How to Wait on God – Part 3
At my school, everyday during lunch, teachers have a different obligation during half of our 55 minute long break. Tuesday was my day to open my classroom during the first part of lunch to help students and the second part of lunch was scheduled to be my “duty-free” lunch.
With a quiz scheduled for the day, my room was packed with students during lunch A. I walked around answering questions. Fortunately two former students came by and they were quickly put to work, tutoring students. My room was a beautiful chaos of activity.
When the bell rang, signifying Lunch B was beginning (and I could have a moment of quiet), not only did most students remained seated, more students were coming into the room.
I didn’t have the heart to ask students eager to learn to leave but I needed a moment. I told the students they could stay in my room but I was closed.
With a room full of kids, I sat at my desk and ate my lunch. I played worship music quietly and prayed in the Spirit under my breath. The peace of God surrounded me at my desk as I fought for peace in the middle of the chaos in my room.
Then God revealed lesson three:
“Melissa, as you wait, life will be full of chaos – beautiful and not so beautiful – but in the middle of it all, you have to fight for peace. Don’t allow the storms that swirl around you to swirl within you.”
This past year my life has been full of beautiful chaos – publishing my first book with a publisher, hosting a women’s conference, remodeling our house, renewing my national boards, discovering I had a brother I didn’t know about. That beautiful chaos was also extremely stressful. In addition, there was also some not so beautiful chaos – personal relationships have floundered, disappointments have abounded, and financial losses have occurred.
I have allowed my circumstances, the good and the bad, to disrupt my peace. I forgot to fight for peace in the midst of the chaos.
‘Fighting for peace’ seems like an oxymoron. But it simply means we must be intentional about creating peace around us. We can’t control our circumstances, the bad news we receive, the storms that swirl but we can become intentional about staging preemptive strikes, engaging in warfare, and retreating when necessary.
Staging preemptive strikes – Begin your day with the Holy Spirit. Pray in the Spirit, read the Word, hear God’s voice. Start your day by inviting God’s peace to fill you.
Engaging in Warfare – Anxiousness and fear abound in life. But we must be intentional not to allow anxiousness and fear to abound in our hearts. We don’t partner with fear in any form. We fight fear with love. If fear tries to enter our hearts, ask God for a greater revelation of His love for us.
When I wrote my book, Triumphantly Free, God told me our greatest spiritual weapon is our identity in Him. When we know who we are in Him, we can confidently face this world knowing we are loved, accepted, strong, conjoined with Christ, equipped. That is how we engage in Spiritual warfare. That is how we fight for peace.
Retreat when necessary. Sometimes we just need to say, “No.” No, to other’s expectations. No, to other’s demands. No to self-imposed duties. And say, “Yes.” Yes to time alone. Yes to a good book. Yes to bubble baths, girl night’s outs, and spa days. Yes, to ourselves.
While I sat at my desk having my quiet time, a student came and asked me a question. I told him to go and ask the former student who was tutoring. Surprised, he said, “Really?” Without explanation I replied, “Yes, really.” I chose to say yes to me.
As we wait for God, let us wait in peace. Let us refuse fear, conduct daily preemptive strikes, engage in spiritual warfare, and retreat occasionally. Let the peace of God that surpasses all understanding reign in our hearts as we wait.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
