New Strength

Posted on December 3, 2018 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

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. Isaiah 40:31

I love this verse and have it underscored in just about every Bible that I own. I have memorized it in several translations and it has been a “go to” verse on some many occasions.

I really love the promise of new strength, being able to run and not get weary and certainly being able to walk and not faint.

But what I keep forgetting, and probably purposefully is that the four letter word that proceeds the promise of the outcome: WAIT!

What? Wait? I don’t do waiting well. You probably have it all together and don’t struggle with this as much as I do.

I am a terrible wait-er.

There’s a new phone coming out – next year. What?  I want it now.

I hate waiting in lines, especially at places like Wendy’s. We have the worst Wendy’s in our town. Last week we waited almost 15 minutes to order a cup of chili. At 16 minutes, I walked out.

I don’t like to wait in lines at the grocery store.

I hate waiting for a new book that’s coming out in a series.

I am very impatient.

But part of our growth in the Christian life is learning to wait on the Lord.

Drs. Henry and Richard Blackaby wrote about this in their daily devotional, Experiencing God – The Devotional:

At times you may feel so worn out and stressed that you are not sure you can take another step. You may seem to spend all your time running from crisis to crisis and to be constantly giving your time and energy to others. Your Lord wants to renew your strength and enable you to enjoy the abundant life He intends for you.

The key is to wait upon Him to do so. Our generation does not enjoy waiting. We rush through our lives without stopping to evaluate our activities. Part of God’s restorative process is to slow us down and make us listen to Him. As we wait on Him, God will remind us of our utter dependence upon His strength. When we slow down and seek His will, He will reveal His plans. Biblically, waiting on the Lord is never passive; it is always active. Waiting requires us to cease our own pursuits and give God our complete attention.

 We may have to give up some of the activities we have allowed to inundate our lives. We may need to take an entire day to sit quietly before the Lord. If we ask Him, God will show us the resources He has provided to help with the work we have been attempting on our own. God may address feelings of guilt that have motivated us to do things that He has not asked us to do.

Blackaby, Richard. Experiencing God Day By Day (Kindle Locations 5468-5477). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Good reminder for me today. How about you? Lord, help me learn to wait on You.

Overflowing and abounding with hope,

Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15-16| You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: A heart sacrifice is not a formula that can be mastered. It is a decision that is intrinsically tied to the personal relationship between us and our God. It is born out of a trust that is developed in spending time communicating with an Abba Father. — Carol Kent

Kent, Carol. He Holds My Hand: Experiencing God’s Presence and Protection (Kindle Locations 6133-6136). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

Want to get away & have dedicated time to read & learn God’s Word?

Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.

LEARN MORE

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories