I just recently graduated high school, quit my job, and moved away from my hometown, all because I felt like it was time to move forward in life. It has been weird, different, refreshing, and pretty cool. I've been involved with a new church that I absolutely love, I've made new friends, learned new things, and done new things. But in the midst of all these shenanigans, my main priority has been to hear from God. As some of you probably know, I'm moving to India for three months in September. I need something to do until then. I need direction. It's great to find something good and productive to do with my life, but what's good and productive about it if God isn't the one leading me? I need to figure out what He wants me to do that will make Him bigger.
"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." - John 3:30 (NLT)
Honestly, it's frustrating praying for direction, because you don't know what to expect, when to expect, how to expect. After a while our stressed-out, cluttered prayers make us feel like nothing is happening, and we become impatient.
Well, I've got some news for you, my friends: Something is always happening. God is always working behind the curtain; we just have to wait on His timing.
He has been teaching me a lot about prayer lately; about coming before Him with all of my problems and praises. He's been teaching me to shut my freaking mouth once in a while and wait. He needs a chance to talk, too. We always initiate the conversation, but maybe He'd like to get the ball rolling once in a while. Just give Him some time and He will speak. I've been entering prayer with a different mindset now. I tend to start talking, and then immediately feel a big "not yet, kid." and shut my mouth until He says it's time.
"As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool." - Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 (NLT)
Wait on God and He will speak. He gives me direction, little by little. Some good ol' walking by faith and not by sight never hurt anybody too bad.
Think of it like training a dog. You're the dog and God is the trainer. The trainer tells the dog to sit and stay, and at first the the dog doesn't want to. I mean, just waiting on nothing doesn't make sense, right? Then the trainer pulls out a Scooby-snack and holds it up high. Now the dog sees that there's a greater reason to sit still and wait. After the trainer decides that the dog has finished his instruction and waited until it's ready, he tells the dog to "get it!" and there is much rejoicing. See where I'm going with this? When God says to wait, we may not understand it at the time and it may seem a bit unnecessary, but He understands that there's a greater purpose. If the trainer just let the dog eat Scooby-snacks whenever it wanted, it wouldn't understand discipline or patience. If God gives us what He has in store whenever we ask for it, we won't be prepared. God has us endure patience for a reason. He has us endure patience to train us for something greater. So be like the dog. Sit still and wait and know that God has something greater for you. When He has you doing something that doesn't make sense, just rest in the knowledge that He has something great in store for all of His children.
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." - Romans 8:28 (NLT)
Pray with intention to listen, and once you've heard, go with intention to do.
Here's one of my favorite clips from a film that greatly illustrates what I'm talking about (just replace the words "kung fu" with "God":
