Over a year ago I was studying the word “wait” and was led to Psalm 27:14.

“¹⁴Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” – Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

I was led to the realization that waiting was a demonstration of dependence on God. As we wait, we let others know that God is in control and that we are on His path and timing.

Waiting is also a demonstration in strength. It is so easy to be distracted by speed and instant gratification. And when we are distracted, we demonstrate our weakness to that which is just that, a distraction as opposed to keeping our eyes on the path we are on. That distraction is likely placed there by Satan to take our eyes off of God.

I have to remember to rely on the strength that God has given me to stay and focus on that which will bring Him glory knowing that when I do, I will be rewarded with blessings beyond this world. My strength to wait demonstrates my dependence on Him and the confidence that the Lord will be visible to me when I am looking for Him and His guidance in my life.

Are you waiting for God? What strength is needed for you to demonstrate you waiting on God? What if you were to put all else aside and focus your attention on waiting for God?

I have been up against some pretty big foes in the past. Whether physically, professionally, spiritually, mentally, or emotionally, those foes have been significantly daunting and overwhelming.

“¹After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.” 2 Chronicles 32:1 (ESV)

And you can see in just this one verse that I am/have not been alone. The people of Judah were under siege here and had every right to be concerned and afraid of the impending outcome. But the people had greatness on their side that they were in need of being reminded.

King Hezekiah did not just sit back and let God do all the work. He took action by cutting off the water that the Assyrians were relying on. Then he fortified the wall around the city and built an additional wall. And then he really went to work, by gathering the people together and gave them the reminder of God’s Love.

“⁶And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, ‘⁷Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. ⁸With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.’” – 2 Chronicles 32:6-8 (ESV)

Hezekiah did not order the people to fight, he encouraged them. Hezekiah reminded the people that God was on their side and that no matter the foe, they would ultimately prevail as it was in God’s plan to do so. No fear to motivate, it was love that was used to motivate. The love and protection of the LORD our God.

I am so glad that God is there to “have my back” as I go into battle. There is no adversity that will not be overcome with His guidance and help. No, I may not always conquer, but I will always receive what is in the plan of God for me to receive. I only need to remember to be strong and know that God is there, on my side. He is and will always be there with His arms of protection around me. I may get nicked and injured from time to time, but I am ultimately protected from ultimate defeat, for God will not lose and with Him in my corner, I will not lose either.

When you are facing adversity, where is it that you turn for assistance? Do you know who is fighting on your behalf? What if you were to turn your eyes to God and be strong and know that He is with you?

I think of times when I have it in my mind to accomplish something and there is nothing that will get in my way to make it happen. I think of Olympic athletes that work for a lifetime to have the opportunity to represent their countries in competition. They attend the Olympic trials with everyone else and in some cases are the favorite to achieve the goal, only, for one reason or another, they do not succeed.

“⁶Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. ⁷David said to Solomon, ‘My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. ⁸But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth.”’” – 1 Chronicles 22:6-8 (ESV)

David who had been called a man after God’s heart would seem to be the one to build the temple. He was the king and had all the rights to do so based on his position in the kingdom in this world as well as being so close to God. But, it was not to be. God had other plans and had a legitimate reason as to the why.

What I take away from this passage is not that David was denied the building of the temple, but the very idea that he embraced it and formally charged Solomon to do so.

“¹¹Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you.” – 1 Chronicles 22:11 (ESV)

David was not selfish in his undertakings and did not look to build his name through further actions. In fact, he embodied the very idea of being a man after God’s heart. He embraced the charge from God that Solomon was to build the temple and made sure to provide what was needed to not only get started, but to make the beginning a much easier undertaking.

David was strong in and with the word of the LORD. He was obedient even though he was not to get the glory himself. He worked hard to accomplish the goal and when the time came, he graciously and fully supported Solomon as the one to take the task to the end.

It is for me to be reminded that I may prepare and work hard to accomplish the goal, but when the time comes, it is my role in God’s plan that matters in the end. I am to be strong and stay in/with the word of the LORD so that His will is done and not mine.

When you spend time and energy working for something only to not fully succeed, how is it that you react? Will you be satisfied to do all the hard work and turned everything over to others when God calls them to finish the task? What if you were to be strong in/ with the word of the LORD and give others your support?

“²I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, ³and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, ⁴that the LORD may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’” – 1 Kings 2:2-4 (ESV)

Here David is commissioning Solomon to take over for him as he is about to die. What I find here is the theme of encouragement that and instruction to do according to the will of God. Moses provided similar instructions to Joshua that God reiterated shortly after Moses died. And now, David gives these instructions to Solomon and the words of the LORD are passed on to him as well.

This theme gives me hope in the growth of leadership that springs from the following of God. It allows me to dig in and live more deliberately my mission to “Improve lives through growth and learning as an example of Christ’s love.” I know that I am doing the right things as I follow the and be the example of Christ’s love to all that I interact with, both directly and indirectly. I have these words of Moses, David, and more importantly of God that I am able to draw upon to give me the strength and courage to press on regardless of the circumstances around me.

As you are in the world, where are you pulling your strength from? What is your mission/purpose here in the world? What if you were to draw on the LORD and follow His example with strength and courage?

“³²For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? ³³This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless. ³¹This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” – 2 Samuel 22:32-33 & 31 (ESV)

Refuge: (noun) shelter or protection from danger or distress; a place that provides shelter or protection; something to which one has recourse in difficulty (Merriam-Webster Online)

You see the verses and definition I have stated above. There is not really that much to unpack to me, although I will say that I took some time thinking, searching, and studying to determine what it all meant to me. I believe that the definition of “refuge” is what really helped me to understand for myself, especially the third part that indicates the “recourse in difficulty”.

I have, currently, and will have difficult times in my life. During those times I have, do, and will be looking for help in dealing with them. As a proud human man, I have a tendency to do things on my own (most of us have heard of the men that refuse to ask for directions). What I have found is that in those times when I am “on my own” the times seem to be even more difficult and the solutions seem to take forever. But, when I finally or make it a point to lean on God for help, everything falls into the place He would have them be in pretty short order.

Now I want to be clear, just as I have before. This leaning on God for help is not to just tell Him what we want and then walk away expecting it to happen. We still have a responsibility to take action based on the path He has for us. We should be allowing Him to “help” us as we work to find resolution. Where we find ourselves weak, He will provide the strength. Where we find walls, He will work to break them down or provide the path around them. Where we find resistance, He will provide the words and actions to soften it.

God is the strength we need in those difficult situations. He gives us the protection and tools to overcome the difficulty that pops up in this world as we do His will and follow the path He has for us.

When you are out there in the world, where are you drawing your strength to carry on? Are you doing your best to “do it yourself”? What if you were to rely on God to provide the strong guidance and break down the obstacles for you as you progress doing His will?

I hear from those in positions of power to “Do as I Say, not as I do”. Now, is that really the way things should be presented to others? I find it hard to swallow that it is ok for some to do as they wish without responsibility while lording over others to do the right thing and follow the rules.

“⁷Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. ⁸This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” – Joshua 1:7-8 (ESV)

See the verses above where God is speaking with Joshua who had just taken over for Moses after his death. In this passage that begins in verse 1, God is giving Joshua instructions on how to carry himself as he leads the people of Israel into the promised land. The verses I have quoted above indicate how Joshua is to act with regard to the law, with full obedience I might add.

Now, yes, during this time, there was the book of the law, the Torah, where everything was spelled out. But, the spirit of the instructions that God was giving Joshua at this time are what I am referencing this morning. You see, God was telling Joshua to lead the people through his actions and not must through his words. No “do as I say” actions would be acceptable. Joshua was instructed to lead with more of a “do as I do” philosophy. He was to live his life according to the law of God and thereby he would not be asking the people to do something that he himself did not or was not willing to do himself.

For me, God wants me to live my life according to His plan. That plan cannot be carried out properly if I am not in tune with doing things according to His law. Thankfully, God’s law supersedes all other law. I know what you may be thinking, that we still have the law of man, and you are right. But, when we are in tune with God’s law, that will put us in tune with the law of man. If for some reason there is a conflict between the two, God’s law is where we should be focusing our attention as that is where we will make the most impact of the people around us.

It is hard to follow the law of God as there are so many opportunities to “get ahead” in the eyes of man by simply bending the rules. But doing so takes us away from the tasks that God has planned for us. So, be strong and courageous to adhere to the law of God as you make your way through this world.

Have you been involved with or been the one that says “do as I say, not as I do”? How did it feel to be on the receiving end of those directives? What if we were strong and courageous enough to take the approach of “do as I do” and make sure that is in line with the law of God?

“⁶Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. ⁷Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.’” – Deuteronomy 31:6-7 (ESV)

Verses 6 and 7 above remind to be strong and courageous. First Moses speaks to the people of Israel and then directly to Joshua, but the message is the same.

As he, Moses, was not going to be with the people when they cross the Jordan river into the promised land, he wanted them to know that it really mattered not. He wanted them to take comfort in that God would be with them and to assist in their acceptance of God’s grace and protection, he commissioned Joshua to take over the head position with them as they crossed into the promised land. And as he commissioned him, he gave the people and Joshua the same “pep talk” if you will. To be strong and courageous as they advanced for God would be with them every step of the way.

Thinking of how long the people of Israel were wandering and waiting to go into the promised land, I am sure that there was some apprehension as they got to this point. I know that I have waited for things and as they got closer and closer, I became a bit more anxious to get started and also to know if I was ready. I can only imagine the anxiety that was welling up with the Israelite people at this time. Here there leader, Moses, was letting them know that they would be completing the journey without him and although that would be the case, they should stand strong and courageously as they entered the promised land.

I think about myself and the journey that I am on and this passage reminds me to be strong and courageous as I move forward for God is with me and will protect and provide for me as I move on. Completing the journey for God is the end result and there is where my strength should be as I move forward. God has this in store for me and with that I should just move forward knowing that He will provide the result He has set in motion.

When you set out on the journey for God, how is your confidence? Are you feeling the anxiety of the journey and the unknown? What if you were to trust God and take the words of Moses to heart and be strong and courageous in the journey?

“¹⁹Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ²¹Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” –James 1:19-21 (ESV)

There is a good amount to take from these verses, but what I have been brought to this morning is related to the ability of the Word to save your soul. I am always looking for the nuggets of information to drive me to improvement and in verse 19 it begins with “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak”. I witness people engaged in discussion with others and as I watch, it seems as though there is always one person that does all the talking, and usually, that person is the one that should truly be doing the listening. As noted in verse 19, we are to listen first and then speak.

It is a wonder what we will find when we listen first. In the context of these verses, it is up to us to hear the Word of God and when we do, we receive that which is able to save us. When we are listening, we are able to pick up the nuances of God’s Word that is said but not fully understood by just the mere words themselves. We are able to apply the Word of God in the context it was meant and not just based on the words that are said in passing.

The other part of listening to the Word of God is that we are able to avoid the pitfalls that come with reactionary actions. We slow down and focus which can remove us from harms way. Think about the time that you spent a few minutes praying and talking with God prior to a road trip. Once you are on the road, you come upon an accident that had happened 5 minutes before your arrival. Your time spent talking with and listening to God took you out of harms way and you were not in the accident, but came upon it.

The Word of God “is able to save your soul” in more ways than one. The opportunity for me to listen carefully and apply the Word in my life will lift me up out of adversity and make my pathway clear. It is up to me to engage with God and not just pray to Him, but listen to Him as He speaks.

When you are out there in the world, are you the one that does all of the talking? Are you willing to open your ears and listen to the Word of God? Will you allow the Word to be “able to save your soul”?

One of the marks of leadership is not asking your followers to do something that you have not are are not willing to do yourself. I know that I have worked under those that simply tell you what to do and give no hints or indication that they have or are willing to get their hands dirty because they are “too valuable” to do that kind of work. As the worker, I get really put off by this and have very little if any respect or willingness to follow such a person.

This could not be farther from the truth of Jesus. If you will remember, He followed God’s instruction to the letter even to the point of death. He has been there and frankly experienced more than any of us will ever experience. And he is more than willing to let us know of what occurred so we will know that He does understand.

“⁹But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.¹⁸For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” – Hebrews 2:9 & 18 (ESV)

You see, Jesus spent time in this world, walking as we do. He was subjected to all, if not more adversity than we. He suffered so much that He died, and yet he stayed the course so that we would not have to suffer the same fate. What a mark of being willing to do and actually getting His hands dirty in the work. Jesus, although He is the Son of God, was not “too valuable” to get out there and work right alongside His brothers and sisters to demonstrate the example of what right looks like.

Jesus is able to help us, first of all because He is who He is, but secondly, He knows what we are experiencing. Jesus tackled the world just as we do and as such understands what it is we are experiencing and offers His hand in help as one who knows the struggle first hand.

When you are in the world, where are you looking for help? What if you were to get the help from someone that had been there before? Is Jesus on the top of the list of those that you lean on for guidance and assistance?

I have chosen a career in learning. As a corporate training professional it is my chosen field to teach and transfer knowledge to others so that they may grow.

“²⁴And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” – 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (ESV)

Here you see Paul’s words to Timothy that he is to be “able to teach”. But there is a lot more to it that we should take away. Paul points out that the teaching is for the good of the people that hear and bring glory to God in that “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth”. This fits in line with my career in the corporate and business world, but more importantly in my life and path as a Christian. I bring glory to God and grant Him the opportunity to reach others. My teaching allows the learners to escape the devil’s bondage and join God in the glory that He presents to each of us.

“¹⁹But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’” – 2 Timothy 2:19 (ESV)

It is my duty to teach the gospel to all, and God will take over from there. He “knows those who are his”, and He will reach them. I am there to bring the opening words to them and to plant the seeds of blessings to come from knowing The LORD. I have to remember that it is my job to teach them and turn them to God so that they can know Him and accept Him as their savior and allow Him to inhabit their hearts.

I have to be careful not to take it personal if/when I am rejected or oppressed for my beliefs and what I bring in the teaching that I am directed by God. He already has the path and results planned out for me and for Him. I am here to follow that path and strive for the results, knowing that as I am doing His will, I am bringing glory to Him. Whether or not my teaching reaches everyone, is not my concern. I am to do the work and allow glory to be to God.

What teaching are you doing and what are your expected results of that teaching? Are you doing it for you or for the glory of God? What if you taught all and allowed God to take it from there?