GOD WORKS FOR THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM

WISDOM FOR LIVING DEVOTIONAL

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

TOPIC: GOD WORKS FOR THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM

BY T. O. BANSO

“For since the world began no one has seen or heard of such a God as ours, who works for those who wait for him!”(Isaiah 64:4 The Living Bible).

Waiting for someone is not always easy, especially when you have to wait longer than you had thought. Many times, some people become impatient and quit waiting. They leave, not waiting for the person again. In some cases, as soon as they left or they were thinking of leaving, the person they had been waiting for came.

If someone has promised to come or asks you to wait for him, it will require your trust in him to continue to wait as long as it will take him to come. The only reason you may leave is if he sends a message that due to unforeseen circumstances he will no longer come. Another reason is if it is no longer safe for you to continue to wait for him because, for instance, it is getting dark or the place is becoming too lonely.

Waiting for the Lord is more important than waiting for any human being. It is a discipline every child of God must cultivate. Waiting for the Lord means praying to Him about every situation and trusting Him, depending upon Him, and expecting Him to act in your favour. It also means that you don’t act independently of Him but wait to receive instructions from Him and await His intervention as you carry out His instructions. It is a desire for the will of God to be done.

Sometimes, God could tell you to take a particular action. But another time, He could tell you to refrain from taking any action – He will fight for you while you hold your peace or keep silent (Exodus 14:14). Even when you have acted on His instructions, waiting for Him means that you continue to depend on Him. Waiting for the Lord does not always mean that you do nothing; you must always depend on Him.

Psalm 33:20 says, “We depend upon the Lord alone to save us. Only he can help us; he protects us like a shield” (The Living Bible). The New King James Version puts it this way: “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.”  

To wait for the Lord also means to count on Him and long for Him. “I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn” (Psalm 130:5-6 New Living Translation). The New King James Version uses the phrase “I wait for the Lord” instead of  “I am counting on the LORD.”

The phrase “my soul waits” appears twice in the New King James Version presentation of Psalm 130:5-6: “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning — Yes, more than those who watch for the morning”(New King James Version). Let your soul wait for the Lord too.

Waiting for the Lord is a mark of trust in Him. “For since the world began no one has seen or heard of such a God as ours, who works for those who wait for him!” (Isaiah 64:4 The Living Bible). Note the phrase “who works for those who wait for Him.” The New International Version presents it as “who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” The New Century Version renders the phrase as “who helps the people who trust you.” God helps those who trust Him. Trust Him.

God works for those who wait for Him. This is different from the general way God works for all human beings. The Bible says He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45). However, God works specially for those who trust Him and wait for Him. Do you want God to work for you? Trust Him and wait for Him. He will help you, work for you, or act on your behalf.

Isaiah 8:17 says, “And I will wait on the LORD, who hides His face from the house of Jacob” (New King James Version). Wait for the Lord even if you cannot see His face. Rest assured that He will work for you; He will help you; He will act on your behalf.

The Prophet Jeremiah said, “Are there any among the idols of the nations that can cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are You not He, O LORD our God? Therefore we will wait for You, since You have made all these” (Jeremiah 14:22 New King James Version). If you wait for God, He will send rain upon you – blessings, favour, help, or the miracle that you need. He will do what only He can do. Wait for Him.

David says in Psalm 59, “I will wait for You, O You his Strength; for God is my defense. My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies” (verses 9-10 New King James Version). Did you see his trust in the Lord?

Again, David says in Psalm 62:1-2, “Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved” (New King James Version). Wait for the Lord; wait for His salvation. He will work for you; He will help you.

Friend, wait for the Lord. The benefits are invaluable. Lamentation 3:25-26 says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (New King James Version). The proof of the pudding is in the eating. “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8 New King James Version).

Wait patiently for the Lord. He works for those who wait for Him. In every matter, including if someone has wronged you, wait for the Lord. Don’t seek revenge. “Do not say, ‘I will recompense evil’; wait for the Lord, and He will save you” (Proverbs 20:22 New King James Version). Wait for the Lord. He will avenge you. Vengeance belongs to Him (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30).

Wait for the Lord. “On that day it will be said, ‘Look, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he has saved us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him. Let’s rejoice and be glad in his salvation’” (Isaiah 25:9 Christian Standard Bible). That shall be your testimony in Jesus’ name.

Wait for the Lord; He will work for you. His will shall be done.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, I thank You because You are working for me. I will wait for You and continue to wait. I know You will never leave me or forsake me. Holy Spirit, help me to wait for the Lord and see Him work for me. I shall not live independently of God but depend on Him.

(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org