Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6: 10-13

The first portion of the above passage begins with the word “Finally”. This word is generally used at the end of a paper or an essay as a concluding point to a particular message. In order to find out Paul’s earlier points prior to describing the armor of God, we need to look at the previous chapters. 

Paul begins the book of Ephesians, by laying a solid foundation to establish the believers in the faith. He prays for that we would continue to have revelation in our understanding about the finished work of Jesus on the cross. This is an important aspect of Christian faith. We are bombarded with much information about the Lord and the Bible. Our homes are full of various versions of the Bible, and we become content in receiving information rather than praying that God would give us revelation.

Starting in chapter 4, Paul begins to exhort us that in the light of Jesus’ work on the cross, we are called to live a life representing the family of God. Below are some of the highlights from chapter 4:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

The Lord has called us to be in unity and to be one as the family of God. We were all orphans in a crooked and dark world and imprisoned by our own lusts and desires. We used to live in self-preservation, but now the Lord desires to teach us to a life committed to Him. 

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Ephesians 4:11-13

The Lord places different functions in the body of Christ to help His family to grow up in God. As God’s people we should value those that the Lord places in our lives for our spiritual growth and development. We are called to grow up and to live in peace and unity with other believers.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ. Ephesians 4:30-32

Paul is telling the believers that we need to be mindful of how we live and what we speak. We do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit by being mean, clamorous, or hardened towards others. Instead, as children of God, we are called to kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness.

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), Ephesians 5:8-9

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Ephesians 5:22-23

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, Ephesians 5:25

In the above verses from chapter 5, Paul teaches the believers to walk in love, in light, and in wisdom. Then he begins to touch people’s personal lives by instructing married couples how to love and respect one another.  In chapter 6, he also addresses the relationship of the parents with their children and the masters with their servants. 

The above scriptures show us that there is much growth needed in the areas of attitude and relationships to prevent us from strife, conflicts, and unnecessary battles. As we gain greater revelation and understanding of God’s heart through the cross, it should motivate us to put to work the above scriptures in our lives. When we commit ourselves to making a lifestyle from the above scriptures (not just visit them from time-to-time), we will develop a victorious life. In addition, much of the conflicts around us will substantially diminish or dissolve. 

After practicing all of the above powerful scriptures as a lifestyle, Paul uses the word “finally” to tell us that in conclusion we need to put on the armor of God.  This will be the subject of my next devotional. 

Today’s devotional is on meditating on the armor of God described in Ephesians 6. It would be very beneficial to memorize the different aspects of the armor, so in your prayer time, you can envision yourself putting on God’s armor on you. In subsequent devotionals,  I will share about the various aspects of this passage and explain how we can use the armor in our daily lives.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

Everyone enjoys having freedom, and no one in their right mind would want to give up their freedom or to be in bondage to something. However, the enemy with the cooperation of our flesh tires to continually derail us from the freedom that Jesus purchased for us. Our flesh always wants to get the upper hand by telling us that we need to stand up for our rights and seek justice in our own strength. It also protests that our feelings are hurt and our ego is bruised, so something has to be done to alleviate the pain.

The truth is that our flesh will always protest against the things of God. In addition, what our flesh tells us is immediate and is visible, so it looks more real than any spiritual work that is getting done in and around us. In addition, if we have succumbed to its demands in the past, it has gained strength desiring to control our lives.

If we are going to live in freedom, we have to take control of our flesh and the soulish behavior that comes out of it. It is only in denying our flesh, that our spirit man grows. We may sing beautiful worship songs, read our Bibles, and have a three point sermon for others. However, when we come down from that high place and begin to live our lives, that’s where the rubber meets the road. When we are focused on standing up for our rights, it is very hard to hear God. Furthermore, it is very difficult to love others, while we are focused on our pain, our needs, and our demands. When we are intent on getting our way, there is not much room for faith walk! 

I am not one to get impressed easily by people. I used to think that if I watched people long enough, I can develop a good idea of their character and maturity in the Lord. However, in the last few years, I have developed a better understanding of this issue. I have realized that there is more to all of us than what we project to one another at church, around a dinner table, or at a  social occasion.

One of the tests of characters is how we react when we feel crossed by others. That moment can bring a lot to the surface and reveal more than we ever thought was inside of a person. How a person reacts, is a window to the condition of the person’s heart. How they treat others at the moment of being crossed, reveals the level of control that their flesh has on them.

This doesn’t mean that we all behave properly every time someone crosses us, but there is a way to correct a wrong reaction. If we over-react or are hurtful, rude, or mean to others, first we need to acknowledge that we were wrong. We also should admit to the person and apologize for our bad behavior. Those are steps of maturity and freedom in God.  Our flesh will not like it, and it will give us one hundred reasons as to why we shouldn’t do it, but we have to shut its voice and trust God that He will take care of us when we do what pleases Him.

How do you use your freedom? Do you use your freedom to indulge your flesh and all its desires, demands, and rights? Or do you use your freedom to confidently love others with no fear of being taken advantage of? If we use our freedom to indulge ourselves, we will lose our liberty and will be back in bondage again. On the other hand, if we use our liberty to love others selflessly, we will continue to be delivered from the flesh and will enjoy the freedom that God bought us through Christ!

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

When we accepted Jesus, we gained eternal life, freedom, and a personal relationship with a Holy God. We were adopted into the family of God. This is the beginning of our journey with the Lord. Now we belong to His Kingdom. The Bible teaches us about our inheritance as the children of God. In addition, it shows us how to live a victorious life. We also learn that His kingdom has different operating procedures.

We can’t claim to have freedom, if we dismiss God’s operating procedures and ignore in following them. God gives us many promises, but many of them are based on the condition of us doing what He is asking us do. It would be as if a sixteen year-old teenager getting very excited about having a care and a driver’s license. They can enjoy the freedom of driving on their own. However, their freedom will last as long as they honor the traffic rules  and obey their parents instructions. The day they decide to ignore the rules or get sloppy with them, they will either get grounded by their parents or will get into trouble with the police.

God’s commandments are not meant to be burdensome. To the contrary, they are a blessing when we recognize their value. They allow us to go along with God’s design for our lives. It’s a shame that some in the body of Christ think that because of God’s love and mercy, we are exempt from following His commandments. God’s laws keep us free from trouble and bondage, and it’s wisdom to live by them. The Bible is a good and perfect gift from above, so we can learn how to live our lives with the liberty that Christ bought for us. 

Some of us were raised with no rules, by permissive parents, or with indifferent parents. Children who were raised that way may see the rules as punishment. If we are honest with ourselves, our parents’ permissiveness created much chaos and disorder in our lives. On the other hand, some were raised by strict parents, and they either rebel against rules or see them as the answer to gain God’s approval. God’s rules are not like our parents’ rules. Sometimes parents are strict, so they can impress others with their well-behaved children, but God does it for our benefit. He is not worried about what others think of us. He wants us to function at our best by living with His commandments that keep us free and allow us to maintain our joy and peace.  

How do you perceive God’s rules and instructions? Do you value them to be life-giving? Do you find them to give you wisdom and security? Or do you see them as constricting and burdensome? The Lord’s ways always lead us to greater freedom, joy, and peace. If you find them difficult to follow, ask the Lord to show you the reason behind it. 

We, as believers, have the privilege of celebrating the Resurrection of Christ, His sacrifice, and His obedience in going to the cross for us. Those who have become born-again, know that there is nothing like it! To experience the love of God and His forgiveness through Jesus is awesome! No amount of education, hard work, ministry, or good works could have bought us what Jesus gave us freely when we received His offer of salvation. We were incapable of wiping our sins and being set free from the guilt and shame of the past, but Jesus in His love and obedience purchased this amazing freedom for us! While this freedom is powerful, we have to be intentional in keeping our freedom! 

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Stand Fast (according to Strong’s Concordance): to stand firm, to persevere, to persist, to keep one’s standing

Paul in speaking to the church of Galatia, tells them that now they need to persevere in their freedom. Freedom is powerful, but we can lose it! We have an enemy who is looking to trap us from every direction and put us back in bondage. In addition, we have our own flesh that can easily get us entangled in carnality and the ways of the world. All these influences can result in losing the freedom that Jesus paid such a high price to purchase for us.

I don’t think most Christians realize that their freedom needs to be protected. Since freedom is valuable, many assume that they will never let it go not realizing that in order to maintain our freedom we must stand our ground.

You might ask how do we lose our freedom!? One of the ways that we readily lose our freedom is when we take up offense against others. Offense is a bait that the enemy uses because he knows our weak spots and proclivities. When someone pushes our buttons, our flesh goes into protest. We can react by becoming mean or rude. We can develop strife in relationships. We may also have a pity party and gossip about others. None of those activities bring about freedom. As a matter of fact, they put us in bondage of carnality and sin because we choose to take the bait.

How do you handle offenses? Are you quick to forgive and let go of offenses? Do you stew over them for a few days or weeks? Do you discern the bait that is set by the enemy?

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional. 

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6

In the book of Colossians, Paul tells us about using our time wisely. He first begins by telling us that we should be committed to prayer, being watchful and thankful. When we pray, we remain in communion with the Lord, and we give Him the opportunity to share His thoughts with us. When we are watchful, we pay attention to things from heavenly perspective, and it takes away the chance of whining and complaining about things. When we are thankful, it keeps us in a place of peace and joy, so we won’t have to waste our time living in carnality. Prayer and being watchful and thankful are foundational to our spiritual lives, and disciplining ourselves to live this way allows us to steward our time according to His plan.   

Paul goes on further and tells us that we need to show wisdom in the way we live because the world is watching us. There is no time to lose, and there is no time to wait. As we walk in the spirit, there is a practical side of life that we need to pay attention as well. We cannot use all our time in prayer and worship but neglect our families, jobs, ministries, or the lost. God expects us to be supernatural people. On this spiritual journey, we maintain the practicality of living a life in the natural. We don’t wait for a better time to take care of our natural obligations. To the contrary, we have the anointing of God as supernatural beings to do all things with His peace, grace, and direction.

In reality, as God’s people, we should do life better because God is with us. He will give us everything we need to do well. In addition, our focus and goal is to honor God with our time and our lives. Therefore, we are set for great success with God’s help. 

How do we make the most of every opportunity? This is not just about ceasing the moment to share Christ with others, but it is also about reflecting Christ and showing wisdom in our practical lives. For example, if we tell our coworkers about Jesus, but then we can’t meet work deadlines, it is not a good testimony of our faith in the Lord. Or we may make dinner/lunch plans with others, but most of the time, we have an excuse why we arrive late. That makes us lose credibility before those whom we are trying to reach. 

Procrastination is a lost opportunity. It shows that we had the time to do something but we chose not by presuming upon the future. Generally, I don’t like to procrastinate. I see it like getting into debt. When we are in debt we presume upon the future for the income to payoff what we bought today. Procrastination is about presuming on the future that we will have the time to get it done.

The Lord expects us to be consistent and faithful people and that means that we should make the most of every opportunity. If we wait until the last minute to get something done, we have wasted valuable time in the process. In addition, we may not have the opportunity to get it done or to do a good job completing it.

Our lives, talents, and time don’t belong to us, and we are called to steward them as unto the Lord and make the most of every opportunity. When we live with God’s rhythm, we experience greater peace and joy in doing our work, and we also eliminate the possibility of others being frustrated with us because we are late in getting things done. In this way, we love God and we love our neighbor as ourselves!

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”

But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62

Procrastination can have many faces in people’s lives. In the above scriptures, some claimed that they wanted to follow Jesus, but they had excuses as to why it wasn’t the right time. They supposedly were going to wait and do it at the right time. In reality, they just didn’t want to pay the price. They were not ready to fully commit to Jesus. 

The man who wanted to bury his father may not have even lost his father yet. His thought could have been that when his father died, then it was the right time to venture out into following Jesus. This wasn’t about being a responsible and loving son, but it was about him feeling that following Jesus can wait. He was going to procrastinate for several years until a supposedly right time. In the above passage, the other one wanted to say goodbye to his family. Most likely, he wanted to get their input and ensure that they were ok with his decision to follow Jesus. They both had other priorities that seemed more pressing to them than following Jesus right away. They had no urgency for following the Lord.

On the other hand, Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a farmer who is plowing the field. The farmer cannot make any progress in doing his work if he keeps looking back. His focus has to be right in front of him and continue to plow the field.

We see some people who have been raised in the church, walk away from Christ. They feel that there are more important things that they want to do in life than following Jesus first. Jesus is not a priority to them. They don’t think they are necessarily rebelling against Christ. They just think that at some point in time, they will have more time to follow Him.

When we have a revelation of Jesus calling us to Himself, there is nothing more important than choosing to follow Him. We cannot afford to procrastinate. There is no need to wait. He is not a hindrance to our dreams or visions. He is our way maker. When we put him first without procrastinating, He establishes order and clarity in our lives. He changes our hearts about worldly dreams and puts new dreams in our hearts that we never deemed important before.

Have you fully committed to following Jesus? Are there other things in your life that seem more important than following Jesus? Are you timely in obeying Jesus? Or do you procrastinate in following Him? Delayed/procrastinated obedience is disobedience, and it can be costly in our lives as well as those around us.

Sometimes procrastination can look like waiting, but they are very different from each other. A person may claim that it is not the right time, but they just do not want to do it. Since it is not important to them, they just procrastinate. Procrastination may not be noticed by others right away, but the Lord knows that the person is neglecting to take action.

On the first day of the sixth month of the second year in the reign of King Darius of Persia, God’s Message was delivered by the prophet Haggai to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak:

A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies: “The people procrastinate. They say this isn’t the right time to rebuild my Temple, the Temple of God.”

Shortly after that, God said more and Haggai spoke it: “How is it that it’s the ‘right time’ for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, God’s Temple, is in ruins?”Haggai 1:1-4 (MSG)

Zerubbabel was the governor of Jerusalem during the time when the first group of Israelites returned from the exile in Babylon. The people made time to make nice homes for themselves, but they claimed that it wasn’t the right time to rebuild the temple. It may sound spiritual to wait for the right time, but the Lord knew the true reason. They procrastinated in rebuilding the temple because God’s house was not a priority to them.  

In reading the subsequent scriptures in Haggai 2, you find that the people did not make much progress because God was not blessing their efforts. He expected them to take care of the temple, but they were too busy trying to make their nice houses. 

This is very similar to our current culture. House prices continue to rise, and people are working harder and longer to afford them. They also commute longer distance to get to the better paying jobs. People run out of time for their family, friends, and ministry. There is a lot of effort, but the return on the investment of time is not as it used to be. It is estimated that to live in the Bay Area you need to be making $300,000 to afford an average house. That kind of income requires high paying, high responsibility, and extremely demanding jobs. Lack of time and stress develops a cycle of procrastination and things that really do matter get neglected. Those who procrastinate may claim that they are waiting for the right time, but it is about having the right priorities. 

Are you procrastinating in certain areas of life? When will be the right time to do something about them? Are you paying your bills on time? How is your procrastination impacting others? Is your relationship with the Lord suffering because other things have occupied your time right now? God is pleased when we put Him first. He blesses our time and efforts, so we can do more with less. I encourage you to try it.

This devotional series has been about the depth of God’s heart on the issue of waiting. Our carnal nature does not like to wait, and our decadent culture has given us every reason not to have to wait.  Furthermore, our expectations and goals in life continue to push us into action and activity, and others will encourage those activities as well. Waiting does not make sense to our carnal nature. It looks as if it is a position of weakness. If we have the power, money or resources to make something happen then why shouldn’t we do it!? Culturally, it seems irresponsible not to do something if you have the power to do it. However, spiritually speaking, waiting  is one of the key ways in making spiritual progress and experiencing the breakthrough that the Lord has for us. 

Below you find a summary of the last five devotionals about waiting on God, and I also share briefly about Jesus waiting on God.  

Wait Patiently (H2342): to dance, to twist, writhe, to whirl, whirl about, bear, bring forth, to wait anxiously, to be born. 

1. In part I of this devotional series, the scripture showed us that there is a wait that is not an easy wait. This kind of wait becomes harder over time and the need for an answer gets bigger with time. Abraham had to wait for Isaac and his waiting became more difficult as both he and his wife grew older. God is fully capable of fulfilling His promises regardless of how long we have waited.

Wait (H6960): to wait, look for, hope, expect, linger, to collect, bind together, to twist, to bind. 

2. In part II of this devotional series, I shared that waiting causes us to be hungry and thirsty. It can either make us hungry and thirsty for the answer or it will take us to deeper places with God and will lead us to be hungry and thirsty for more of God.  God has promised that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled. 

Wait (H1748): in silence, silently 

3. In part III of this series, the scripture led us to a waiting that is coupled with receiving God’s perfect love.  God’s love gives us the courage to wait patiently. We are confident that the Lord is working out everything in His timing. There is no fear in waiting, and there is no anxiety or worry about missing out on something by waiting.

Wait (H8104): to keep, guard, observe, give heed, have charge of, keep watch and ward, protect, save life, to hedge about.

4. In part IV of this devotional series, the scripture taught us that waiting allows us to be guarded from making choices that we will regret later. When God has not given us peace about doing something, the best thing to do is to wait. We trust that God is working something out far better than what we can do in our natural strength.

Wait (H7663): to inspect, examine, wait, hope, wait upon, examined, to hope (for) 

5. In part V of this devotional series, the Psalmist examined God’s power in Creation. In waiting, we need to remind ourselves of God’s ability for creating everything and putting it all together. He also has the power to bring about any change that He desires. Waiting also examines our hearts and purifies our love for God.

For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. 2Corinthians 13:4

Ultimately, Jesus is our example of waiting. While He was God’s son, He waited about 30 years before He began His ministry. During Jesus’ ministry, some followed Him and others rejected Him, but He steadfastly continued to preach the truth clothed in grace. When He was falsely accused, persecuted, and hung on the cross, He remained silent. He looked as if He was weak, but He patiently waited for God to accomplish His work through Him. “For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). He was the lamb led to the slaughter, but He rose as the Lion of Judah bringing freedom to those who seek Him with all their hearts. If He had not waited on God, the work of salvation would not have been accomplished, but His patience and obedience through the struggle brought us all the resurrection power that lives inside of us! Praise the Lord!

These all wait for You,
That You may give them their food in due season.
What You give them they gather in;
You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
You hide Your face, they are troubled;
You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the earth. Psalm 104:27-30

Wait (H7663): to inspect, examine, wait, hope, wait upon, examined, to hope (for) 

The writer of Psalm 104, recounts the acts of the powerful God in Creation.  The writer examines the strength and the character of God while waiting. God almighty is capable of bringing magnificence out of nothing and bringing order out of chaos!

This examination is also important for us while we are waiting. Sometimes the very thing we have been waiting for, looks impossible because we have waited so long for it. In the process of waiting, what we are longing for takes a life of its own, and it looks bigger than any provision that God has blessed with us. It also causes us to question God’s ability and power to give us a breakthrough in that area. However, just as the Psalmist began with Creation, it is important to remind ourselves of the God who has the power to make something out of nothing, to erect the mountains, and to place boundaries around the oceans.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

When we remind ourselves of who God is, we become the inspectors and examiners of His character. This process helps us to go back to the basics of our faith and to be grateful for His character and what He has done in our lives. In Psalm 51, David asked God to renew a steadfast spirit in him and to restore the joy of his Salvation. While this Psalm was written after David was confronted about his sin with Bathsheba, it is still applicable to other areas of life as well. If waiting on God causes us to lose the purity of our hearts, we will lose the joy of our salvation. The very thing we are waiting for can become an idol in our lives, and it can make us think that we cannot be happy until we receive what we have been waiting for.

Most of us experienced great joy and peace when we received salvation. Nothing at the moment mattered because we were in love with Jesus. However, overtime, other things cloud our relationship with the Lord, and they seem to become more important to us. Suddenly, we find Christianity as something we do and  put on, but, on the inside, it is a different story. The pain of waiting and the longings of our hearts cause us to lose joy and intimacy we once had with God.

Waiting also examines and inspects what is in our hearts. Waiting can touch the core of our identity. It can cause us to question ourselves, our abilities, and our relationships. Jealousy and envy can arise because others have what you have been waiting so long for.  The enemy also whispers in our ears that there is another way to get what we want and that we don’t have to wait. This is the fire that purifies our hearts, strengthens our faith, and establishes our character. How we respond to it is critical to our spiritual destiny. 

Just as the Psalmist declares in the above passage in Psalm 104, God is the giver of everything to us. We have nowhere to go except Him. People may leave relationships, jobs, or churches for the sake of dissatisfaction with life, but they still can’t get what they want with their own strength. Is it possible that the waiting has made us lose focus of what is really important? We need a restoration and renewal of our relationship with God that is not dependent of when the breakthrough comes. We are dependent on the Lord to move in our lives , and we really have not place to go except to run to Him.