From Calvary Chapel of Roswell

Pastor Jim Suttle

Msg #516                       Wednesday, July 23, 2008

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But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint. (Is 40:31)

Today are you waiting or weighting?  What do I mean by that?   Today, as you walk through this day – is it a burden?  Is it like bearing a weight?  If so, that is not what God has for you.  Jesus said it this way:

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Mt 11:30)

Today, instead of “weighting”– God invites you to “waiting”.   Waiting describes a place where we live in active and continual dependence on God.   Read that last sentence again – it describes what God is calling us to.  Waiting is a present tense verb that describes us trusting in and looking to God right now!

Today, you can know God’s strength.  Waiting is continual dependence on God and such waiting brings God’s strength into our lives.  Notice how God describes it – renewed strength.   It is to be strengthened again – in the very moment.   It is to have your strength resupplied continually.

Picture it like an electrical outlet.  If you take an appliance and plug it in – it works and can do amazing things.  But it needs continually to be plugged in.  The way its “strength is renewed” is by being continually plugged into the power source.   If you unplug it, the appliance does not work.   Such a picture helps us understand how Jesus burden in our lives can be light – because as we plug into God, as we depend upon Him – Him empowers our lives for what is before us.

Today, I invite you afresh to depend on God and receive His strength.   This familiar verse goes on to describe three practical ways that God strengthens us.  Right now, this e-mail finds our lives in different places and therefore our need for strength is different.    God in His wonderful ability meets us right where we are – and strengthens us appropriately.

Some will gain eagles sight.  Eagles fly as high as 10,000 ft above the earth.  With sight 4-7 times greater than men, truly an “eagle eye” is a good thing.  To mount up like an eagle is a picture of rising above the situation, seeing the big picture, seeing things clearly.  For some – today that is what you need from the Lord, to rise above your present struggles, trials and difficulties and see clearly the big picture of who the Lord is and what He is doing and where life is going.

Some will gain strength for their run.  At times, life is so crazy – it can get going so fast that you hardly feel you have time for a breath.  In this situation, to wait on the Lord brings strength that enables you to handle the “busyness” of life.   His strength can help you to do it, with grace, peace and endurance.   Maybe today, you feel like you are going 100 miles per hour….and if you will wait on God….He can strengthen you so that you don’t become weary – that your strength does not give out. 

Some will gain strength for their walk.  At times, life seems to move so slowly.   For you in this situation,  life is crawling by…it is a slow, steady walk.  Patience is a serious issue and you wonder if you are getting anywhere in life.  In this situation, to wait on the Lord brings strength that helps you to walk in the mundane and slow places of life.   He will enable you to continue to put one foot in front of the other and not faint – you won’t quit or give up– even in slow, boring places – He can help you in that!

We are all in different places today…but our need is the same – to wait on God, to depend on Him.  The question for you – is will you wait on God today?  Or will you seek to handle the “weight” on your own…foolishly?

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength

Jim

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