Waiting on God

I'm reading the book "Waiting on God" by Andrew Murray. Immediately as I started to read, I was drawn into the depths of what it means to wait on God. I don't think I'll figure it all out any time soon!

I have a sneaking suspicion that in today's world, we have no clue what it means to wait. This is, after all, the day of instant gratification. "Wait?" What's that?

Wait is an interesting word. The more you think about it, the more meaning seeps to the surface to explore. Since I'm trying to grasp as much as I can on waiting, I began exploring the word. As I looked into the good ol' American Heritage Dictionary, I found this:

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wait
1a. To remain or rest in expectation. b. To tarry until another catches up.
2. To remain or be in readiness.
3. To remain temporarily neglected, unattended to, or postponed.
4. To work as a waiter or waitress.

1. To remain or stay in expectation of; await.
2. Informal. To delay (a meal or an event); postpone.
3. To be a waiter or waitress at.

1. The act of waiting or the time spent waiting.
2. Chiefly British. a. One of a group of musicians employed, usually by a city, to play in parades or public ceremonies. b. One of a group of musicians or carolers who perform in the streets at Christmastime.

wait on or wait upon.
1. To serve the needs of; be in attendance on.
2. To make a formal call on; visit.
3. To follow as a result; depend on.
4. To await. wait out. To delay until the termination of.

wait up.
1. To postpone going to bed in anticipation of something or someone.
2. Informal. To stop or pause so that another can catch up.
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There's a lot in there to work on (maybe even the British musicians part)! But here's what comes to mind first:

We tend to think of spiritual things as most important; other things less so (it seems we're back to the "sacred/secular" debate). Now I don't want anyone to think I'm saying spiritual matters are not important- I just wonder if God doesn't see the difference. To God, all things are important.

But because of our anxiousness to get what we want and move on, we take little joy in the little things. Or the time it takes to get to our desired goal(s). It seems to me that the time waiting on God to lead you to do something (you're dying to do NOW), is hugely important in the overall scheme of things.

My brother speaks of the meandering puppy who, once free from his leash, flits about from this place to that. No worries- just going where the "wind" and his steps take him. He's not concerned about being late for his next meeting, what he's going to accomplish in life, or what his next appointment will be.

Could we ever wait on God with that frame of mind?

Remember, God is more concerned with WHO you are than WHAT you do (Wednesday, August 09, 2006 A Spiritual Equation and Saturday, August 12, 2006 More on BE Over DO).

Wouldn't it be something to go sit alone with God and not take any agendas with you? No requests, no words except, "God, I'm here for you. Just to be with you and wait for/on you. It's your time."

I challenge you to try it.

Oh and click on the picture above, scroll down the page a bit and find an interesting new device called the "waiting light." Maybe we'll find a version of this popping up in Christian book stores soon- the "Waiting on God" light.