Thursday, January 15 Devo:

DON'T WAIT ON THE LORD!

Pastor Kristen Addonizio

There’s an old story about a man who was trapped on a deserted island. Every day, he would call out to God and say, “Lord, I know you will save me!” Over the next few days, he encountered a boat, an airplane, and a helicopter. Each time, he was asked, “Sir! Do you need help?” Each time he looked at them and said, “No thank you, God is going to save me!” Day and night, he waited for the Lord to intervene and he soon found himself face to face with God. Distressed, he cried out, “Lord, what happened? I waited for you to get me off that island, and you let me down.”

During this fast, we will all be waiting on the Lord, but we must understand the difference between waiting on the Lord and waiting on the Lord. Read that again if you didn’t say them differently the first time.

There should be a renewing and reposturing of our mindsets during the waiting. Don’t be so focused on the mundane that you miss the boat.

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16

These words were written when the Roman Emperor, Nero, was in power. Followers of Christ were forced to scatter, and faced severe persecution, but they were activated by Peter, to live in anticipation, that the Glory of God would prevail through their struggles. In order to prevail, they would need to prepare themselves in a way that would welcome the coming of the glory of God.

It reminds me of Joseph, who was thrown into jail and had to prove himself as a man who was trustworthy and always in tune with the voice of God. His mind, set on the Lord, led him to be released, and he was put in a great position of power.

“The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.” Genesis 39:23

Ask yourself this, how are you posturing yourself in this season? Are you playing with the sand on the island you feel trapped on, or are you jumping up and down waving down the promises of God?