Getting Personal Changes Our Position

Throughout His life, David chose God rather than self. He determined to keep his heart close to God’s, where he could see and submit to opportunities that would be pleasing to God. In chapter 2, we talk about David’s choice to go back to the pasture even though he had been anointed king. Yes, years before David ever wore the crown, he demonstrated a life of humility. Getting personal with God will lead to a change in our position too.

Here’s an example from my life: On a typical day, I woke up not looking for a lesson in humility or expecting an encounter with the Lord. It was supposed to be a day filled with the simple pleasure of getting my hair cut. Maybe your simple pleasure is spending sunny spring days on the porch, drinking a fresh cup of coffee, or enjoying the company of a good friend over lunch. One of my favorite pleasures is a haircut.

My appointment was a week overdue, my roots were screaming, and I was eager to have my messy hair reshaped. Driving to the salon, I smiled as I imagined my stylist’s fingers massaging my head as she shampooed and conditioned. Oh, the bliss!

After my cut, style, and primping, I grabbed my purse to pay for my new ’do. “Before I go,” I said to my stylist, “I need to use your restroom.”

Walking in, I immediately noticed the dirty ring around the toilet bowl, nasty stains in the sink, and well, the gross things that form around the base of the commode. Disgusted, my thoughts turned to criticisms and questions about the sanitation regulations of the salon. In the midst of my mumblings, God got personal with me. I sensed the Holy Spirit whispering things I didn’t want to hear.

“No. You can’t be serious,” I argued.

Again, He spoke. Again, I resisted. I found myself teetering. Would I follow the Holy Spirit’s direction to clean that restroom or ignore Him and simply flush, wash, and leave?

Frozen, I could not move toward the door. My only option was to yield. I took a deep breath, grabbed a handful of paper towels, and obeyed the Spirit’s direction. I wasn’t thrilled or interested in doing a good job. I wanted to hurry and get out. In the lowly position on my hands and knees, scrubbing and wiping, the Holy Spirit nudged me. “Clean as if it’s your own toilet.”

It wasn’t enough that I had obeyed and cleaned the bathroom. God wanted my heart to be right. So I cleaned with greater fervor, as if sanitizing my own home. As I worked to change the bathroom, the Lord changed me.

Waiting well demonstrates a willingness to adjust our perspective.

92 Comments

  1. I always get encouragement when I read your devotions.
    Wait and see what the Lord has for me today.
    Blessings to you

  2. I’m excited to get your book and participate in the in line bible study. Perfect timing. This is just what I need.

  3. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of your new book. Waiting is always difficult. I waited a long time to find my husband. But the wait was so worth it. I see that now but I was frustrated while I was in the middle if it. I had not accepted Jesus as my savior at that time so I didn’t see it as God’s perfect timing. Now that I have been saved, I’m learning to turn to Jesus in the “intermissions”. I would love to read this book and learn more about making the most of the waiting time.

  4. Waiting is always so difficult. The past four years have brought a lot of wait….husband had affair and wanted divorce but through much prayer and wait he returned, husband has lost job three times but God always saw us through although the wait was hard, we too have a 23 year old son who has turned from God and church…I pray daily for his return. Those are only a few. We still wait on answers dealing with finances and so much more. I would love to be able to read your new book and see what God wants me to learn about waiting. Please pray that I will let go of control and allow God to take over and that I will wait and see what He has planned.

    1. Jenifer, I know what you mean when you say “I will let go,” Perhaps the problem is that I am so bonded to what has happened in the past that I am afraid to release it. What would be left is unknown. I become afraid of the future. My prayer needs to not be “I will let go” but simply “I let go.” Make it present tense. Do it now rather than praying for something in the future.

  5. Thank You for the reminder that God is in control and that we need to trust in his prefect plan and rest in the peace of his perfect timing! It is so hard waiting and surrendering control

  6. Thank you for your story. Our oldest son has been testing our boundaries the last few years. When he was about to turn 18, my husband and I had to ask him to move out. We packed up his stuff and send him to live with his grandparents. He was welcomed back into our home and is set to start college this week. Unfortunately, he is slipping back in to some old habits that make it hard to have him live here where his 4 younger brothers look up to him and watch his every step.

  7. I need encouragement to persevere in prayer for a loved one. I would like to win a copy of the book.

  8. Thank you for the reminder of how/what to do in the waiting periods of life. We all have them and I think we can all agree….it’s hard! Looking forward to your book that speaks on this.

  9. P31 OBS is always so timely in their choice of bible study. I’m really looking forward to this one!

  12. I just completed the 7day study plan on my bible app. It was great. I’d love to receive a copy of the book and obs.

  13. I am in a season of waiting. The season seems so long. Prayers for patience and guidance. Your blog was a reminder that my focus should be to draw closer to the Lord.

  15. Wait and See would by my first OBS. I would love to win the book and plan to invite my sisters to join me.

  16. It has been about 10 yrs in a waiting process. Sometimes hard to trust, but I know God is there. This devotion came on the right day when after a hard last few days and I said to the Lord it’s been hard and wondering if will change. But your words truly helped

  17. WOW! I love that story of cleaning the bathroom for someone else’s place. Sometimes I get messages like that But choose to ignore them….I need to follow those commands and follow God’s commands.

  18. Your devotion today about Maggie waiting really hit home for me. I’m in a season of waiting for changes in my life. It seems to be at a dull standstill. This helped me realize it must be for a reason. I’m very anxious to read your new book.

  19. Everyone is waiting. It is part of being a Christian. God wants us to “wait upon the Lord.” “Faith is believing, not seeing.” Whether it is a wayward child, a sickness, loss of income, an unbelieving spouse, a unsaved relative, or a prayer that has seemed to go unnoticed and unanswered, we are all waiting upon the Lord. And He is always on time 🙂

  20. I need to be reminded every day to not wait for my son to move back home, but to pray for him, and to listen to God to live every day the way he wants me to!

  21. I would love a copy of your book. I am exhausted, at my end and not understanding God’s delays in my life

  23. Dang you WP! Lol. Loving you for your honest humility and fervor for God. Today may be the day. For the past week I have driven past a home with overturned trash containers that have been ignored by the garbage truck. I question if there are elders that reside inside the home or just uncaring drifting stowaways. Now the rain has stopped , the sun is shining and WP post shows up a second time in my devotion time with the Lord this past week. What will I do?

  24. I came from your Proverbs31 devotion and it was just what I needed to hear today. I’m in a major waiting period in my life and while some days I handle it better than others, the past few months I’ve just become so weary and discouraged with it. Thank you for being used to speak to me this morning.

  25. Focus on the object of our faith not on worrying about that for which we wait.

    Waiting on several things including finances so I hope I win your book, Lord willing. These P31 Devotionals and your blogs are always right on point.

  26. I appreciate this post. I often see things that need to be done in my neighborhood, now I know it is time for me to do something about it. I would love the opportunity to win the book and experience the OBS.

  27. I am not good at waiting, and am trying to get better at letting go and let God. Thank you for your message this morning.

  28. I am interested in the wisdom of “wait and see”. I love the focus on living daily with the Lord and would like to grow in that virtue.
    thanks you.

  29. I am walking through a season of waiting and learning to trust the Lord. This study comes at such a needed time and I am looking forward to learning and growing from what is shared.

  30. Thank you for today’s devotion. I feel your message was meant for me. I have been experiencing an a intermission for 7 years. And have become impatient way too often, wanting things to move on my schedule and not God’s. My patience is worn, but my faith in God’s plan is strong. Thanks again. I would love a copy of your book!

  31. I too am anxious and have to keep reminding myself it’s all in God’s timing…..my ex-husband and I are waiting on our second or maybe even longer chance on love again with each other. We have both found God and are patiently waiting I think it’s harder for me than for him. I pray to have another chance at finding love with God first and then he will lead me. I am thankful for this opportunity and will let God lead this relationship and put him first. Thank you God for loving me and forgiving me for my past mistakes. Amen

  32. Thank you for being so honest and transparent in this post. Wow! What a testimony of yielding to Holy Spirit and walking in obedience.
    I have a hair appointment today. I think I will skip a trip to the ladies room. Lol
    I am excited to read this book and join this study!

  33. Your blog was what I needed today. I am in an “intermission” in my life right now. My husband has been in full time ministry for 18 years. I believe God ordained this time for us and somewhat forced us into a sabbatical. My husband just burned out….. we all did to some point. We are just now 10 months into this sabbatical or intermission and it has been the most difficult season of our lives. Our marriage has been tested, our commitment to the lord has been tried, our kids are struggling some and so on….. it has been tough! There is little support for pastors and their wives in the church now a days. BUT we have learned that our God is so faithful, that God restores and is restoring our family!! Our dependency on God is stronger than ever. We have to depend on HIM!! He is our source and our strength and the word is coming alive like never before. Although this season is hard God is amazingly good. There is so much coming out of this pause! I hope to one day write about our journey…..
    Again thank you! very timely read for me. I came to work very discouraged today and now I’m encouraged!

  34. Going through an intermission season right now. Looking forward to the OBS.
    Thank you for your encouraging words.

  35. Both your devotion and blog post spoke and convicted me. I am in a difficult season with elderly parents going through tremendous issues and you are reminding me of the work God is doing in each member of my family, whether we are aware of it or not. Praising God for this new book and study that God will use in mighty ways to grow His kingdom and the faith of His children!

  36. Thank you Wendy for sharing this wisdom with us both here and over at Proverbs 31. It truly touched my heart.

  37. Over the years, one of the truths I have learned is that there are no “normal” days when God is truly in charge. It may look like a normal day; it may smell like a normal day; it may even start out like a normal day and then God leads or nudges to go somewhere or do something I’d really prefer not to do. Sometimes, I go happily & willingly. Oftentimes, I find it to be a struggle. But, when I give in & follow His lead, things always turn out so much better than I imagined. Thank you for reminding me. God bless.

  38. Yikes, Wendy! That does not sound pleasant. But, thank you for being vulnerable enough to share. Sometimes, God does ask something so crazy, I wonder that He can’t really be saying that. This teaches me that “oh, yes, He can!” He’s always working on us, if we let Him. Thank you!

  39. I have been praying for my best friend, her daughter and my best friends granddaughter for over a year. She is raising her granddaughter, taking care of her mother and holding down a full time job. Her daughter is lost (spiritually) and has left home. I know sometimes she feels like Jesus has abandoned her even though she knows there are people praying for her. While visiting her yesterday and watching her interact with her granddaughter I told her ” You may think you have been abandoned dear friend but Jesus is working with you each and every step. I don’t know how you do it!” I told her. She smiled and hugged me. As she waits for her daughter to be healed and come home and be the mother that we both know she can be, I will continue to pray that Jesus continues to lift her up. I would be so happy to win your new book so that I can give it to my dear dear friend.

  40. Yes, I am also expectantly waiting to see what God is going to do in my life and the life of my prodigal children. Thank you for your encouragement!

  41. Wendy,
    Thank you for your devotional and sharing your blog today. What an amazing teaching for me to read while I am waiting to see what God’s plan will be for my life. I just told my husband last night that I felt like we are in a holding pattern and worry that I will do or not do something that will effect our landing. Of course, the Lord has given me insight by sending me the proverbs 31 email today as well as other daily devotionals that I have read today. All of them remaining me that God is for me, His plan will be revealed on His timing and all I need to do is be still and trust in Him. What an amazing God! I’d love the opportunity to win your book so I can continue to grow and learn through this “holding pattern” of my life. 🙂

  42. I would love to win a copy of this book. My family & I are currently in a waiting period. The first week of January, we had to pack up all the contents of our home & temporarily move in with my parents, to have some much needed repairs done to our house. What was supposed to have been a 6 week stay & job, has turned into 10 months, & counting. After tearing out ceilings, walls, & floors, there was one person that refused to sign off for the insurance company to cover these repairs, although it had all been previously arranged. It is now, & has been for about 6 months, in the hands of our attorneys. Having to cramp 4 people’s belongings into one bedroom, already filled with my mom’s, has been a practically impossible feet. Our younger daughter is 21 months old, & considering my mom struggles with quite a hoarding issue, it has become beyond exhausting, mentally, physically, & emotionally. Please pray that it is God’s will for this time of waiting to soon come to an end, & the house will get all needed repairs, so that we can move back home.

  43. A fast wake up occurred when I entered a store door and looked behind me and I saw a woman approaching with a walker and I said, Would you like me to hold the door for you? and she said, No, its ok ………. bong bong bong …..As I opened the door for her, I said, I want and I have to do this for you please.

    HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLO anybody home Mary Ann???

  44. I’m in a period of waiting. We’re trying to sell our house so we can buy the family farm, and my son has been suffering from anxiety attacks and he can’t get in to see the counselor until late October. I’m trying to be patient and trusting but it’s been hard!

  45. A waiting period…Many years and counting. The Lord is faithful in each day and gives me peace while the storm is all around. Wendy: I have followed you for years and your writings are so timely. Can’t wait to read your book of wisdom. Thank you.

  46. I have been divorced and a single mother for 10 years now…I feel I have been in a pause season for sometime. I would love to read this book for encouragment!

  47. Wendy,
    I am so excited for you and looking forward to the Bible study based on your book, which I will begin reading once I receive it.
    You are a good example of ‘waiting well’ all these years that I have followed you. Such an encouragement to me.
    Thank you and may God continue to bless you.
    Rokhshie

  48. Wendy,
    Thanks for the uplifting message about the waiting period and how this time helps us to grow in faith and patience. My family has been in a holding pattern for over a year following the health issues of my son. God is good and is using this time to help me learn many things, including the importance of talking to Him daily to get through the rough time. I am looking forward to the upcoming Bible study and time to share your book with others as we grow together.

  49. thanks for the motivation,l would love to have a copy as waiting for restoration has been hard for me.sometimes l just want to give up.

  50. I loved your book. I’m still in my wait 6yrs and counting. I actually have a few waits going on, but now I’ve read the book and haven’t felt more peace now than I have in these last few years. I’m going to reread Wait and See and I want to continue doing RTW. My heart is yearning for more. Thank you God and Thank you Wendy..

  51. The way you view waiting is amazing. I’m not sure I’ve ever looked at it like that. Thank you

  52. Thank you Wendy.
    The wait is hard but I trust that he sees who he created me to be and I humbly submit to his work of chiseling away everything that doesn’t look like his son.

  53. I am definitely in a place of struggling during the wait. I feel like I am not where I should be in my life and feel stuck, not knowing how to progress in life the way I envision. I have prayed and prayed and feel like all I can do is wait on the Lords timing. Help me to wait on you Lord.

  54. Thank you for this necessary reminder that waiting develops patience and perserverence. We need to let go and let God work on His timetable, not ours.
    Looking forward to reading your book and participating in the online study!

  55. Thank YOU for this devotional today. I am definitely in the waiting room of life. This gives me strength to keep turning to the Lord and growing in relationship with Him while I wait for the next route. Wait and See sounds like an exciting book that can help our hearts find peace in the waiting game. God Bless.

  56. Thank you for sharing this powerful lesson about hearing God’s voice and obeying it. Oh, to be so quick to hear and obey every time!

  57. I am trying so hard to listen & obey when I sense those directional thoughts or nudges. It must take a lot of practice because it isn’t easy!

  58. I have been waiting for 23 years for my husband to want to join me and grow with God. I have been waiting for 17 years for my oldest to want to be baptized. The waiting is so hard. Still praying and waiting.

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