Wait upon the Lord

  The Isaiah 40 song "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles..." came into my mind this morning, and then in reading Billy Wilson's book, "Gen Z: Born for the Storm," that same theme was repeated. It was the Holy Spirit's way of reminding me that clearly God honors those who receive the Word with meekness, who humble themselves to receive from Him.  

Part of the fall was yielding to Satan's temptation, "you shall be like God."  The great deception is that fallen man now pridefully thinks he is God, and that his opinion is all that matters.  However, God in Isaiah 55 is strong to declare that "HIs thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways."  Therefore, realizing that we need to humble ourselves and let His truth renew our mind and heart in taking time to "wait upon the Lord" is the attitude that God honors with strength, power, and understanding (Isaiah 40:29-31).  

Paul reinforces this principle in Romans 12, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  As we humbly present ourselves to God, the key to surrender is letting the Word of God transform our thinking from the arrogance of man's thoughts to the simple truth of God which stands forever.  In short, according to Romans 3:4, let God be true and every man a liar.

It is difficult to "walk through the valley of death" where man's pride thinks he can alter God's plan for male and female, His statute for marriage, His command not to kill babies, and even the arrogance of man to change what the Word reveals about the nature of God.  So many issues and divisions are directly stemmed to man's pride in thinking his thoughts are always right.  However, God is not mocked, and foolish man will never overcome Him whose truth abides forever. Psalm 119:78 states, "Let the proud be put to shame; for they have overthrown me wrongfully."  

One translation of Isaiah 40 states they that "hope" in the Lord.  Hope and wait have the same root and source, depending upon God to confirm His Word.  Therefore, choose to depend upon God as you cast your cares upon Him, seek Him for wisdom, and let His Word dwell in you richly.  Those who choose to let His "being Lord" go beyond just words but also to be truly yielding will give Him permission and wait on Him to direct their thoughts and ways.