Recent Devotionals

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Is there anyone today who doesn’t feel pulled in a thousand different directions? Whether you are married or not, a mother or not, employed or not . . . if you are alive in the twenty-first century, you are likely very busy.

My constant prayer for years has been, “Lord, please prioritize my day.” Without the confidence that God is answering that prayer on a moment-by-moment basis, I would have no confidence about the order of my day. Praying is a way of waiting on God. It puts Him and His agenda ahead of me and mine. Without pausing to wait on God I would charge into the day unequipped, unprotected and unprepared for the demands that lay ahead.

No one could possibly have felt the pressure of demands more than Jesus. Yet we get a picture of Him from Scripture of never being overwhelmed. He always seemed to know when it was time to come or go, speak or listen, act or be still. He never let those who needed Him get in the way of His need for God. In fact, He was willing to walk away from crowds of needy people to spend time waiting on God if He felt the need to do so.

Drawing apart from this world to spend time waiting on God requires intentional choices on our part. It means finding our ultimate affirmation from God instead of from family and friends. It means finding our esteem in the presence of God rather than in how many things there are on our calendar or to-do list. Waiting on God in His presence can cause us to change our plans; to stop succumbing to the demands of a hurried world.

When we wait on God, we are ready to be directed. Our attention is on Him and we aren’t distracted by the noise and news of this world. Our problems, challenges, and agendas look different when viewed against the backdrop of His calming presence. Making God our priority somehow prioritizes everything else.

Heavenly Father, I am tired of finding myself overwhelmed by life’s demands—too much to do and too little time to do it. By your grace, I am going to wait upon You to give me the plans for my day. Amen.