November 30, 2009  …  Advent Season

“God, the one and only — I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not? He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I’m set for life.” Psalm 62:1-2 The Message

What are you waiting for …?

There is a longing in your heart. Everyone has one .. even more than one. The deepest longing is the unspoken .. unutterable .. unrelenting longing for wholeness. You can never achieve it on your own. You will never accomplish it through your own efforts. You’ll never have enough wealth to acquire it. The longing for wholeness is real in everyone. Some hide from it with busyness. Some medicate it with drugs .. alcohol .. sex .. food. Some exchange it for prestige. Some mistake it for power. Some define it with possessions. But those who hunger and thirst and yearn for God’s wholeness discover the gift of the waiting-life. It is God-given and Christ-filled. It is filled with his life and spirit. You know because every time you’ve tried to claim it for yourself it seems to evaporate within you. You can only rest in it .. trust it .. and give it away to others longing for the very same thing you long for. It is God’s-gift.  You don’t become insulated or isolated. You become involved in the world you live in with the life of Indwelling One who lives in you. It is God’s-grace. You find yourself being loved at the very places where you are exhausted .. tired .. struggling .. and even failing. You find that the only thing you can offer back to God is a waiting and willing heart. More often than not .. you discover that it is Jesus who has been the Waiting One over your life. Since the 8th Century .. an Irish hymn has filled the lungs and lives of ChristFollowers: Be Thou My Vision: Be thou my vision .. O Lord of my heart .. Nought be all else to me .. save that Thou art. Thou my best thought by day or by night .. Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light. What are you waiting for today ..? It only takes a moment …

“He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon the God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.” Isaiah 40:28-31 The Message

Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Waiting Brothers and Sisters following Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)