Stewarding the Promise in the waiting.

Waiting is inevitable, in whatever stage of life we find ourselves in, we will always be waiting. The word of God says as long as the earth remains, there will be seed time and harvest, summer and winter, day and night ( Genesis 8:22) and in between planting and harvest there is that waiting period where the seed grows in the soil until it becomes a mature fruit ready to be harvested. It is not for us to control how fast the seed germinates, but it is our job to make sure we water the seed, and keep it safe from external factors that would threaten the growth of the seed.

I remember when I growing up my mom had a garden where she would plant different kinds of vegetables, particularly maize. She also the same time had chickens, whenever she had just planted the maize in the soil the chickens would come into the garden dig up the maize seed and eat, so she had to develop a strategy to get the chickens away from the garden so that the maize would have enough time to germinate successfully without interruption.

I believe it is the same for us as we find ourselves whether in the waiting period or sowing season. I believe when God gives us a promise it comes in the form of a seed, he gives us a word, a dream, a desire, the period of time when we first hear of God's promise to the manifestation of the promise, is the period of waiting, where we sometimes found ourselves with the temptation to give up, we interrupt the growth of the seed by spending time murmuring and complaining or even sometimes we find ourselves forfeiting the season by taking matters into our own hands. An example is when Sarah and Abraham were waiting for God to manifest His promise to them because at that time they lacked an understanding of what it looks like to wait on God they took matters into their own hands, and they decided to bring the promise to pass in their own way, and because of this, they found themselves experiencing experiences God never intended for them. God wanted them to rest and be assured that He who promised is faithful and that He has the ability to carry out his own plans in His own way and on His own time. That is exactly the same for us, while we are waiting on God, he desires that we be fully dependent on Him, fully trusting in His ability to bring his own word to pass.

So while we wait for God there are a few things to remember so that we can avoid detours and delays.

There are many ways to guard what God has placed inside of us, but here are a few things to note:

■Testing

When God promises us something, one thing we must readily expect while waiting is testing, remember trials or persecutions come because of the word ( Mark 4:17) we must never make the mistake of thinking that we will be exempt from tests, as long as we are carrying a God-given word, the enemy will always be after our mind, our attention and our focus, his main goal is to distract us from believing God, distract us from intentionally stewarding our season.

We can counterattack the enemy during testing by allowing ourselves to engage in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18), praying always at all times without ceasing. Understand that the enemy is already defeated but you must hold fast to what you believe.

■ Voices

While we wait, it is important whom we listen to there are some people who will listen to you vent and take a chair and sit with you and assist you even to speak ill of God, but there are those who will listen but tell you, let's pray together, who will prophesy over your life because from their lips lie the knowledge about God. It's important to be in the company of those who will share your faith so that when testing comes, they can remind you of the promises of God.

■What can I do while I wait?

God gives us specific instructions for victory, a season of waiting is a season of preparation, A divine breakthrough will require divine obedience. What is God requiring of you in this season?

There are times when God will say rest while he works, but there are times when God will require co-operation from us, it is us following these instructions that will help us reach the promised land, the longer we delay in obedience the longer we will stay in the waiting.

■Intentional Focus

A God-given word will always require you to intentionally focus on the giver of the promise(Hebrews 12:2), there can never be a fulfillment of a promise when we are out of step with God, I'm not saying that we must be perfect in our devotion, but rather that, no matter what happens we should always strive to return to God's presence, If we find ourselves losing focus, we should rather be transparent and honest with God, when we do that God will give us the strength and courage we need to press on, though we don't know the time when God will open the doors He promised us, we must always be intentionally focused on God.

Intentional focus allows us to discern when God says go! or when He says stop.

God desires that we would wait in ease, wait in faith knowing that when we place our confidence on Him, we will never be disgraced. God will fulfill all his promises to us, that is as true as Jesus is true, all we have to do is wait and take courage.

Let's pray, Father I thank you for your promises, I believe that you can do anything and that no purpose of yours over my life can be thwarted. I pray that as I wait for you, you would continue to give me strength, help me to steward this season in a way that honors you, help me to discern your voice, and give me a heart that will yield to your instructions, I thank you that you love me and care for me. In Jesus' name Amen.