Wait...Wait...
Wait...
Listen...
Listen...
Move!
Wait and Listen are not words that fit in our culture. As a matter of fact, one of my personal mantra's during this season of life is "Choose/Move". A few years ago I went to MO to visit my parents. They live in a cool little town on a decent chunk of land with a handful of cows, chickens and various other critters. A big slap to the face when I came back to Seattle was this overwhelming sense of urgency running throughout my life. Back on the farm there was a pace which seemed to say, "If you don't get to it, don't worry. It will be there tomorrow." Back home I was faced with "If you don't get to it, NOW, you will be ruined." An expectation of 24 hour availability through phone, email, FB, and twitter drives this ridiculous life style.
No wonder it spills over into our spiritual lives.
We often fail to wait and listen. During times of prayer we put the same expectations of Jesus that we place on the co-worker who has yet to respond to the email we sent earlier. "It has been FIVE MINUTES!! What could they possibly be doing that would prevent them from getting back to me??!!" We approach the Lord and creator of the universe with the same level of impatience. Rather than listening and waiting, we choose and move. We throw a hail mary and hope for the best.
This hit me today as I was reading 2 Samuel chapters four and five. In 2 Samuel 4:17-25 we find David facing the opposing troops of the Philistines. He asks God, "Should I go out and fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?"
I thought this was interesting.
He lives with the assumption that the God of the universe will speak with him, directly. That his question will be heard and a reply will come. Do I? Is this process running in my OS? Do I believe that when I speak with God that he hears me and will answer? What I hold in my mind as true and what I live out may be different, exposing my true belief.
Back to David.
God says, "Yes, go ahead." David moves and defeats the Philistine army.
Soon the enemy army regroups in the same place. This part is important.
Instead of moving ahead without consulting God and doing the same thing he did last time and expecting the same results he got last time, David again seeks guidance. This time however, God gives him a new plan and instructs him, "...circle around behind and attack them by the trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”
New plan. New direction. Added instruction; Wait and listen.
What will happen in our lives when we pause, ask for direction and listen.
A good friend of mine says, "Jesus is always right on time." Somehow we lose sight of the big picture and a grand scale of time and mission.
I want to be ready. I want to stay fresh, alert and tuned into his voice. Because when the sound comes through the trees like an army marching I desperately want to be a part of what he is doing. I want to be there to see spiritual battles won. I want to be there to see lives changed. I am willing to lead the charge.
Wait...listen...go.
1 comment:
Back in the day, like 3 years ago, move, move, MOVE was my motto. Who had time to wait?! Given that two of my (Gallup) strengths are Activator and Achiever, who could blame me? Henriet was rather strident about the need to wait, wait, WAIT on God's timing and direction - not just in things related to Semper Vita, but in everything. Which didn't sit too well with me. But God was patient and showed me the better way.
Today, when it comes to Semper Vita, it's all about: Wait. Listen. Go. Even though I rarely understand why we have to Wait so long sometimes, God has shown me/us that this is his thing. Now I'm just excited and honored to be asked along on this great journey (and relieved that I/we don't have to figure this thing out on our own)!
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