Hebrews 11:8-10
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
INSIGHT
-By faith, Abraham waited on God and His promises. Through the same faith he obeyed God’s instructions, leaving the city of Haran to Canaan; the city whose builder and maker is God. Upon God’s promise, Abraham became the father of faith, the father of a great nation whose descendants have since become like the stars and the sand by the seashore. Waiting on God is a demonstration of faith. Some believers wait on the Lord passively and others expectantly. Those who wait expectantly; put in their hope in Christ for an answer to their prayers. Abraham waited on God’s promises expectantly for a long time, and after he waited; he begot Isaac even when Sarah was considered barren. We are called to apply faith and works in God as we wait expectantly upon His promises through prayer. Like Abraham received his promise, we too will lay hold of our blessings in this new year and decade that the Lord has prepared for us.
PRAYER
Thank You Lord for Your grace upon our lives, and for enabling us to see this new day in perfect peace. We welcome You Holy Spirit into our lives, take control of our lives, families, marriages, relationships, businesses, careers, education, intentions, decisions, future, churches, leadership and nation, for without You we can do nothing. Give us expectant hearts for we wait on You in all things. Do a new thing in our lives this decade Holy Spirit and help us to accomplish our purposes according to Your will. Work Your grace in us and reveal Your purpose for our lives we humbly ask You. Great is Your faithfulness, have Your way in us. Mediate peace in our nation Lord especially among our leaders that hatred and strife may not be named among us. Manifest Your peace and wisdom among all our leaders and govern their steps as they lead Your people. You are our sure Foundation Jesus, the Rock of our salvation, we put all our trust in You. Amen
Isaiah 40:31
“But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
INSIGHT
-Sometimes we pray for certain situations long and our minds start to wonder thinking when will our answer come. Waiting on the Lord is having hope for a better future. Like the Israelites waited on God for deliverance from their oppression in Egypt. They again trusted in God for deliverance from the Babylonian captivity. God in His faithfulness rescued them and delivered them from all their oppressors. Like a farmer waits on the Lord after planting; expectant of a good harvest. A student waits of the Lord for good results after years of study. An entrepreneur waits of the Lord for business prosperity. A professional waits on the Lord for promotion and salary increase. Parents wait on the Lord for children and their prosperity. Further, most of us wait on the Lord for success and His unending grace upon our lives and families. When Samson was delivered in the hands of the Philistines at Lehi, he waited on the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily and he killed a thousand men with a jawbone of a donkey (Judg 15:13-16). God gives power to the weak and increase strength of those who have no might. When we are discouraged and weary, the Lord renews our strength. We are called to put our hope in the Lord for He is faithful and will always renew our strength.
PRAYER
Lord You are merciful and Your mercy is everlasting. Hear our prayers loving Father and give ear to our supplications. In Your faithfulness and righteousness answer us dear Lord. Holy Spirit; fill us with Your might and deliver us from all evil snares. When we are distressed; strengthen us. During persecution; patch up wings upon us like eagles and deliver us. When we are weary; send Your angels to minister unto us. All our hope is in You Jesus, redeem us from everything that causes us pain. Only in Your presence shall we run and not be weary, walk and not faint, for we trust in You our Lord and our Salvation. Amen
Psalms 37:34
“Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.”
INSIGHT
-Often times in the Bible do we finds God’s instructions to keep His ways. Deuteronomy 28 outlines both blessings and curses that accompany God’s commandments. Among the curses we find locust invasion that consume all trees and the produce of the land (Deu 28:42). God requires that we serve Him with joy and gladness of heart holding fast love so that we may have abundance of everything. Keeping God’s ways is a demonstration that we are actually waiting on Him. Waiting on the Lord with humility. As we all know, humility comes before honor and those who humble themselves will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity (Ps 37:11).
PRAYER
Lord You are merciful and Your mercy is everlasting. We bless You and glorify Your holy name. You have done so much for us that we cannot tell it all, all glory and blessings belong to You. Thank You Father for this far that You have brought us and for Your everlasting love and mercy upon us. Lord You are merciful and Your mercy is everlasting. Have mercy in us Lord and forgive us all our trespasses. Restore our nations prosperity and heal our land; merciful Father. Be mercy unto all those who are sick Jesus for by Your stripes we were healed. Provide for all those who lack the basic needs merciful Father for You are our Provider and Sustainer. Strengthen us Holy Spirit to keep Your ways and direct us in the way we should go. You are holy Lord and have called us to be holy, help us Holy Spirit. Fill us with Your love that we may never depart from Your ways. All glory and power belongs to You Lord, now and forever. Amen
Philippians 3:20
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”
INSIGHT
-God reminds us to focus on the things above for we are pilgrims on earth awaiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ when we shall dwell with Him in safety in the new Jerusalem. We therefore wait on God in such matters for in Him only do we possess eternal life. These sayings should be a source of hope and we are called to comfort one another with such words (1 Thes 4:18). Jesus said that His kingdom is not of this world (Jn 18:36), and we are called to always be ready for His coming.
PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread & forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power & the glory; forever & ever. Amen
Psalms 27:14
“Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”
INSIGHT
-When Paul journeyed to Crete with other men under the order of the Centurion, there occurred a great ship wreck and because they had thrown their supplies overboard, they went hungry for many days and thought they would die. Paul comforted them to take courage and have faith in the Lord (Acts 27:13-26). During favorable and unfavorable situations, we are called to wait on the Lord and be of good courage. Jesus also encouraged the disciples telling them; not to be afraid when they were confronted by a great storm (Mat 14:27). Sometimes we are presented by great storms in our lives that seem like stumbling blocks and we feel discouraged. The Lord tells us to be of good courage and He shall strengthen our hearts. To trust in Him and delight ourselves in Him; and He shall give us the desires of our hearts (Ps 37:3-4).
SUMMARY
As we begin this new year, it is important to wait on the Lord in all matters concerning our lives, economy, politics, institutions, churches, finances, businesses, careers, relationships, marriages, children, education, health, wealth, projects, decisions, purpose and future. In reality we cannot really change anything in our lives for our lives belong to God, our Creator and Father. Abraham waited on God through faith, when he was promised to become the father of a great nation and Sarah bore him the son of promise, even though she was considered barren. Samson waited on God in trust when he was delivered to the Philistines at Lehi and the Spirit of God came upon him mightily and he killed a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey. Hannah waited on God through prayer as she hoped for a child and the Lord gave her Samuel. We are called to always wait on God and He shall renew our strength, to mount up with wings like eagles, to run and not be weary and to walk and not faint. God also calls us to wait on Him through love, love for Him and our neighbors; and He will bless us abundantly. We demonstrate love through following His will as He gives us the desires of our hearts. We are also reminded that we are pilgrims on earth and aliens to the commonwealth of this world and should wait on God in hope of final glory. We should therefore focus on the things above that bring honor to His Kingdom so that we may dwell with Him forever. As we wait on the Lord, we are called to be still and know that He is God.
PRAYER
There is no one holy but You Oh Lord; there is no other God besides You; there is no Rock like You our Lord and Father, be lifted on high. We rest in You Lord and wait patiently on You; for You are our Strength and Shield. In Your merciful love we always find mercy. Be with us merciful Father during the times that we face storms in life and strengthen our hearts so we may overcome and have victory. In Your loving kindness we always find love. In Your gracious wisdom we find wise counsel. We thank You and lift Your name high. Lord You are good and Your mercies endures forever. Lord You are merciful and Your mercies are everlasting. Lord You are faithful and Your faithfulness is unsearchable. We thank You and lift Your name high. Amen