David prayed and waited on God to hear and answer his prayer. Scripture tells us in many passages that we should learn to do the same. That being said, I personally believe "waiting" may be the single most misunderstood scriptural principle in all of God's word. Of course waiting only applies to someone who prays regarding an immediate need and without God's quick positive answer is in deep trouble. I don't know about you but I've not only been there, I'm in that predicament right now.

Probably the best known verse that speaks of waiting is Isaiah 40:31, "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Strength and patience will be what's needed in the tribulation time that's coming called The Time of Jacob's Trouble. The believers in those days have no option but to wait on God. They're powerless to help themselves and daily face the real possibility of being put to death for their association with Jesus. John said they'll need patient endurance and faithfulness in order to survive. (Rev 13:10)

You may not be in danger of losing your life, but if you're not depending on God right now, learning to wait on God doesn't really have any application to you! That's because most of us will take matters in our own hands today, figuring the Almighty has more important things to do than spend time with us and take care of our needs.

With that in mind, I wonder if God even listens to us when he knows what we plan to do when we perceive he is delaying giving us what we think we need. In fact, I wonder how many times I've stopped praying right before receiving God's answer and then answered my own prayer in a way that was contrary to what he had in mind. I'll never know for certain until I get to heaven, so I guess I'll just have to wait till the time is right.

1. Pray Through the Word - 365 devotionals on the subject of prayer by James R. Green (Ps 40; Rev 13-14)
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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