Does God Want What You Want?
Remember asking your parents for something that you really wanted but for whatever reason they told you to wait? No doubt you wanted the object of your desire right then and there. Waiting seemed like such a difficult task, but you did it and for your patience your parents gave you what you requested. At this moment, what is it that you currently desire? I’m not talking about material things, I’m talking about non-tangible things such as a obtaining a marriage partner, wanting someone to change, someone to stop a nasty habit, or wanting someone to receive salvation, etc. The attitude one has can certainly affect the outcome of the petitioned of prayer. In maintaining patience and a spirit of expectation the Lord rewards His children. However, if during the waiting period, one becomes impatient and exasperated, starts to complain – it may force one to take foolish action rather than waiting on God.
As adults we have been conditioned to work step-by-step earnestly towards our goals in order to achieve them. People are use to working hard for something on their own, then seeing the end results of their sweat and hard labor, yet that same formula doesn’t apply in one’s walk with the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP) reads, “Lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” By not relying on your own insight or understanding, you put a stop to the hasty, random impulses to take action yourself verses waiting on the Lord to work. Many exhaust themselves by allowing their flesh to get in the way, by trying to “make it happen” instead of trusting in the Lord, thus getting frustrated and impatient when they don’t get the results they want. Some may even start to doubt or lose faith in the Lord.
The definition of the word “Wait” means: To remain or rest in expectation. Learn to rest in expectation of the Lord to answer your deepest prayers. Admittedly, it can be a bit maddening to say the least, especially when wanting something so bad then suppressing the urge to “make it happen” by any means necessary. Most of the time we allow the works of the flesh to control our actions, which leads us down the path of empty frustration when we don’t receive the solution we want. We constantly focus all of our energy on a particular desire we wish to manifest and have no idea that we are going about it the wrong way. Are you at the end of your rope? Have you done all that could do trying to attain your desire? If you answer yes, then Great! You are that much closer to stopping your actions (works of the flesh) thus allowing God to take over completely, which is what you should have been doing all along.
Psalm 37:4 (AMP) reads, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will grant you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” In delighting ourselves in the Lord, we allow ourselves to be content/satisfied in “whatever state” we are with God, not worrying about anything else because we are content to know that we are in God’s Hand. God’s ways are perfect. When you find yourself thinking of something that you want or have desired for a long time – Challenge yourself, say aloud, “God is in control” and wait patiently in expectation.
According to televangelist, Joyce Meyer, one must understand several steps when waiting on God to move in your life.
1) Live Trusting God. Period. Do not try to make things happen by yourself on “your own time” have faith and believe in God to make things happen in His own time.
2) Adopt a “hands off policy.” Don’t do anything until God shows you what to do.
3) When praying for what you desire, you need to understand that if God wants you to have it, He will give it to you in His own time in His own way.
4) Tell God, “If you don’t want me to have it, then I don’t want it.” Ask Him to keep you in His will.
Remember to keep your eyes always on God, not on the object of your desire. In following these steps, you shall see marvelous things begin to happen in your life when waiting on the Lord.
