Discipleship Response
Luke 24:49
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.
• In Christ, I am a fruit-bearing branch bringing glory to God wherever I go in the name of Jesus.
Pondering Point
The day of Jesus’ ascension into heaven initiated what became a 10-day period of prayerful anticipation for His followers. This particular command to stay and “wait” was to allow God's Holy Spirit to fall on the disciples before they ventured into the world as Jesus’ witnesses.
Pray that you – that we – learn to wait on the Spirit to guide us, even once the Lord has told us what to do. That goes for “we” as churches, in our small groups, in our homes, and in our personal lives.
As Isaiah records in 40:31, "They that wait upon the Lord shall mount up on wings like eagles".
Let’s check in on our spiritual wait capacity and consider how we are handling such weighty matters.
Review
Are you generally a patient person? Are you able to wait trustingly on God while things hang in the balance? Is anxiety eroding your godly disposition or is your godly disposition eating away anxiety as it comes (see Philippians 4:4-7)?
Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Repent if Necessary
Repent of forging ahead without the Holy Spirit leading you, or of letting anxiety eat at you without giving it to God in prayer while you wait. Repent of not seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the first place.
Return as Necessary
Sit with God minus any agenda. Simply take time to soak Him up. Let His presence fill you and settle your spirit. Then, out of this peaceful place, share a few words of thanksgiving with Him and then present your requests to God – as described in Philippians 4:6 (that scripture is quoted in the today's Review section).
Prayer for the Day
[Insert your own prayer about today's devotion.]