Wednesday December 1, 2021

Today is Wednesday, December 1 and during this first week of Advent we explore what the Bible says about waiting.

As I begin this time of prayer, I pause and become still. I breathe slowly and deeply, and focus my mind on God’s presence. Come, Holy Spirit.

Pause and Pray

Lord God, I rejoice in the loving goodness you demonstrate towards me. I am so grateful for your presence and I place you first in my life. I have come here today to hear a word from you. Speak to my heart and mind in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I celebrate God’s faithfulness and praise him with the words of Psalm 130.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6

Pause and Pray

Following the day of resurrection (Easter Sunday), the risen Jesus made documented appearances to his followers. Jesus’ appearances lasted for precisely forty days. He ascended to heaven and then following a ten-day waiting period the Holy Spirit came at the feast of Pentecost. Jesus leaves his disciples alone and tells them to wait. They don’t know how long the wait will be. They don’t know it is only ten days. It could have been ten months or ten years. In the meantime, they have to trust God’s promises and trust his timing to be perfect. The disciples cannot accomplish their work in their own power. They don’t possess the capacity. They need power from on high. The disciples wait for the promise of God – the Holy Spirit. God will empower them for the task ahead, but they have to wait.

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:3-5

Like most people, I do not like to wait. Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem and they obediently wait. They do not launch off on their mission in their own power. I recognize that I sometimes do that. I get ahead of God. I run ahead of him with my own ideas and plans and solutions. Then I wonder why it didn’t work. In order for the disciples to be who God wants and needs them to be, they must wait for God to empower them for their task and mission. It is the same for me. In order for me to be who God wants and needs me to be, I must wait for God to empower me for my task and mission. I consider circumstances in my life that I am currently trying to solve in my own knowledge and power.

Ask: What situations have I prayed about and am waiting on God for an answer or solution? What situations have I taken into my own hands and run ahead to solve without waiting on God?

Pause and Pray

Thank you loving Father for your promised gift of the Holy Spirit. You want to give good gifts to your children who ask in faith and I ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Teach me to wait on you. Remind me that whatever problems I face in life, I am not alone, you are with me ready to offer divine wisdom, counsel and guidance. I bring my prayer requests before you and trust that your timing is perfect. I read Acts again, listening for the message you have for me today.

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:3-5

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I try to rest in God’s presence as I meditate on these verses of his holy word. I ask God to direct my thoughts and free my mind to listen. What does this scripture cause me to think about? God wants me to do something with this scripture and I can trust God to direct and guide me. Jesus instructs the disciples to not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift God has promised. What space do I want to leave where Jesus is asking me to stay? What gift from God am I invited to wait to receive? What would it mean for me to stay and wait in my current circumstances? Why do I find it difficult to wait on God?

Pause and Pray

Come, Holy Spirit, I invite you into my heart, my mind, my soul, and my circumstances. I lay all my burdens, worries and concerns at the foot of the cross and ask for your comfort and guidance. I wait on you, Lord, trusting in the perfect timing of your response. Amen.

As for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

As I leave this time of prayer and go throughout my day, I go trusting God’s perfect promises. I ask God to use me to bring promised blessings into the life of others in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.