First off, how many times do I miss hearing God because I am not ready or willing to listen. He spoke I missed it and then I use the old line...I need to wait till I hear from God. ppffff!
It really struck me that I must do it far more often than I realize. Exhibit A...I am laying on the floor of our bathroom after collapsing in pain and I ask the question...God should I go to the hospital or should I wait...hello...my response to myself...you need to go...
So that example really has little to do with waiting on the Lord but the point is I asked but wasn't waiting for an answer. I already knew in my head what answer I was willing to hear.
My problem is that I am a person that needs to have answers. I need answers to everything...but where does stepping out in faith come in? I don't mean moving ahead out of folly but just trusting Christ.
My number one spiritual gift is faith...interesting considering I need answers. Actually, I don't need answers though, I need information. I love stepping out in faith. What I need is to collect information as part of the discernment process...I don't think it slows things down. When I hear God...its full on...let's go!
In pretty much every example of Jesus preaching he had a call to action and people responded...instantly.
Just look at Matthew 4:18-22.
18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20At once they left their nets and followed him.
21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
It reminds me the stories I heard from my Josiah Venture family in Eastern Europe. In short, when a young person comes to Christ, they enter into their relationship with such a sense of urgency and passion...they don't wait they just "leave their boat and follow him".
My other bone to pick about waiting on the Lord being a cop out is others who run a block on the holy spirit...that is someone else hears from the Lord but we haven't heard yet so we can't move to I hear regardless of whether you've heard. Get over yourself...it isn't about you...(insert my name here).
So how do we balance waiting and responding? Well I guess it all starts with our own relationship with Christ. We have to constantly be getting into the word, trust others and seek the council of others. And most of all...trust God...
So here is my road map verse...Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
