Seize the day, seize whatever you can
‘Cause life slips away just like hourglass sand…Lyrics to “Seize the Day” by Carolyn Arends

Wait for the Lord ; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord !
Psalms 27:14 ESV

Seize! Wait! Although these two concepts may appear contradictory at first, in God’s kingdom, they are highly compatible. And both necessary.

When I take my kids to the pool, I keep my daughter from the deep end–not because I want to ruin her fun, but because I know she does not have the swimming skills required for staying afloat. So until she is a stronger swimmer, my daughter gets the most out of the shallow end. She seizes the moment while awaiting the future. And I love watching her do so. I love watching her seize the day of waiting.

Unfortunately, however, when it comes to our walk with the Lord, it seems often that when we have to wait for something, we begin the cycle of trying to figure out the why we have to wait and the how we could possibly stop the waiting. We look for shorter ways to get where we want to go. We mumble under our breath at those who appear to have found the fast track to what we deem as success. We spend all our time and energy trying to escape the wait.

Yet instead of spending our wait looking around at what other people are doing and trying to find a way to get to where we want to go, we really need to focus on where we are. We need to be in the moment. We must seize the wait.

Think about it. Who has God placed in your life right now? What is God teaching you right now? What responsibilities do you hold right now?

Sieze them! Minister to those currently in your circle of influence. Hold tightly to your Heavenly Father’s hand as you learn all you can. Do all you do knowing you work not for man but for God.

As you wait for God to illuminate the next step, fully explore the one you’re on. Take the time to pray, to read and to study God’s Word. Learn and do all you can while on this current step, because once you go to the next one, you cannot go back and redo this one.

No, I’m not saying to busy yourself with useless endeavors just to pass the time until God calls you to the next step. What I am saying is to look around you and take advantage of all the opportunities God has graciously provided for you right now. Is there someone you need to talk to you? Is there someone you need to spend time with? Are there lessons to be learned? Or maybe God is asking you to take advantage of the rest now available to you. Whatever it is God has been whispering in your ear during this season of waiting, I encourage you to seize it. Take it for all it’s worth. Make the most of it. Because soon enough today will become yesterday, and you won’t get another chance. So seize today.  Seize it. Seize whatever you can. Because life slips away just like hourglass sand. Seize the day.

It’s been over a month since I have posted anything here. I’ve thought about it several times, yet the go ahead has yet to accompany my desire. What is the go ahead? God’s leading.  God’s Spirit speaking to my spirit the peace to move forward.

It’s not that I haven’t been writing, for I have been. I have drafted several devotional entries based on Scripture I have been reading. And I have posted a couple of things on Facebook. But in general, this summer has been one of soaking, of filling, and of rest. God has been speaking, and I have been listening. But that’s the extent of what I believe He has wanted me to do in recent weeks.

God wants me to seek right now.  To wait. To watch. So I do. Habakkuk didn’t begin writing the vision before God spoke it. He stood in position and waited. He waited for what God would say.

Therefore, I too, wait. I watch. I willfully choose soaking over sharing.

Is it easy? Not always. For I am a doer–a doer with a dream. Nevertheless, to move forward when God says, “Be still,” would be costly–it would be price I am not willing to pay.

So I wait. I watch. I listen.  And if God is calling you to wait, to watch, and to listen, then I encourage you to do the same.  Be still knowing He is God. Watch, wait, and listen knowing He will speak–knowing you will once again hear God whisper, “Go,” into your ear. But until then, cease striving. Cease trying to do what God has not asked you to do.

Instead, soak. Let His love wash over you. Let the stillness calm your soul. Let His peace that transcends all understanding flood your entire being. Keep being faithful. Keep seeking. Keep searching. Keep looking, listening, and learning knowing He who promises is faithful.  You will “do” again, my friend. You will. And I will post again. But it will be when it’s time. His time. Not mine.

I close with this. A seed buried in the ground requires light, water, food, and time. Give it what it needs, and it will blossom. Deprive it of any of its needs, and it will die. Don’t allow your time growing beneath the surface to discourage you. Rather, keep reading and studying God’s Word, keep praying without ceasing, and keep waiting for what He will say. Allow God to work in the soil of your heart. For one day soon, you will see that sprout. You will break through that soil and grow into a beautiful flower–a hearty flower with deep roots–able to withstand even the fiercest of storms.

All because you waited. You watched. You didn’t rush what God wanted for you. You took the time to cultivate the good soil. And God Himself promises it is the good soil He will use to produce the harvest–a harvest a hundred times better than you could ever do on your own.

So I encourage you to wait, my friend. Wait on the Lord. Wait for the Lord ; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalms 27:14 ESV)

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 ESV