By Staff
God is Seeker, but He desires to be sought. God is Lover, but He wishes to be loved. God is Giver, but He wants our gifts.
Waiting on God is suggested, commanded, and modeled throughout the Scriptures. Waiting on God is the greatest act of faith possible, but waiting involves faith - a faith where our repentance, our confession, and our obedience are so up to date, that the “ball is in God's court” all the time.
According to Genesis, chapter 32, verses 24-26, faith can be like fighting in the dark, as was Jacob's experience in getting hold of God and not letting go.
The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews declares in chapter 11, verse 6, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Jesus taught persistence in the area of faith and prayer. In the gospel of Luke, chapter 18, verses 1-8, Jesus spoke of a persistent widow. This widow pursued justice from a certain judge. The judge said, “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me” (Luke 18:4b-5). That persistent widow is the model Jesus gives us for persistent, fervent prayer.
We are told in Matthew, chapter 6, verse 7, that prayer must not be vain repetitions. But being persistent in getting the mind of God as to the will of God delights the heart of God. We are told that we need to approach God like little children approach their parents (Mark 10:15). Do children give up easily when they want something?
Jesus spoke of asking, seeking, and knocking in Matthew, chapter 7, verses 7-12. He said in verse 7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” With that promise, why would we ever stop short of storming the gates of heaven for our requests?
Seeking God in faith requires the proper heart condition on our part. 2 Chronicles, chapter 16, verse 9, puts it like this: “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
A loyal heart is the key. God's reputation and glory are the issues. God can do anything, but He most desires to show Himself strong where people are willing to efface themselves and allow Him to get all the credit.
When God chooses people to use, He does not choose the wise, the mighty, or the noble (1 Corinthians 1:26). He chooses the foolish, the weak, and the base things (1 Corinthians 1:27-28), so “that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:29). There is hope for us!
As we seek God in faith, determining that our heart will be loyal, we must persevere. God is not as picky about the project as He is that the project will glorify Him. There are many things that are the will of God for our lives, but they never come to pass because we do not persist in faith. There will be tests.
It was the will of God for Israel to depart Egypt and journey to Canaan, but what a trip. God let them get thirsty, hungry, weary, discouraged, attacked, etc. God's perspective is seen in Deuteronomy, chapter 8, verses 2-3: “… the Lord your God led you all the way these 40 years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna . . . .” What did God want to see in the Children of Israel? He wanted to see unwavering faith and continual seeking in the face of very difficult circumstances.
Has anything changed from then to now? No. God is still looking for loyal hearts to challenge and bless, and through whom He can show Himself strong on their behalf.
So, step up; take the challenge. Allow God to be glorified in your life as you exercise persistent faith by being willing to weary God with your requests.
The Rev. Dan Puckett is a minister with Life Action Ministeries. He writes a weekly column for the Niles Daily Star