Recently, I asked the question, 'What do we do now?' as we reflected on Acts 1. The men and women that Jesus appeared to were given the task to take the good news to the ends of the earth. But, there was one more piece of instruction Jesus gave to these people that were about to shake the world for the glory of God. We find it in verse four as Luke documents the history of how the church you and I belong to today began. To wait…
"And while staying with them, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father…" Acts 1:4a
"So, when they had come together, they asked Him. 'Lord, will You restore the kingdom to Israel? 'He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'" Acts 1:6-9
So what did the disciples do? They went back to where they had been staying, and they waited for that promise. They waited, praying, and seeking God.
Why wait? Because they needed to be led by God and not their own will.
"… Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Wait - stay in one place and anticipate or expect something (verb)
Waiting doesn't feel like an action, does it? It seems to be a daunting non-action. We wait in lines. We wait on others who seem to not respect our time. We wait for phone calls or texts. We wait on test results. We wait for God to speak to us and answer our prayers.
When is the last time you waited for something with great anticipation? What was your attitude like when you were waiting? Many of us most likely find that the state of our heart is in worry, doubt, fear, and dreading every moment. I am usually impatient, grumbling, definitely not anticipating, and usually full of discontentment.
As you are waiting on a promise from God, are you waiting and seeking God? Seeking Him in prayer, anticipation, and trust with contentment?
As you are waiting on a promise from God, are you waiting and seeking God? Seeking Him in prayer, anticipation, and trust with contentment? I know that these are things I intentionally have to fight for every day. They do not come naturally. I do not know the perfect answer to waiting with an expecting heart, but I know that today we have similar instructions as we seek God's will.
To wait for the promise and to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. To rest in God's presence. And as you wait, create beauty right where you find yourself today. That is my prayer for you today, beautiful.
With Love,
Lulu
