a humble war cry

As 2011 draws to a close, I have found myself attempting to tie together dozens of loose ends. Reflecting over the past year, there is one theme that sticks out to me more so than all the others. No matter where I look, it will not go away.

This past year, I have learned that God's plans are always higher than mine. Experiencing His blessing is just a matter of waiting on Him. Unfortunately, in so, so many circumstances, I find it easiest to take matters into my own hands and rush into the latest thing the world has to offer me.

I am always looking for the next big step, the next exciting adventure, the next item to check off the list of things society tell me I must accomplish. For me, patience is a fight.

The Bible mentions the principal of waiting countless times. God calls us to wait on Him in all of our circumstances.

when nothing seems to be going right,
   wait on the Lord.

when prayers seem to go unanswered,
   wait on the Lord.

when no one can make sense of what I am doing,
   wait on the Lord.

when things are going my way,
   wait on the Lord.

when I can see Him working,
   wait on the Lord.

when I find myself regretting my decisions,
   wait on the Lord. 

when I am not content with my circumstances,
   wait on the Lord.

when I am content with my circumstances,
   wait on the Lord.

when I doubt God, 
   wait on the Lord.

when my wildest dreams are coming true,
   wait on the Lord.

when I am heartbroken,
   wait on the Lord.

when God blesses me beyond imagination,
   wait on the Lord.  

Since it is Christmas time, let's take a look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. When the angel announced that she would give birth to Jesus, she responded with the following: 

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38)

It is highly unlikely that Mary understood exactly what was going on when Gabriel announced she would birth the Son of God. In fact, I can almost guarantee she had no inkling of what the future would hold for her. I can guarantee that all of her thoughts, expectations and hopes for her life were completely turned upside-down that night. She was young and engaged to Joseph. Her future was secure. What more could she have wanted?

Mary didn't plan to be a pregnant virgin. However, Mary believed in God's promises. In the depths of her heart, she knew that His plans were for good. Praise the Lord that His ways are greater than ours. 

As surely as God ordains the changing of seasons, he has ordained the happenings in our lives. A new year, another chance to start afresh, is just a few days away. Join me as I make waiting on the Lord my war cry for the new year. 

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." (Isaiah 64:4)


**I must give a special thanks to two amazing friends, Beverly and Jessica. Over the past 6 months I have watched these two women model what it looks like to wait on the Lord, and they have both encouraged me tremendously in this area. I am forever grateful for the ways they have spoken God's promises into my life.**