Waiting on God and His Light in the Heart

By:  A. Murray

“I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: more than they that watch for the morning.” Ps. 130:5-6.

With what intense longing the morning light is often waited for. By the mariners in a shipwrecked vessel; by a benighted traveller in a dangerous country; by an army that finds itself surrounded by an enemy. The morning light will show what hope of escape there may be. The morning may bring life and liberty. And so the saints of God in darkness have longed for the light of His countenance, more than watchmen for the morning. They have said, “More than watchmen for the morning, my soul waiteth for the Lord.” Can we say that too? Our waiting on God can have no higher object than simply having His light shine on us, and in us, and through us, all the day.

God is Light. God is a Sun. Paul says: “God hath shined in our hearts to give the light,” What light? “The light of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.” Just as the sun shines its beautiful, life-giving light on and into our earth, so God shines into our hearts the light of His glory, of His love, in Christ His Son. Our heart is meant to have that light filling and gladdening it all the day. It can have it, because God is our sun, an it is written, “Thy sun shall no more go down for ever.” God’s love shines on us without ceasing.

But can we indeed enjoy it all the day? We can. And how can we? Let nature give us the answer. Those beautiful trees and flowers, with all this green grass, what do they do to keep the sun shining on them? They do nothing; they simply bask in the sunshine, when it comes. The sun is millions of miles away, but over all that distance it comes, its own light and joy; and the tiniest flower that lifts its little head up-wards is met by the same exuberance of light and blessing as flood the widest landscape. We have not to care for the light we need for our day’s work; the sun cares, and provides and shines the light around us all the day. We simply count upon it, and receive it, and enjoy it.

The only difference between nature and grace is this, that what the trees and the flowers do unconsciously, as they drink in the blessing of the light, is to be with us a voluntary and a loving acceptance. Faith, simple faith in God’s word and love, is to be the opening of the eyes, the opening of the heart, to receive and enjoy the unspeakable glory of His grace. And just as the trees, day by day, and month by month, stand and grow into beauty and fruitfulness, just welcoming whatever sunshine the sun may give, so it is the very highest exercise of our Christian life just to abide in the light of God, and let it, and let Him, fill us with the life and the brightness it brings.

And if you ask, But can it really be, that just as naturally and heartily as I recognise and rejoice in the beauty of a bright sunny morning, I can rejoice in God’s light all the day? It can, indeed. From my breakfast-table I look out on a beautiful valley, with trees and vineyards and mountains. In our spring and autumn months the light in the morning is exquisite, and almost involuntarily we say, How beautiful! And the question comes, Is it only the light of the sun that is to bring such continual beauty and joy? And is there no provision for the light of God being just as much an unceasing source of joy and gladness? There is, indeed, if the soul will but be still and wait on Him, ONLY LET GOD SHINE.

Dear soul! learn to wait on the Lord, more than watchers for the morning. All within you may be very dark; is that not the very best reason for waiting for the light of God? The first beginnings of light may be just enough to discover the darkness, and painfully to humble you on account of sin. Can you not trust the light to expel the darkness? Do believe it will. Just bow, even now, in stillness before God, and wait on Him to shine into you. Say, in humble faith, God is light, infinitely brighter and more beautiful than that of the sun.

God is light: the Father. The eternal, inaccessible, and incomprehensible light: the Son. The light concentrated, and embodied, and manifested: the Spirit, the light entering and dwelling and shining in our hearts. God is light, and is here shining on my heart.

I have been so occupied with the rushlights of my thoughts and efforts. I have never opened the shutters to let His light in. Unbelief has kept it out. I bow in faith: God, light, is shining into my heart; the God of whom Paul wrote, ”God hath shined into our heart”, is my God. What would I think of a sun that could not shine? what shall I think of a God that does not shine? No, God shines! God is light! I will take time, and just be still, and rest in the light of God. My eyes are feeble, and the windows are not clean, but I will wait on the Lord.

The light does shine, the light will shine in me, and make me full of light. And I shall learn to walk all the day in the light and joy of God.

My soul waiteth on the Lord, more than watcher for the morning.

“My soul, wait thou only upon God”

Are You Stumbling Toward an Uncertain Future?

By:  John L. M.

My friend, the late Myles Munroe said, “There is something for you to start that is ordained for you to finish.” God made you special for a purpose. He has an assignment for you to do no one else can do as well as you can. Out of billions of applicants, you’re the most qualified. You have right combination of what it takes. God has given each person the measure of faith to do what He’s called him or her to do. Every person is gifted.

A person is never what he ought to be until he is doing what he ought to be doing.

God holds us not only responsible for what we have, but for what we could have; not only for what we are, but for what we might be.

Don’t just pray that God will do this or that, rather pray that God will make His purpose known to you. William Cowper said, “The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose.” Note Proverbs 19:21: ”Whatever your plan is just know that nothing else will satisfy you.” Know that God is with you and will provide what you need to accomplish your purpose. The God who made the mouth will also provide the food.

Don’t part company with your purpose. It is an anchor in the storm. A purposeless life is an early death. Psalms 138:8 reads, “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; thy steadfast love, O Lord endures forever.”

Rick Renner commented, “The only thing that will keep you from the will of God is if you look at yourself and say, ‘I’m not so much among so many.’” You can’t do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth. What you believe is the force that determines what you accomplish or fail to accomplish in life.

Too many people know what they are running from, but not what they’re running to. Having a powerful why will provide you with the necessary how. Purpose, not money, is your real asset.

No wind blows in favor of a ship without a destination. A person without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder. What you set your heart on will determine how you’ll spend your life. A person going nowhere can be sure of reaching his destination.

Abandon yourself to destiny.

Blind Faith

By:  G. Markland

Dolores Rivera had a dream, one that contained a message from God. She dreamed of a pillowcase slowly falling, and its four corners grabbed her attention. Some weeks later she heard of a town called Dolores Colorado, a few miles away from a place called the Four Corners.

The Four Corners is a unique location where Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah meet geographically. God called her to go to the Four Corners and pray.

After months of prayer, Dolores saved enough money for an airline ticket to Colorado, but was short the funds for a hotel and food for a week. Knowing that God would provide, Dolores exercised blind faith and obeyed.

Upon arrival she found that the airlines had lost her luggage, so what little money she had was spent on necessities. Undaunted, she pressed on. Upon entering the tiny town, she was amazed to see her name on everything. There was the Dolores Post Office, the Dolores Bed and Breakfast, the Dolores Gas Station and so forth.

After speaking with a nice man at the Dolores Hotel, she became aware of spiritual depression in the area fostered by Native American spiritism and witchcraft. God spoke to Dolores again and led her through town to the Dolores Restaurant. The owners inside were Hispanic and because of Dolores’ Hispanic background they had instant rapport.

The nice lady asked Dolores why she was there, and as she shared her story of God’s mission, the lady began to cry.

She said, “We have been praying for revival and asking God to send someone to help us.”

Later she introduced Dolores to a Pastor and some friends, then provided free room and board for her stay. Next, to the Four Corners they went.

Finally, reaching the very spot where the four states converge, they began to pray. She asked for God’s hand upon the land, beginning with the little nearby town of Dolores. Suddenly the sky opened up and a strong wind blew. She knew that her prayer had been heard. She was glad that she had obeyed.

Afterward, the very atmosphere in the town seemed to change. God blessed Dolores Colorado. The local church experienced revival and growth, particularly with the youth. And the restaurant owners, they were blessed and their business grew.

On her return flight, Dolores experienced a flight delay in Washington D.C. and was given free food and lodging in a first class hotel with a free ticket to anywhere! She used that day in Washington to pray for the Nation. She can testify to the scripture that says,

“For we walk by faith and not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7 KJV).

The Bible tells us,

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as an inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:18 NLT).

Abraham obeyed with blind faith, and generations were blessed.

Another young man followed God’s call with blind faith. He packed up his family and traveled to an obscure neighborhood in a small town in Virginia. Having only seventy dollars in his pocket, he arranged to buy a run down television station in a dilapidated building.

To the casual observer, this TV station with its weak signal promised little more than a hobby. Yet like Dolores, Pat Robertson followed with blind faith in an adventure, which became the Christian Broadcasting Network, reaching the world for Christ!

If God is calling you to step out in blind faith, then obey Him and do it! Don’t wait for that perfect time. You might be unsure about some of the details, but don’t worry. When we show confidence in God’s call and obey Him, He honors our obedience and will enable us to succeed. He will not let you down. Blind faith is great faith, which leads to a wonderful life of adventures with God. Only He knows who will be blessed by your obedience.

Stepping out in blind faith is a delight to the Lord.

Remember,

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NLT).

Can God change your life?