THE SEASON OF WAITING – Part 2
Growing in the Seasons of Life
I. WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING ON GOD
1. WRITE DOWN THE LESSONS I AM LEARNING.
“At the LORD’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress.” Numbers 33:2a (NLT)
“Remember… what you have learned about the LORD through your experiences with him.” Deuteronomy 11:2a (GNT; TEV)
“God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course.” Psalms 119:33 (MSG)
EVERY WAITING ROOM HAS A LESSON TO LEARN
2. ACT AS THOUGH I ALREADY HAVE IT.
Jesus: “… I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24 (NIV)
WAITING IS NOT PASSIVITY
3. IMITATE THE HABITS THAT GROW STRONG FAITH.
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to IMITATE those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:12 (NIV)
Paul: “KEEP [ON] putting into practice all you learned… from me [and] heard from me and saw me doing…” Philippians 4:9a (NLT)
DO NOT PUT YOUR LIFE ON HOLD
II. HABITS YOU NEED TO DO DURING THE WAIT
• KEEP ON PRAYING.
“Keep on asking, and you WILL be given what you ask for. Keep on [looking], and you WILL find. Keep on knocking, and the door WILL be opened!” Matthew 7:7 (NLT)
• KEEP ON SERVING.
“Never be lazy [in your work, but] serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Romans 12:11 (NLT)
• KEEP ON GOING TO FAITH GATHERINGS — (THE SUNDAY SESSIONS, LIFE GROUPS, CONFERENCES, STUDY GROUPS).
“Don’t give up your habit of meeting with other believers. Instead keep on encouraging each other!” Hebrews 10:25
• KEEP ON SOWING
“Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which [ones] will grow—perhaps [they] all will!” Ecclesiastes 11:6 (TLB)
• KEEP ON BELIEVING
“… You must keep on believing the things you have been taught. You know they are true…” 2 Timothy 3:14 (TLB)
4. TRUST GOD INSTEAD OF PANICKING.
“… Even when I am afraid, I keep on trusting you.” Psalm 56:3 (CEV)
III. HOW DO I WAIT? MY ATTITUDE WHILE I WAIT
o WAIT PATIENTLY
“Be still in the presence of the LORD, wait patiently for Him (God) to act.” Psalm 37:7a
o WAIT EXPECTANTLY
“… I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised.” Psalm 130:5 (TLB)
o WAIT QUIETLY
“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, [because] my hope is in him.” Psalm 62:5 (NLT)
o WAIT JOYFULLY
“We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.”
Psalm 33: 20-22 (ESV; NLT))
o WAIT GRATEFULLY
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)