Waiting...

This past year we had our house renovated and had to move out for about 7-8 months. During that time we had moved into an apartment. One of the advantages to moving to an apartment was that there was high speed Internet available which we took full advantage of. We also had high speed Internet at the New Season Offices until we moved offices and found out the Verizon did not provide DSL to where we moved. It was a frustrating few weeks when we had moved backed into our office and had moved the New Season Offices when all we had was dial-up. I felt like just banging my head against the wall repeatedly. What did we ever do before? Thankfully, we have been able to get broadband at the office and will be trying satellite at home.

I am convicted though about how our world, and my own little world, wants everything quickly.

• We don't like to wait too long at traffic lights.
• We like food served in less than five minutes.
• We want our money instantly out of ATMs.
• Our communication happens in seconds via email and texting.
• We get PO'd when they do not open more registers at Wal-Mart when there are more than three people in line.
• We try to schedule our flites so we do not have to waste time and wait for connections.

But, how does that affect us spiritually? I find myself expecting the same thing from God- quickness. Give me the answer now Lord. Bless me or these people now Lord. Lead me now Lord. There is an old saying that talks about "waiting on the Lord." Interestingly, the disciples waited three days on Jesus to be raised from the dead. They then went to Jerusalem to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. There is a lot of waiting going on there.

Perhaps some time the answers to our prayer is to wait.

• Wait for the right mate.
• Wait for the next promotion.
• Wait for the next group of people to be reached for Jesus.
• Wait as your child grows up and matures and then they will make good decision.

Waiting is hard. Yet, it is something God wants us to do because despite all our pda's, Blackberry's and Google Calendars the God who made and owns the universe also owns time and that is a good thing. Here is a good quote.

A. B. Simpson once wrote: "There are some spiritual conditions that cannot be accomplished in a moment. The breaking up of the fallow ground takes time. The frosts of winter are as necessary as the rains of spring to prepare the soil for fertility. God has to break our hearts to pieces by the slow process of His discipline, and grind every particle to power, and then to mellow us and saturate us with His blessed Spirit, until we are open for the blessing He has to give us."