him and wait for Him to answer. He may have called and you answered the phone and didn't let Him get a word in. Sheesh, sis. You just went on and on and on and on. He didn't have a chance to say anything. It is important that we understand that an essential part of prayer is listening. Prayer is a two way communication; you talk, God listens. God talks, you listen.

There are also situations where we are on the phone with God and trying to do a million other things at the same time. Watching tv, listening to music, washing dishes...just distracted and all over the place. You can barely hear from Him because there is too much background noise. Get to your quiet place so you can cancel out all other noises and be still! Pay attention. What you don't want is for God to force the distractions away.

Maybe God is calling from a different number and you don't recognize it so you didn't answer. Or even worse maybe you answered, you hear Him and didn't know it was Him because you usually don't answer so you don't know how He sounds. God speaks to us in a number of different ways. It may be confirmation through a sermon, scripture, a song, prayer with a friend, or a blatant sign. Just because God isn't speaking in this voice you've made up in your head or seen on movies, doesn't mean He isn't speaking to you. Be open to accepting Him through whatever avenue He makes Himself available to you. Pray for the spirit to discern His voice and direction.

There are also times when we've heard God clearly, we know what He has said. But it wasn't what we wanted to hear so we keep waiting, thinking if we keep calling Him pleading our case He'll change His mind and say what we want to hear. Nope. Not happening, sis. God's word is final and eternal. If He has told you to do something or given you direction on something chances are He isn't going to change His mind so you may as well just be obedient. 1 Samuel 15:22, And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. The situation or circumstance may change or if God see's you are being obedient to His initial instructions, He may direct you further or alter your path, but you must be obedient to what He says when He says it. As my sis, D'Lorah says, "Delay is an excuse to disobey."

Don't screen God's calls or have poor phone etiquette, sis. He wants to hear from you but he also wants to talk to you. If you are going through a period where you are longing to hear from Him, be patient and read your bible. Remember, that bible is HIS WORD! He speaks through it.

Love you!!,
-Kimyatta

Daily Prayer: Dear God, please help me to clearly discern Your voice. Teach me to be quiet and obedient. Lord, I yearn for Your instruction and I trust Your directions. Speak to me Father and open my heart to hear. 

Scripture to Study:  But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28