Psalm 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

A father will stop, look back and wait as his little girl catches up to him. A driver will wait for a traffic signal to change before accelerating through an intersection. A teacher will pause until her students understand the introductory material before introducing more advanced material. A cook will turn down the stove to prevent a dish from burning.

Waiting might be seen as lost time, or time wasted while nothing is happening or progress is slowed. However, when we wait, there is a greater goal than raw speed. There is an understanding something is happening behind the scenes.

Waiting on God isn't a way of allowing God to catch up to us. It would be better described as a way for us to catch up to Him. Waiting on God means taking time to yield our spirit to Him and align our heart, thoughts, and desires with His so we can be ready to accept what he has for us.

To serve God without waiting on Him is like the student who pays for a class and never shows up to receive the instruction. To receive God's guidance and teaching, we must sit down and listen up in His "classroom."

Too often we rush in without waiting on God and really hurt those around us, the projects we are trying to aid, ourselves, and especially our families.

Abraham waited years for the promised son. Moses waited many years in the wilderness for God's deliverance. David waited for the death of Saul even as he ran from Saul. Jesus waited until he was about thirty to start his earthly ministry. Paul waited for several years after his conversion (Galatians 1:16-17). John waited on Patmos and was given a Revelation like no other.

How are we to know God if we don't wait on Him?

Take some time off. Stop. Meditate. Pray. Contemplate. Wait on God. Come back only when you have the mind of God.

—Luke