GOD WORKS FOR THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM

WISDOM FOR LIVING DEVOTIONAL

JANUARY 14, 2021

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 you a word that due to unforeseen circumstances he would 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. To wait for the Lord means to trust Him, depend upon Him, to look unto Him. “We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield” (Psalm 33:20 New Living Translation).

To wait for the Lord 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” (Psalm130:5-6 New Living Translation). The New King James Version uses the phrase, “wait for the Lord”, for these two scriptures cited.

The New King James translation of Psalm 130:5-6, says, “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”(verses 5-6  New King James Version). The phrase, “my soul waits”, is repeated twice in this scripture. Let your soul wait for the Lord too. Hope in His Word. It will never fail. “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6 New King James Version).

To wait for the Lord is a mark of trust in Him. To do otherwise is to demonstrate that you have no trust in Him. Isaiah 64:4 says, “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). My focus in this message is on the phrase “who works for those who wait for him.” The phrase “wait for” in Hebrew is chakah and it means to wait, to wait for, or to await.  You don’t wait for God or continue to wait for Him unless you have trust in him that He will come. The level of trust you have in God determines how long you wait for Him.

That scripture says that God works for those who wait for him. In other words, God works for those who put their trust in Him and wait for Him. He will not disappoint them. He won’t work against them but for them.  Do you want God to work for you? Put your trust in Him and wait for Him no matter how long it takes. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9a New King James Version).

The New International Version presents the words of the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 64:4 thus: “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Please take note of that phrase “who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” This has the same meaning as “who works for those who wait for him.”

The New Century Version renders the same scripture thus: “From long ago no one has ever heard of a God like you. No one has ever seen a God besides you, who helps the people who trust you.” This translation sheds more light: God helps the people who trust Him. In other words, God works for, acts on behalf of, or helps those who trust Him. Therefore, to wait for God is to trust Him. You cannot wait for God unless you trust Him. When you wait for Him or trust Him, He will help you or work for you or act on your behalf.

Isaiah 8:17 says, “I will wait for the LORD to help us, though he has turned away from the people of Israel. My only hope is in him” (New Living Translation).  The New King  James Version renders what Isaiah said thus: “And I will wait on the LORD, who hides His face from the house of Jacob.” 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 will wait for God, He will send rain upon you –blessings, favour, help, miracles, etc. that you need. He will do that which only He can do. Don’t be impatient; wait for Him.

Psalm 59 is attributed to David. He says, “You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my place of safety. In his unfailing love, my God will come and help me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies” (verses 9-10 New Living Translation). Did you see his trust in the Lord to rescue him as he waits for Him? Genesis 49:18 says, “I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!”  (New King James Version).

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 rescue you, save you, and work for you.

Psalm 69 is described as an urgent plea for help in trouble. David, in verse 6, pleads, “Let not those who wait for You, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed because of me; Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel” (New King James Version).  It was David’s expression of his trust in the Lord.

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).

As Isaiah 64:4 says, since the world began no one has seen or heard of such a God as ours, who works for those who wait for him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 refers to this scripture, saying that it is written that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

Wait patiently for the Lord. He works for those who wait for Him, not against them. In every matter, including if someone has wronged you, wait for the Lord. Don’t seek revenge. Wait for the Lord. “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 12:9; Hebrews 10:30).

Wait for the Lord. I say again, wait for Him. Don’t be impatient. “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. Wait patiently for Him.  “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7-8 New King James Version). Wait for the Lord; He will work for you.

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 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 resurrected 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 the palm tree and grow like the 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, not against me. I will wait for You and continue to wait. I know You will never leave me or forsake me. Holy Spirit, help me not to become impatient waiting for the Lord. I bind the spirit of impatience and receive the grace to be patient till my God comes.

(For over 400 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit: www.cedarministry.org).

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