Waiting

Tears of joy flowed freely at Theresa's surprise retirement party, hosted by her Skyview teaching coherts.

Theresa and I are now in a situation of "restful waiting." She has just retired from teaching and our plan for this first year is to have no plans. Oh, we'll be active, loving on and encouraging others. But we sense that there is something more - corporately, together.

How are you at waiting? How do you determine what is the right road to travel? Several factors go into making a decision from the Lord. Four come to mind.

First, information gathering, to determine the realities of a given situation. The positive and the negative.

Second, is the Holy Spirit guiding you in your decision? Proverbs 3:5-6 indicates that as we seek God’s wisdom, He will guide our steps. So through prayer determine that your decision is going to be Holy Spirit lead.

Third, through gathering facts and prayer a decision is tentatively made “God, I’m going this particular route. If this is not of you, close the door as I seek confirmation."

Fourth, Proverbs says that a wise man seeks counsel. Share your decision making process with a person you trust. Does this person confirm your decision? God has placed others around us to be used as instruments in our lives to confirm decisions and keep us from the deceit of our own heart. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses" (2 Cor. 13:1b).

It has been said, "Write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser."

We're waiting with a content anticipation that Psalm 90 will come to fruition: "Even in old age, they will be fruitful and multiply."