05/16/20 WAIT ON THE LORD — Have you ever noticed how Olympic athletes and champions keep getting younger and younger? Some of them are hardly teenagers. But there is still at least one event in which age and maturity seem to an advantage—the Marathon, a grueling 26-mile run over several hours. The endurance, persistence and stamina required apparently take several more years to develop—the average age of the top men’s and women’s marathoners is about 30 years!

Daily life is like that, too! What’s the FORMULA for developing the endurance necessary to survive in our rapid-pace, instant-gratification culture? Isaiah 40:31 (CSB) says “But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.” That’s a simple, single idea with three vital results: (1) There are rare times and circumstances when things get seemingly too tough. We believers just need to be removed from the scene and, somehow, get a new, heavenly perspective. The verse says we can “soar on wings like eagles”, i.e. ELEVATION! An immediate release; and from on high all our troubles don’t seem so overwhelming. (2) At other times, we just need to abandon the situation immediately. Scripture advises us to “flee” (1 Tim.6:11; 2 Tim.2:22). At those times we are enabled to “run and not grow weary.” God provides ACCELERATION, the strength and resolve to get as far from the trouble and/or temptation as quickly as possible. (3) Finally, every single day, we need to be faithful, peaceful and courageous, to live in the world but not of the world, to take just one more step and not give up or give in. Then God gives us the ability to “walk and not faint”: DETERMINATION.

What do we need to do to enjoy these invaluable assets? WAIT ON THE LORD! — Follow His direction, pursue His goals and plans for our lives, and on His schedule, NOT our own! Is it worth it? YOU BET!