A lot of people view the Bible as just a bunch of rules that exist to keep me from having a good time!  I think that people get this idea, not from reading the Bible, but from listening and living with people that have read and applied it incorrectly!  Many people that call themselves Christians read the Bible and apply it’s truths to everyone else!  They incorrectly use the Bible to judge others and often miss the opportunity to grow themselves!  The people who are experiencing success and growth in life are the people who have taken the time through the Word to figure out who God wants them to become and what God wants them to do!  They have learned to use God’s Word as a guide that helps them to travel in the right direction!

If you want to truly be successful in every area of your life, then you must learn how to consistently apply God’s Word in your everyday living!  You life will always be full of uncontrollable circumstances, seemingly impossible situations and unlimited opportunities to make excuses!  But, do no give in!  Don’t blame your lack of achievement on bad luck or bad upbringing.  Whatever is going on in your life has a purpose and it is ultimately to make you stronger for God’s glory and everyones blessing!

Take some time this week to get into God’s Word – The Bible!  Read it with fresh eyes, not looking for how it applies to others, but for what it has to say to you and the situations of your life!  God has some amazing things that He wants to show you and teach you!  Enjoy the journey!

Today I want to slow us down just a Little bit, so that we can think about waiting!  Isaiah 40:31 says:  “But those that wait upon 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 faint!”  We love the last part of the verse that talks about being renewed, soaring, running and walking!  But we usually skip right over the first part – the part that gives us the pre-condition for renewal, soaring, running and walking!  It says “those that wait on the Lord”!

Waiting Is Hard To Do!  And while waiting is hard, we do have a choice!  Not everyone will make the choice to wait, in fact – most do not wait and even when we do decide to wait is is usually not long enough!  Why is it so hard for us to wait?  Could it be because we want results right now?  We live in a microwave/drive through society – which wants what it wants and wants it now!  I think another thing that gets in the way of our waiting is:  We think that we have to make something happen!  The truth is:  There are some things that no matter how bad you want them to happen, you cannot make them happen!  I think another problem is we worry about what other people will say or think!  The opinion that we need to be concerned with is God’s opinion – not what someone else thinks or says is God’s opinion!

The bottom line is this:  WAITING IS GOD’S PREREQUISITE FOR BLESSING!  The verse says:  “Those who WAIT on the LORD will…”  Waiting has it’s reward!  I am not talking about waiting for waiting sake, but waiting to hear, see and be moved by God!

Take a step back from the situation!  Put your hands behind your back and focus on what God might be up to!  You might just be amazed at how God can take whatever and use it for amazing things in and through your life!

If we are going to succeed by living our lives in and according to the plan that God has for us, then we must have as a part of our lives – certain attitudes and practices!  I want to suggest five for us to consider today:

1.  FOCUS – We cannot accomplish anything of substance without focus!  Focus is the ability to push aside distractions, so that we can give our attention to the things that really matter.  One of the biggest obstacles that I face every day of my life is a shift in focus!  There is just so much to focus on, and it is impossible to focus on everything!  This is why we must learn to filter!  A good filtering question is this:  “What Really Matters?”  (By the way we are looking at this question each Snday this month at Northwood and Partnership!)  Ask and answer this question to get at the heart of what is really important in your life!

2.  STRONG RELATIONSHIPS – We can’t live with them and we can’t live without them!  Relationships are great when they are going the way that we want them to and bad when they are not!  Good or bad – relationships are a necessary and vital part of our ability to succeed!  We cannot succeed by ourselves and if we could – what good would the success be – if we had no one to share it with?  Give time and priority to developing and growing your relationships starting at home and working outward!

3.  HARD WORK – If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!  If it’s worth doing, then we should do it with all that we’ve got!  The only success that laziness will lead you into, is success at and in nothing!  Whatever God has gifted you to do – do it with all of your heart, for His glory and others blessing!  Give yourself to that high and holy calling everyday.  If God has gifted you with the ability to sell – work hard at selling!  If God has gifted you with the ability to heal – work hard at healing!  If God has given you the ability to build – work hard at building!  Whatever your God-given ability – work hard to accomplish great things for and with God!

4.  PERSEVERANCE – There will come a time when you will hit a road block.  It does not matter how focused you are, how strong you have grown your relationships or how hard you are working!  When you hit the road block, you will have to make a decision:  Do I stay where I am or do I go up, over, around or through?  Perseverance will always find a way up, over, around or through!

5.  BLESSING – That little something extra that will put you over the top every time is something that can only come from God!  When you are faithful to focus, build relationships, work hard and persevere, God will be faithful to bless!