“Waiting on God will reap the most favorable benefits of any plan we can imagine.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 21, 2024
But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Psalm 3:3-4
Are you in a place where you’re looking for direction from God? Maybe you’re at a crossroads and wondering what your next step is supposed to be. Times like this can be unsettling and frustrating, especially if you’re anything like me. You feel better when you have a solid plan in place.
During my professional career, one of the many personality tests I took indicated I was an Activator, which may also be a nice way of saying I like to take control and move forward. If you give me a problem, within minutes, my mind is already thinking about possible solutions. I’m ready to charge ahead.
Well, sometimes, God doesn’t want us to charge ahead. He wants us to pause, pray, listen, and reflect. And if we sit still long enough and get quiet before Him, we may just hear something important He has to say.
Have you heard that saying, “We make plans, and God laughs.” Recently, a situation arose that made me think about this. Remember, I’m an activator and a mama bear ready to pounce if I see an injustice against my child. Thankfully, I’m wise enough to know that the 24-hour rule is also an excellent rule to follow in an emotionally charged situation. I had the night to pause and consider how I would handle things. Before going to sleep, I had a plan all mapped out in my mind, which I would implement first thing in the morning.
I’ll readily admit this was probably one of those times when I imagined God laughing. I was awakened at 4:00 a.m. with a scripture verse I hadn’t heard or read in a long time. But when I woke up with it on my heart, there was no doubt in my mind that the Holy Spirit was giving me the blueprint I needed for this situation—not my plan—but His! “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”
God truly is our shield and protector. We can all learn a valuable lesson if we trust, commit, and then be still before the Lord. Whatever situation you find yourself in or if you’re waiting to hear about a specific direction you should take, waiting on God will reap the most favorable benefits of any plan we can imagine.
“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this; He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” (Psalm 37:3-7).
Prayer
Father, even when we don’t realize it you are always looking out for our best interest. Help me to continue to trust you with all my heart and be still long enough to hear from you.
Application
If you are waiting to hear from God take a pause, put away your phone and sit quietly before Him. Sometimes we just need to remove all the distractions and be open to hear.
Related Reading
Psalm 40:4-5; Psalm 56:3-5; Psalm 143:8-10; Proverbs 3:5-6
Worship Resource
Kent Henry/Hosanna Music: Thou Art a Shield for Me
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