(Psalm 27:14)
You will have many opportunities to quit the position you hold. I have had times of trial and hardship when I prayed for God to let me leave. And I have found that the strength to stand, the strength to go on, and the strength to resist Satan only come through prayer. In our quiet times with God, He gives peace and strength.
We must develop a heart that seeks after God. David, king of Israel, was known as a man whose heart followed after God. If we could interview him today, we might ask what his greatest goal was in life. Was it to be the greatest king? The greatest musician? The wealthiest man on earth?
David would answer with one of his psalms: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple” (Ps. 27:4).
David’s quest in life was to have God’s heart. If we are ever to be true successes in God’s Kingdom, we also must know that our first ministry is to glorify and honor Him. First Peter 2:5 says that we are a holy priesthood and we are to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Christ Jesus.
The first calling for all of us is to worship and honor the Lord on a daily basis. Jesus had a habit of spending time with Him. That was the key to His anointing, wisdom, and longevity as spoken of in Luke 22:39 AMP: “And He came out and went, [as was his habit] to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed Him.” Luke 21:37 further explains, “And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.” He was in the habit of separating Himself from the people to, no doubt, spend time with His Father.
Spend some time giving God glory and honoring Him today. Like David, seek after God with all of your heart and let it become a way of life.
- We humans don’t like to wait, but it is a good habit to get into spiritually. The adage “Good things come to those who wait” definitely applies. Set aside some time now to simply wait on God. Let Him strengthen you and renew your strength.
- Here are some verses about waiting on God that will encourage you:
“For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth” (Ps. 37:9).
“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Ps. 25:5).
“Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it” (Ps. 37:34).
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa. 40:31).
God, waiting is not something that comes naturally to me, but it is plain in Your Word that waiting on You is a vital factor in living an abundant life. So I choose to wait on You now, to simply sit in Your presence and wait. Thank You that as a result, You will renew my strength so that I will not grow weary or faint. You will exalt me and cause me to inherit the earth. You will lead me into Your truth and teach me. Thank You for showing me how to make this investment in my life that will contribute to my longevity. Amen.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Terry has served as senior associate minister of a thriving congregation for over 23 years with over 40 years of experience in local church ministry. He is currently the senior pastor of Impact Church in Sherwood, Arkansas. Terry has authored four books. On the bestselling list, these books have motivated thousands of Christians to stand with their leaders in faithful service, helping them to fulfill God's purpose for their lives.
Terry is the Founder and President of Focus on the Harvest, Inc. He's traveled extensively, awakening believers to this strategic generation. Through his God-given passion, believers are ignited to discover their gifts and callings, commit to the vision of their local church, and focus on the harvest of souls throughout their city, state, nation, and world.
Terry holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern University, where he met his wife, Kim. They've been married for over 40 years and have three children; McCall, Alex, and McKenna.
In May 2008, Terry and Kim began Impact Church, a dynamic and growing, multicultural body of believers in Sherwood, AR. We believe that Christianity is not a religion; it's a relationship. God loves each person individually. He desires everyone to know him personally.