Wait On The Lord

I can now say that I have experienced the call by God to preach (teach) his holy word. While working on a project at an organization where I was employed, the Lord revealed to me that I was doing good work at that time, but it was not what he had called me to do. His call for my life was to preach the Gospel.

This occurred four years ago, and since then I have sought to find the way in which the Lord would like for me to carry out this call.

I had been sporadically preaching at churches years before this call, and I have done so randomly at my current local church. I have also sought to share the Gospel with as many people as possible. So, what is this call that I have been given? I am still working through this, but I wanted to share three valuable things that I have gleaned from Bible scripture which have helped me tremendously during this time.

Psalm 27

Ministry opportunities have come, but the Lord revealed that they were not his will for me. I have also pursued other opportunities that have not led to any results. Throughout this time, a phrase found in the King James Version of Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the LORD,” has repeatedly come to me in various ways.

I decided to take a closer look at this verse, which, in its entirety, says, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

I personally read the NASB version of the Bible, which says, “Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” This version and other modern translations say, “Wait for the Lord” rather than “Wait on the Lord.”

Mistakenly, many who read any version of Psalm 27:14 or other similar scriptures (Isaiah 40:31) interpret waiting as a passive posture where they are to do nothing while waiting on God to do something.

To capture the meaning of a single verse, you must at least consider the chapter that it is within to gain proper context, but you would also benefit from considering the book that the chapter is within also.

Psalm 27 is a chapter within the book of Psalms. The NASB has a title which summarizes its core purpose and meaning, which is, “A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.”

This chapter was written by David, and within it he expresses confidence and trust in the Lord. He believes that his efforts in seeking the Lord will not be in vain because the Lord will rescue him from the troubles that he is facing.

From Psalm 27, it is evident that the way in which David chose to wait on (or for) the Lord occurred in three ways.

·         Trust in the Lord (Verses 1-2)

·         Seeking the Lord (Verse 4)

·         Prayer (Verses 7-14)

Significant trouble has come since my call, which I know is a result of spiritual warfare. As I considered the call and the trouble that has come, I realized that I must implement the same three things that David did as he sought to traverse the difficulties before him.

I must also be patient, knowing that, in time, God’s will and plan for me will be fulfilled. David was anointed king of Israel by the prophet Samuel, but he did not officially begin reigning until 15 years later.

I have also discovered that the call to preach the Gospel is not always a call to a specific position or traditional opportunity. It is a call to point people to Jesus and his sacrificial death, his burial, and his resurrection for the atonement of our sins, wherever God has planted you. And he most often places us in ordinary spaces to do this extraordinary work.

I share this to encourage you. Whatever lies before you, trust in the Lord, seek him, continue in prayer, and like a flower does where it has been placed, bloom where God has planted you.

Note: Check out my latest sermon at my local church: Family Devotion.