Waiting
Waiting
Learn to release control, trust God’s timing, and experience his nearness as you wait.
Remember what boredom felt like?
Do you ever miss being a kid, when you had to wait for new episodes of your favorite shows, and when you didn’t have a phone to distract you while waiting in line? We think that was actually good for us, and researchers seem to agree. But what does learning to wait have to do with following Jesus? Well, the Psalms are full of encouragement to “wait on the Lord,” and most of Israel’s history was spent waiting for the Messiah. In fact, the liturgical season of Advent is all about waiting, anticipating Christ’s coming to us. Here are some ways to become a person of patience and learn to hope and trust in God in your everyday life.
Level 1: Novice
Read Psalm 27, and ask God to reveal something you’re waiting on him for. Journal about this, and ask him to show you why it matters to you.
Commit to not binge-watching! Enjoy just one episode of your favorite show at a time.
Ditch fast food, and commit to making your own, slow, meals.
Practice delayed gratification by fasting one day a week or one meal a day.
Level 2: Apprentice
Make a habit of reading the Nativity stories in scripture (Matthew 1-2 & Luke 1-2).
Try praying some traditional Advent prayers.
Schedule time in your week to check social media, and wait til then to open the apps.
Identify something you’re waiting on God for. Make a habit of journaling about this, asking God to show you why it matters to you.
Level 3: Master
Host friends or family for dinner on the 4 Sundays of Advent, asking the question, “How is Jesus drawing near to you?”
Simplify your morning prayer time. Instead of adding more scripture reading or journaling, rest in some breath prayer, or wait on God in silence.
Take up a slow, time-consuming hobby. Think knitting, puzzles, writing, reading through the whole bible, etc.!
Enjoy four hours of silence and solitude with your phone off and no distractions.