Deeper Life Journal

Is waiting on God for today's New Testament believer? Is it a new age practice? Can we see from scripture what the Lord says about our waiting on Him? Let's take a look...

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." Psalm 62:5

"Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation." Psalm 62:1

"Praise waiteth for thee, 0 God ' in Sion." Psalm 65:1

This word "wait" in these verses is translated from two words that are derived from a Hebrew root word which means "being still" or "being quiet."

The root word means "to be silent. "Wait thou only upon God" signifies "be silent" or "only be silent" before God. We are to be still before Him. "Wait" sometimes means "to cease" or "to stop" whatever action may have been taking place. We need to cease other activities before we come into the presence of God.

Also this word is translated "stand still." In Psalm 37:7 we read: "Rest in the Lord." "Rest" comes from this same word. The instruction is "Be silent before the Lord, or unto the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."

Other Passages In Scripture Supporting This

Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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.

Psalm 23: 1-3 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength

Psalm 131:2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Psalm 4:4 When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.

Luke 10:39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Isaiah 55:1-3 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.

Hebrew 4:9-11 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest.

Psalms 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Proverbs 1:33 But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.

New Testament Passages Concerning Waiting

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. This is quoted from Isaiah 64:4, "For since the beginning of the world [men] have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, [what] he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him."

Hebrews 4:9-11 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it].

Romans 12:7 Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

1 Corinthians 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Some Other Old Testament Passages Covering Waiting On God.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength [is] to sit still.

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

Our foundation is Christ Himself.

Crucified With Christ

I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Galatians 5:24)

Dead With Christ

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. (Romans 6:8) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances. (Colossians 2:20) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:10-11)

Buried With Christ

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. (Romans 6:5) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12)

Made Alive With Christ

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses. (Colossians 2:13) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;). (Ephesians 2:5)

Raised With Christ

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. (Ephesians 1:19-21) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12)

Seated With Christ

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6)

God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)

Christ now lives in us and has become our very life! (Colossians 1:27; 3:4)

We are now joined as one sprit. (1 Corinthians 6:17)

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