What are you waiting for?

I went to the church where I work, an Anglican church, last weekend.  Sunday marked the first in Advent, and as the Vicar spoke, two of his words jumped out at at me. He spoke of advent as a time of 'active anticipation' in many ways.

As I considered the words, I remembered the scripture from Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.

 The word WAIT here, talks about just an expectation; to look for, to hope for.  It's very active.

Some times we think of 'waiting' as staying put until something comes or happens, but that's only half of the definition.

The online dictionary says that it can also be defined as "to remain in readiness for a purpose".  I really like that.  It makes me think of a runner on the starting block.  They are waiting.. but it's certainly not passive.  Every muscle is ready to go.  The athlete's mind is focussed on one thing and they wait,

It occurred to me, that in the season leading up to Jesus' birth.  Mary wasn't likely to be sitting at home doing nothing..  Like every mother to be, though she was waiting, I am sure she was preparing;  reminding Joseph to make the crib, cleaning, getting ready.  She was actively anticipating the arrival of her son, the Son of God.

As we go into the Advent season, I encourage you to actively anticipate what God has for you in the coming weeks and moving into to 2019.

The word says that God's thoughts towards us are good,  He plans to give us hope and a future!   We can prepare our hearts to receive what He has for us.  We can do this by actively waiting.  Readying ourself (not through self effort to make us worthy, because Christ did that part already).    But stirring up hope and expectation in our our hearts through prayer, reading the word, worship and reminding ourselves of His goodness, and all that He has already done. Mediate on his promises and look forward with active anticipation to a good season and a great start to the new year.




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