Prayers to encourage worship while waiting
Written by Kenisha Sanders Liddy
Bible reading:
I will praise the Lord at all times. I always praise him.
– Psalm 34:1
Listen or read below:
Have you ever had to be admitted to the hospital via the emergency room? We go there in pain and suffering, filling out insurance forms, providing health information, and updating personal information. We do all this just to sit and wait to be called.
While I was waiting, I saw people coming in. I looked around the room and realized that my situation might not be as serious as everyone else’s. While you are waiting, you may start talking to other people who are also waiting. Suddenly, the wait didn’t seem so long or burdensome. When we communicate with others about the shortcomings of the healthcare system, we experience a certain sense of relief while waiting.
Worshiping God while waiting on Him provides similar comfort.
Worshiping while you wait changes your focus. The troubles of this world and the answers we seek do not lead us to worry, but to trust. We believe that God’s timing is perfect. We believe that God will answer our prayers because He has promised to hear every prayer. Our God is a promise-keeper and His Word is trustworthy.
I would like to encourage you to worship our Lord while waiting on Him. Sometimes God immediately says yes, and sometimes God says no. But sometimes you can pray for weeks, months, or even years and still not get an answer.
Don’t give up hope. Don’t stop praying. Change your focus. Keep your eyes on Jesus and always praise and worship Him. Praise the Lord constantly.
I think of Job, who waited a long time for God to restore his health. Job was determined to worship God through it all. His motto was: “Even if he kills me, I will trust him.” Job did nothing wrong and did not foolishly criticize God. Finally God appeared. Job was restored with health, beautiful children, more wealth, and most importantly, even stronger and deeper faith in God. That’s because God proved Himself to Job and Job realized that waiting was not time wasted.
So worship your God while you wait. Please talk to him. Read the word of the Lord. Your character is developing and God is with you every step of the way.
We also remember Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph’s motto was, “You meant evil, but God meant good.” Joseph’s character was established and his faith in God was so strong that he held no hostility toward his brothers. His period of waiting produced a mature faith in God.
Here is my encouragement to you. Don’t underestimate the waiting period. Because it cultivates faith in Jesus and patience. When trials come to you, you can withstand the arrows of the enemy, and you can also encourage others in their respective seasons of waiting.
Always remember to bless the Lord as you wait, and always praise the Lord.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your long suffering and for your kindness towards me. I am learning to wait on you because your plans for me are great and better than I could have ever imagined. I see the state of the world and learn from you, knowing that even though you hate sin, your loving-kindness still extends to all unbelievers.
Thank you for hearing my prayers. And thanks in advance for your answer. Lord, I will wait for you. Because my help comes from you alone. I worship while I wait so my focus remains on You and You alone.
Help me to wait with grace and praise You through everything. Dear God, build my faith and patience in You. Lord, thank you for your gift of self-control. Can I use it while I wait? Gather information from the story of Abraham and Sarah to help you trust your timing. Because it’s always perfect.
I promise and promise to always praise you. May praise flow continually from my mouth. May my soul be refreshed as I worship while I wait. I will try to trust you completely. Remove my doubts, unbelief, and complaints, dear Lord. Let praise and worship be the only constant flow.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
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Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Jantanee Rungpranomkorn
Kenisha Sanders Liddy is a wife and mother. She is an avid reader and writer of wholesome romance novels. She believes in the sufficiency of the Bible and has a master’s degree in Biblical Counseling. Raised as a pastor’s child, she fell in love with the love of Jesus at an early age and wants to encourage others to live for Jesus through her words. You can find more of her musings at keneeshaliddie.com.
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In this episode of the Unhurried Living podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with theologian and spiritual formation professor Kyle Strobel to discuss his new book, When God Seems Distant, co-written with John Coe. If this episode helps you focus your work and life on God, follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
