WHEN, GOD, WHEN?
"And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. 4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” 7 She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” Genesis 21:1-7.
The book of Genesis chapter 21 comes as a welcome relief. Over the last few chapters, we were introduced to a couple who had experienced sad and good times. For twenty-five years, God has been promising Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son. Year after year they waited! The window of opportunity for them having their baby seemed to have closed. But Genesis chapter 21 is the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. I pray for you, from this day, may you experience a new chapter of celebration, victory and glorious new beginnings, in the mighty name of Jesus.
God’s promise come to pass: Sarah finally gave birth to a son: Isaac was born. His birth wiped away Sarah' s tears and reproach. The birth of Isaac was a fulfilment of a promise! God fulfilled His promise. His Word came to pass!
"Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me." Micah 7:7. May God who wiped away the tears and mockery of Sarah, visit you and change your story, in the mighty name of Jesus. Your story is not over!
EVERYONE HAS A STORY
What's your own story? We too have certain promises given directly to us from the Lord that we’re still waiting to be fulfilled, and prayers we’ve cried out to Him that have yet to be answered. Days, weeks, months, and years have passed.
What are you waiting for God to do, in your life and family? Are you single and waiting for a divine spouse? Perhaps you are without a job, or tired of your current job, and hoping for a better one? Are you praying for the fruit of the womb? Are you waiting for the fulfilment of the promises shown you in the realm of the Spirit? Maybe you are hoping for divine visitation in your marital issues? Perhaps you are waiting for a healing. Are you waiting to hear from God before you take the next steps in life? Keep praying and trusting God for the fulfilment. The answers will surely come.
"Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:14.
POINTS TO NOTE ABOUT THE PROMISES OF GOD
1. It's impossible for God to lie! Numbers 23:19.
2. There is a right time for everything.
3. God has a set time for the fulfilment of His promises.
4. There are unconditional and conditional promises. An unconditional promise is not dependent on us doing anything to bring it to pass; its fulfilment is strictly up to God. A conditional promise is a promise that has a condition(s) attached to it. Isaiah 1:19. It depends on us to do something in obedience to God.
5. Some promises are personal and some are general. A personal promise is limited to one person at one particular time. A general promise has no limitations and no expiration date; it is for all believers in all time periods.
6. The promises of God are certain, but they don’t always mature in thirty days. Hence, faith must believe it. Hope anticipates it, and patience quietly awaits it.
7. God’s timing is not always our timing.
8. While you’re waiting, God is working. He has not abandoned you.
9. When you think God's saying no, He may just be saying, “wait.”
10. There is often a struggle before we see the manifestation of the prophecies.
11. Faith isn’t obvious only in the time of plenty; it is also manifested in patience.
12. As you wait for the promises of God, don’t take matters into your own hands.
13. Don’t put your trust in people over God.
14. We are not alone in our waiting. God's with us, giving us His strength.
15. Those who wait on the Lord wait in hope.
17. It is in times of waiting that many have failed in their faith and obedience.
18. Satan often attacks by trying to capitalize on divine delays. He wants us to doubt that God's promises will ever be fulfilled.
19. The beauty of prayer is in the answers that follow. God answers the prayers of those who wait for Him. He does not close His ears to their prayers.
WAIT ON THE LORD!
Waiting is to desire something you don’t have yet. It is to put your plans on hold in anticipation of a direction or instruction before proceeding. It is to hope. If we stay in hope we will experience the final chapter of waiting which is to bring forth the awaited promises. Waiting is to pause in expectation of something. It is to remain stationary in readiness for what's promised. Waiting is anticipation. It is to fully rest and trust in God’s timing while taking care of our responsibilities
WHY GOD MAKES US WAIT FOR THE PROMISES?
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry." Habakkuk 2:3.
1. It is not the right time for you to receive your breakthrough. You are in a hurry, but God is not, and He knows the perfect time to dispense His mercy. Isaiah 30:18.
2. The more you pray, the sweeter the answer will be when it comes. Isaiah 25:9.
4. Sometimes we are not ready for the next step. God has plans for us, but there are instances when He stops us in our tracks until we do a little “attitude adjustment.”
5. God's delay could also have the purpose of training us for His calling.
God could have made David to become the king of Israel the day after he was anointed by prophet Samuel. Yet, he waited 15 years to get to the throne!
6. Perhaps all the details of God’s plan are not yet in place. No amount of prayer and fasting will move His hand until the time is right. Exodus 2:11-12.
7. At times the delays are designed to increase our faith. If God promptly gave us everything we asked or requested, we would never learn to walk by faith.
8. God uses delay to teach us endurance. Romans 5:3-4.
9. Perhaps our attention needs to be refocused on Christ.
BLESSINGS OF WAITING ON GOD:
1. God will not allow you to be put to shame. Isaiah 49:23.
2. You will receive the blessings of God.
3. You will experience the Lord’s goodness. Lamentations 3:25.
4. Your prayers will be answered. Micah 7:7.
5. Assurance of protection and deliverance. Isaiah 43:2.
6. You will sing a new song. Psalm 32:7. Your old song will give way to a new one.
7. You will receive new strength. Isa 40:31.
8. You will not make avoidable mistakes resulting from impatience.
WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU ARE WAITING ON GOD:
1. Stay connected. Develop a relationship with God. Seek His face daily. John 15:5.
2. Continue steadfastly in prayer. Luke 18:1.
3. Wait with expectation. Build up your expectation by meditating on the Word.
4. Trust in God, not in your logic or understanding. Proverbs 3:5. Look beyond the medical reports. Focus on God and His promises.
4. Refuse to allow doubt and fear. To doubt is to consider unlikely the promises of God. It is to have uncertainties. To doubt is to hesitate. It is to distrust or speak words of unbelief. But you can take those whispers of doubt captive and silencing them by audibly speaking the promises in God's Word. Guide your mind and your thoughts.
5. Refuse to worry and refrain from anger. Psalm 37:7-8.
6. Be strong and courageous. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. Courage is the strength within, that pushes us to stand against all odds with a determination to receive our breakthroughs. It is the quality of mind or spirit that helps a man or woman to face difficulty and pain yet keeps going. Courage is a 'never give up' attitude! It is the ability to move forward in the face of mockery, reproach and opposition. Let courage rises up within you today!
7. Exercise your faith. Start confession of faith before you see your manifestation. Believe you've receive them. Start acting as though it were already done.
8. Operate in God’s love. John 13:34. Faith works when we operate in the love of God. Forgive one another. Have patience with others. Lift up the broken hearted.
9. Live a life of Gratitude. Lazarus was still in the grave when Jesus gave thanks-John 11:41. No matter how bad a case may be, if you are faithful in thanksgiving there will be a total turnaround. Don't wait to thank God only after you’ve seen your miracles, give thanks in all situations. Complaining won't make your situations better.
10. Stay in Scripture. Dig deeper into the Word daily. Meditate on His promises.
Beloved, whatever you are going through now is just a part of the process. You have to go through some things to get to where God wants you to be. The season of your waiting may be full of tears, but joy will come in the morning. Psalm 30:5. Your 'Isaac' is on the way! Your breakthrough is unstoppable. Delay is not a denial.
I prophesy into your life and family!
What you consider impossible shall become possible in your life, in the mighty name of Jesus. Closed doors of breakthroughs will open for you, in the mighty name of Jesus.. Every of your heart desires shall be granted, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Garments of shame, disgrace and reproach upon you, is removed now, in the mighty name of Jesus. It is your turn to laugh, in the mighty name of Jesus. By this time next year, you will be holding your Isaac in your hands, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Beloved, we’ve been waiting 2,000 years now for our Lord Jesus to return and take us home. When will that happen? I do not know but surely at God’s appointed time. Are you waiting, prepared and ready for His coming?
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father show me mercy and let your mercy prevail over the voice of accusations and condemnation in my life, in Jesus name.
2. O God, fill my mouth with laughter and my lips with rejoicing, in Jesus name.
3. My Father, visit me and cause me to deliver my Isaac, in Jesus name.
4. O Lord, let Your promises come to fulfilment in my life, in Jesus name.
5. My Father, give me a turnaround breakthrough, in Jesus name.
6. O God, open doors of breakthroughs for me, in Jesus name.
7. Thank God for answering your prayers.
