Wait on the Lord

What does it mean to wait on God?  Psalm 46 says, "be still and know that I am God".   I have often wondered how this is possible.  On the outside, it seems like an easy task... after all, can't I just sit down in a field for a few minutes?  While that is often a great way to calm down and refocus, it's not that simple.

During my time here at Impact 360, I have found myself in the middle of two extremes.  In one, I'm so busy thinking about new ideas, writing papers, talking with fellow students, that I have trouble finding time to focus on God.  The other extreme was noticed during the backpacking trip two weeks ago.  As I sat alone in the woods, I found myself struggling with this same inability to focus.  Here I was by myself with five hours to talk with God, and I couldn't hear anything!  What was wrong?  I realized this frustration wasn't just a one time occurrence, it's something I have struggled with for years.

Why is it so hard to listen?  I looked closer at these recent experiences, and realized one major problem is my inability to wait.  "Waiting on the Lord" is commonly thought of as "not talking" or "being alone", however a closer look reveals something quite different.  A person can experience stillness and peace in a crowd of people.  My problem was that I was not waiting, but trying to force answers out of God.  I wanted to know where to go to college, what to study, what my future would look like.  Instead of simply resting in God's timing, I wanted His answer immediately.

The person who truly waits on God doesn't feel obligated to please anyone, but is satisfied with who he is.  He isn't constantly looking forward to the next activity, but is at peace with where he is now.  His heart is always open and attuned to the movement of the Holy Spirit, and he joins God in His work.  God speaks to him because his heart is on his Maker.

This is the kind of person I want to be.  Throughout the coming weeks, I want to be connected to God constantly, not just when I find time to pray or read the Bible.  I want to invite God into every aspect of my life, and to honor Him instead of constantly seeking fulfillment for my own desires and answers for my own questions.  As I practice this, I believe God's voice will become more and more familiar.  He wants to speak to me... but I must listen.