Spiritual Prescription WAITING ON THE LORD
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thin heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Ps. 27:14.
One of the greatest secrets that have helped some of us to a more meaningful prayer life is simply to stop being in such a hurry! God communicates with us in two ways. He speaks to us through His Word, but He also speaks to us through prayer. God has a way of guiding your thoughts, of bringing ideas or convictions to your mind, if you are willing to wait before Him to give Him a chance to do this. The sum of prayer is not to rush into His presence, say what we have on our minds, and then hurry away. "Many, even in their seasons of devotion, fail of receiving the blessing of real communion with God. They are in too great waste. With hurried steps they press through the circle of Christ's loving presence, pausing perhaps a moment within the sacred precincts, but not waiting for counsel. They have no time to remain with the divine Teacher. With their burdens they return to their work....Not a pause for a moment in His presence, but personal contact with Christ,...this is our need."--Education, p. 260, 261. (Italics supplied.)
When you have finished talking to God about what you have read in your time of devotions, and have presented your requests and petitions, and have finished your speech, stay there. Don't jump up and rush off to work or to class. Stay in His presence. Keep your mind open for the messages the Holy Spirit may be trying to bring you. Listen. Allow God an opportunity to bring thoughts to your mind that you may need for the day ahead. Give Him a chance to remind you of things that you might have otherwise forgotten. Allow Him to communicate to you directly, by giving Him a few quiet moments to get your attention focused on the things He sees that you need to consider.
To try to describe this concept is sometimes a little awkward, but I believe that it happens, and that if we would stay on our knees after we have finished saying our little speeches, we would discover that God can communicate with us in two ways, much more than we often allow Him to do. "Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite."--Steps to Christ, p. 97.
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thin heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Ps. 27:14.
One of the greatest secrets that have helped some of us to a more meaningful prayer life is simply to stop being in such a hurry! God communicates with us in two ways. He speaks to us through His Word, but He also speaks to us through prayer. God has a way of guiding your thoughts, of bringing ideas or convictions to your mind, if you are willing to wait before Him to give Him a chance to do this. The sum of prayer is not to rush into His presence, say what we have on our minds, and then hurry away. "Many, even in their seasons of devotion, fail of receiving the blessing of real communion with God. They are in too great waste. With hurried steps they press through the circle of Christ's loving presence, pausing perhaps a moment within the sacred precincts, but not waiting for counsel. They have no time to remain with the divine Teacher. With their burdens they return to their work....Not a pause for a moment in His presence, but personal contact with Christ,...this is our need."--Education, p. 260, 261. (Italics supplied.)
When you have finished talking to God about what you have read in your time of devotions, and have presented your requests and petitions, and have finished your speech, stay there. Don't jump up and rush off to work or to class. Stay in His presence. Keep your mind open for the messages the Holy Spirit may be trying to bring you. Listen. Allow God an opportunity to bring thoughts to your mind that you may need for the day ahead. Give Him a chance to remind you of things that you might have otherwise forgotten. Allow Him to communicate to you directly, by giving Him a few quiet moments to get your attention focused on the things He sees that you need to consider.
To try to describe this concept is sometimes a little awkward, but I believe that it happens, and that if we would stay on our knees after we have finished saying our little speeches, we would discover that God can communicate with us in two ways, much more than we often allow Him to do. "Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite."--Steps to Christ, p. 97.
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