The Unhurried Life by Anthony ThompsonSample

Day 3: Patience in God’s Presence - The Transformative Power of Waiting

Scripture: Lamentations 3:25 - "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him."

Today’s devotional is probably the most impactful for me. As I began to read and reflect on God’s Word in His presence - EVERYTHING shifted for me.

If you are a go-getter, a type-A personality, or a leader - this will be the most difficult thing for you to do. THE - MOST - DIFFICULT.

The enemy wants to keep you out of this place and space. The enemy strives to keep you busy and distracted by what YOU THINK matters.

The presence of God holds all the answers to all your problems. The Unhurried Life in God’s presence transforms your spirit, soul, mind, and body. It’s the superpower God has reserved for you.

In our modern world, where everything is but a click away, the divine art of waiting has become nearly obsolete.

Yet, the Bible, in its timeless wisdom, implores us to embrace patience, especially in God's presence.

Consider the serene beauty of a quiet morning before the world awakes—this is the perfect backdrop to seek God, to wait upon His voice, and to allow His presence to envelop us.

Waiting upon the Lord isn't passive; it's an active, vibrant act of faith.

It's a declaration that we trust in God's timing more than our own. In the stillness, away from the noise and haste, we find a sacred space where our soul can truly commune with its Creator.

Check out these scriptures about God’s presence:

Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God..." Here, we're reminded of the power of stillness in recognizing God's sovereignty. In the rush, we risk overlooking His majesty, but in the quiet, His presence is unmistakable and unshakeable.

Isaiah 40:31 - "But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." The promise here is profound: waiting on the Lord renews us, giving us not just the strength to endure but to soar.

Advantages of Not Hurrying from God's Presence:

• Renewed Strength: Just as Isaiah promises, in God's presence, our spiritual, emotional, and even physical strength is renewed.
• Clarity of Purpose: In the quiet, away from the world's clamor, God's plan for our lives becomes clearer.
• Deepened Faith: Each moment spent in God's presence builds our faith, layer upon layer.
• Inner Peace: In a world of chaos, the peace found in God's presence is not just refreshing but essential.
• Transformative Growth: True change, the kind that lasts and impacts, happens in the quiet moments spent with God.

I heard someone say recently, “We linger around what we love.” I can remember so vividly the season when I really committed my life to Christ. I was so focused on God’s Word - nothing else really mattered. I can remember certain church services where I Iingered a little longer because I felt the love of Jesus.

This really hit me recently. It seemed so easy to spend tons of time with Jesus before, why was it so hard now? Why was I so distracted?

The more I dug into these questions, the more the Lord showed me. I was off. Way off. I had to challenge WHAT I was doing. Once my time with God changed - everything began to change. At first, I didn’t think I could ever get back to loving Jesus like I first did.

It wasn’t long before my time with Jesus was even better than before. I figured he might be pissed with me. He wasn’t. He embraced me like the best dad hug ever.

I say that to say - clear the schedule. Do the thing you need to do. Humble yourself before the Lord and watch what He can do with your life.

A few more ideas to reflect upon:

• In your daily life, how can you carve out sacred times of waiting on the Lord?
• Reflect on a time when waiting in God's presence led to a breakthrough or renewal in your life. What did that teach you about the value of patience and stillness?
• How can you remind yourself to seek these quiet moments with God, even on your busiest days?

Affirmation: "Today, I embrace the divine art of waiting. In God's presence, I find strength, clarity, purpose, peace, and transformative growth. I trust in His perfect timing and choose to savor each sacred moment of stillness."