Wait on God 2 (Prayer day 27)

Waiting on the Lord is what transforms prayer from a ritual to a relationship.  Be bold – ask the Lord the difficult questions, and confidently wait for His reply.

Scripture

Habakkuk 1:12-13; 2:1-4 – the prophet’s conversation with the Lord about the cruelties of the Chaldean’s

12  Are you not from everlasting, O LORD? My God, my Holy One, we shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained [the Chaldeans] as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have marked them for correction. 13  You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?…

1  I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. 2  And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3  For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. 4  Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith…”

Observation

1. Israel suffers under the cruelty of the Chaldeans. How does the prophet find comfort in verse 12?
2. Paraphrase the prophet’s plea to God in your own words (verse 13).
3. How does Habakkuk prepare himself to get an answer from God in verse 1?
4. How does God tell Habakkuk to prepare for the answer? (verse 2)
5. What is [the beginning of] God’s answer to the prophet’s question? (verse 4; to read the rest of the chapter)

Personal Reflection and Application

To wait on the Lord means to confidently expect God to respond to your plea, and to respond favourably.  It speaks of a trust in the faithfulness, goodness and power of God.  The prophet Habakkuk shared his troubled heart with God, and confidently waited for God to answer him.

Is there an injustice, a problem or crisis that troubles your heart? Let’s follow Habakkuk’s lead in prayer:

1. Confess your confidence in Who God is: his nature and relationship to you (verse 12).
2. Confidently share your dilemma with God, and freely ask what you want to know (verse 13).
3. Resolve to wait faithfully “on your post” until the Lord answers you (verse 1). (i.e. come back daily, ask God and search the Scriptures until He answers you).
4. When the Lord speaks, through either Scripture a vision, in a dream, through His Still voice, etc, write it down (verse 2)! Listen for any instructions.
5. Thank God for the answer and continue the conversation. Share this experience with a friend.

 

Wait on God 1 (Prayer day 26)

One of the clearest signs of trust in God is to wait on him: to refrain from any action in a certain manner and wait for God to intervene and resolve the matter on our behalf. Why and how would we do it?

Scripture

Psalm 62:1-12 – A Psalm of David

1  For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3  How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 4  They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah.

5  For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. 6  He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7  On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

9  Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. 10  Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

11  Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, 12  and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

Observation

Let’s study this Psalm today by asking the interrogative questions:

1. What does David wait on God for? (verses 1-2)
2. In what situation(s) does David suggest we wait on God? (verses 3-4; can you seen three motives?)
3. What is the difference between verses 1 and 5? What do we learn about waiting on God from this apparent repetition?
4. How does David wait on God (verse 8)?
5. In waiting on God, what does David not trust in? (verses 9-10)
6. Why does David trust God? (three reasons in verses 11-12)
7. What assurance does David have that he can trust God? (verses 11-12; hint: it happened twice…)

Personal Reflection and Application

To wait on God means to trust and wait for God to act on our behalf.  David waited on God because He alone can save David (v1-2) from the overwhelming odds, the false accusations and the hypocrisy and betrayal (v3-4). David’s waiting involved showing trust by refraining from own intervention and pouring out his heart to God (v5, 8).  He would not trust in people or money (v9-10), and trusted in God’s promise that He is powerful, loving and just in judgment (v11-12).

Is there a troubling situation that is either overwhelming or beyond your control? Let’s pray like David about it:

1. Confess your trust in God regarding this situation (v1-2).
2. Declare the situation to God (v3-4).
3. Resign your effort and intents to solve the situation yourself (v5-7).
4. Pour out our heart to God (v8).
5. Give up trust on external (v9-10).
6. Declare your trust in God’s power, faithful love and justice (v11-12).
7. Now WAIT ON GOD FOR AN ASNWER, A WORD OF ASSURANCE as David did (v11-12). Write it down and tell a close friend about it.

 

How leaders can grow in prophetic grace

Leaders lead people into the future the Lord has prepared.  It is therefore critical for leaders to learn to wait on the Lord for direction and instruction.

Look at this short inspirational video by Andre Kruger on growing in the prophetic anointing. For more on his teachings and obtain a copy of his book Increasing Heaven’s Flow in 40 days go to www.heavensflow.org

Scripture

Context: This book is entitled “the burden of Habakkuk” (1:1; dated about 605-608 BC) and starts off as the prophet unburdens his heart in prayer about the prevailing social injustices he sees. When God answers his prayers becomes a conversation with the Lord.

Habakkuk 2:1-3

1  I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. 2  And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3  For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end–it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay…”

Observations and reflections

1. The prophet uses the military language of “watchpost and station” – what does it suggest of his demeanor as he spends time with the Lord?
2. Rephrase verse one in your own words.
3. What do you think happened between verses 1 and 2?
4. Why would it be necessary for the prophet to withdraw and be alone with the Lord?
5. Note the instructions which the Lord gives Habakkuk before the vision is given – what does He say and why is that important when the Lord reveals something to you?

 

Personal Reflection and Application

During a critical time in Judah’s history (about 605BC) the prophet Habakkuk withdrew to be alone with the Lord, to gain God’s perspective of Judah’s situation, and to ask how he personally, and the nation should respond.

1. Follow Habakkuk’s pattern:

• schedule time alone (perhaps now?);
• unburden your heart to the Lord in prayer;
• wait for Him to answer and record what He says;
• record what you see (vision);
• ask the Lord what you should do with this message;
• declare your trust in the Lord.

(If you feel more comfortable to spend this time of waiting in prayer with a close Christian friend, do so. But to grow in the prophetic anointing, waiting on the Lord in this manner is very important.)

2. Share your experience and what you recorded with a mature Christian friend.

Prayer

Thank the Lord for the times you have heard him speaking to you in various ways.  Then personalize the prayer of young Samuel who prayed as Eli instructed him “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:9)