A Magnolia's Heart Beats

WFW - Running Ahead

The Beginning

Do you ever find yourself running ahead of God's best for you and winding up sitting on a bench like this? I do! I am a people-pleaser by nature and want to just say yes to everything! Often, though, that's not God's plan for me. I sometimes don't stop to talk it over with God or my husband and end up juggling a gazillion plates in the air and ending up all crabby that I have too much going on. What's up with that?

Hurry Up and Wait

I am learning, though, to be still before God and just hurry up and wait. The Hebrew word for wait is the verb qavah, which means:

1) to wait, look for, hope, expect
a) (Qal) waiting (participle)
b) (Piel)
1) to wait or look eagerly for
2) to lie in wait for
3) to wait for, linger for
2) to collect, bind together
a) (Niphal) to be collected

I have found that when I linger, yet listen and look eagerly for God's direction, I'm on a more level path than if I just jump up and run with whatever I have on my agenda. I must wait and collect myself, though, to hear His voice. He will never misdirect me.

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." ~ Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

While I Am Waiting

The Psalmist said that while we wait, we can be strong and take heart. This is something I'm learning to do. (See my Be Still post for lessons learned on not being still.)

The word for strong is translated "be of good courage" in the KJV. Chazaq, the Hebrew verb that means:

1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore
a) (Qal)
1) to be strong, grow strong
a) to prevail, prevail upon
b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure
c) to press, be urgent
d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense)
e) to be severe, be grievous
2) to strengthen
b) (Piel)
1) to make strong
2) to restore to strength, give strength
3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage
4) to make strong, make bold, encourage
5) to make firm
6) to make rigid, make hard
c) (Hiphil)
1) to make strong, strengthen
2) to make firm
3) to display strength
4) to make severe
5) to support
6) to repair
7) to prevail, prevail upon
8) to have or take or keep hold of, retain, hold up, sustain, support
9) to hold, contain
d) (Hithpael)
1) to strengthen oneself
2) to put forth strength, use one's strength
3) to withstand
4) to hold strongly with

That's a whole lot of ways we can be strong while we're waiting. Have you ever noticed that the longer some things set out, the stronger or firmer they become? That's us! The time we are spending in waiting is strengthening us because we are trusting in God to work His will and purpose in our lives for His glory.

The Hebrew word for God strengthening is 'amats. It means:

1) to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard
a) (Qal) to be strong, brave, bold
b) (Piel) to strengthen, secure (for oneself), harden (heart), make firm, make obstinate, assure
c) (Hithpael) to be determined, to make oneself alert, strengthen oneself, confirm oneself, persist in, prove superior to
d) (Hiphil) to exhibit strength, be strong, feel strong

Note: I may have those Hebrew words mixed up because the KJV and NIV translation is a little different. Check for yourself to be sure, okay? (Always check the Word against what others tell you!)

Either way, I love these definitions of strength. They speak to me as God working in me while I am waiting to make sure my heart is at His best while I'm on the bench or walking down the road of life.

The Hebrew word for heart is leb, a noun that means:

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
a) inner part, midst
1) midst (of things)
2) heart (of man)
3) soul, heart (of man)
4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
6) conscience
7) heart (of moral character)
8) as seat of appetites
9) as seat of emotions and passions
10) as seat of courage

Everything God is working through our hearts and mind while we are waiting will make sure we are on the path He chooses for us and not the paths we choose for ourselves. They may be one in the same and often are if we're walking closely with Him. We just never need to assume they are before tackling projects on our own initiative without praying about them first.

Weary of Waiting

Though we may grow weary of waiting, we need to trust God for the outcome and just sit still before Him.

Hold on to this assurance from Isaiah while you are waiting. I have and it's brought me great peace.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." ~ Isaiah 55:8-11 (NIV)

The End

Through the wait, trust Him. Think of the verses above and know that while you are waiting, He is moving. Let it be enough.

Questions for Reflection: What are you waiting on today? Are you trusting Him while you're waiting? Are you satisfied with knowing God is growing you in the meantime?

Verse for the Day: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Prayer: Father, God, we find it so hard to wait sometimes. I pray as we grow and mature in You that we will find the strength and the courage to face these times of waiting that You have for us. Let us never run ahead but always listen for Your voice guiding us. Help us to pray about things wtih You and to talk things over with our husbands and maybe a trusted friend for perspective. Most of all, keep us trusting. In the Matchless Name of Jesus, the Christ, I pray. Amen.

T - Trust God to hear your prayer. "O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come." ~ Psalm 65:2 (NIV)

R - Remember His love for you. "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;" ~ Psalm 103:11 (NIV)

U - Understand that His timing may be different than yours. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." ~ Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

S - Seek to know the God you trust. "My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek." ~ Psalm 27:8 (NIV)

T - Take everything, no matter how large or small, to God in prayer. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." ~ Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

The purpose of Word Filled Wednesday is to share the Word of God through photo's and Scripture. Amydeanne, over at The 160 Acre Woods, is our hostess. Be sure to link up and share your own, and drop her a thank you for hosting this wonderful meme each week. It always blesses my heart to read all the posts and see the photos and verses. This is a wonderful way to minister to others and to be ministered to by reading others posts. Please visit by clicking on the button below.