Waiting on the Lord

Isaiah 40:31

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.

  The life of a fully-grown and matured Christian is often comparable to the life of an eagle. The eagle has some interesting characteristics, which are similar to the characteristics required in the deeper spiritual walk with Christ. The eagle has a sharp sight (a matured Christian needs a sharp sight to recognize the evil spirits) - even from great heights it can point and find the snakes in the forest (snakes and serpents refer to the devil, symbolically). We see that the eagles and snakes are enemies to each other. The eagles feed on snakes and the snakes feed on the eagles' eggs or the young ones (The devil tries to ensnare the new baby Christians to fall into sin). That is why, out of wisdom (another Christian value – which comes from the HOLY Spirit), the eagles build their nests in the rocks where the snakes cannot reach (a protection which is based on the trust in the Rock of Ages - Which is God). The eagles fly high above the sky and they are never disturbed by the storms since they soar higher than the clouds (A true Christian is not moved by the storms of life since he soars higher than his problems).

  These eagles have another wonderful phenomenon, by which they shed all their old feathers, and slowly (after a period of waiting), the new strength comes in along with new feathers and they resume their job of fighting the enemy and acting with wisdom and prudence. This phenomenon in Christian life is "Waiting on the LORD". For a long time, we keep fighting the enemy, we act in wisdom to escape the trap set by the enemy but in the due course, we lose our spiritual energy. This is an indication that it is high time we waited on God. What is Waiting on God? To wait on the LORD is to put away everything aside and patiently humble and present ourselves to the LORD. No other thoughts, no other cares, no other needs - simply spending time with the LORD meditating on HIS Words and talking to HIM. The HOLY Spirit will fill us again with new strength and we begin to continue with the spiritual battles of life with a new fervor, a new energy.

         Waiting upon God is, I feel, a wonderful experience in itself. It is more like a "resting time" when you do nothing but simply enjoy the fellowship with God. You feed on the spiritual food (manna), which is the pure Word of God. Once the spiritual strength is renewed completely, we get ready for tougher food (just like snakes for eagles), which is in spiritual sense - doing the will of God by winning spiritual battles with the enemy. Spiritual battles come when the enemy is trying to set a trap cunningly(just like the serpent) and we, with the help of the wisdom given by the HOLY Spirit, identify the real enemy, (sharp sight of the eagle) fight against it (with the Word of God as our sword and with the shield of Faith) and overcome it. Accomplishing the will of God is the tougher food for the matured Christians. So, as we slowly mature in Christ, we understand the divine principles of God, the character of God, the characteristics of true Christians and the need for Waiting on the LORD for the renewal of our zeal.

         The LORD knew the need for renewal of spiritual strength and that's Why said "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthews 11:28). GOD'S rest can completely rejuvenate our souls and even the youth shall fail against the zeal of those who wait on the LORD and those whose strength is in the LORD. Whenever we feel spiritual tiredness and lack the zeal to fight the battles, we can rest in the Rock of Ages! What a great protection, comfort and rest! Feeding on the sweet food of Manna (meditating on GOD'S Word), our strength (trust in God) Will be renewed and we prepare again for the impending spiritual battle - against the devil - accomplishment GOD'S Will and establishing HIS kingdom.