The Bliss of Waiting and Abiding
Yesterday, I received an email from Betty Hughey, a member of Tribe 8 of my I Was Busy, Now I’m Not coaching program, who wrote, “Joseph, Hello, I wanted to send you this word that I read on the Elijah List today which re-enforces/confirms everything you are teaching us in the coaching sessions. I thought it was interesting that the Lord told Bobby Conner that he detest multitasking.”
The Bliss of Waiting and Abiding by Bobby Conner
The Lifestyle of Waiting
The Lord Jesus spoke to me in a very strong tone, stating, “When it comes to seeking ME, I detest multitasking!” We cannot develop this ability to hear from the Lord unless we first learn to wait upon the Lord (see Isaiah 40:31).
This “waiting” must be experienced in times set apart in which we are alone with Him (see Psalm 46:10-11). These set-apart times must have a place within our daily life experience. Our seeking is not haphazard or hit and miss: it must be a lifestyle (see Psalm 27:8)!
The true seeking of God is a continuous seeking. It has to do with the position or attitude of our spirit being lifted toward the Lord. Our heart must be attentive to His presence, and our ears must be open to His voice. We must continuously live in an attitude of worshipful listening, hearing and heeding the direction of God’s Spirit. A yielded life is essential.
He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. (II Chronicles 26:5)
The Spirit of Truth is seeking hungry-hearted saints who are desperate to hear and heed the voice of God, wholly following the Lamb of God – those who personally know Him and have received an understanding of His ways (see 1 Corinthians 2:6-7). We only come to maturity by personally knowing Him. And how do we come to know Him? By spending time with Him in His Presence our entire life takes on a new vibrant outlook (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).
We must pay close attention to nourishing our soul, making sure our spirit-man is not anemic and malnourished. How do we do this? By continually abiding in the Wisdom and guidance of the Word of God! God does promise that if we seek Him, great will be our reward.
I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently will find Me. Riches and honor are with Me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and My revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love Me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries. (Proverbs 8:17-21)
How To Wait Upon the Lord
It is imperative that we learn how to better surrender to the Spirit of God and how to be directed by His Spirit. Our being guided by the Spirit means that we have developed an appreciation and respect for His presence. This begins by meditating in the Scriptures so that we may convey true revelation of the Word of God to those who seek to know Him. When I am studying the Scriptures, I seek to allow the Word to enter into me and me into the Word. I see myself within the setting of the event unfolding in the pages of the Word of God (see Hebrews 4:12).
Guidance by the Spirit without words is the result of an active relationship with Jesus, in which His presence abides within us and we abide in Him, “knowing” His Spirit through the deep inner perception of our spirit.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way in which you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 32:8
Two Aspects to Waiting on the Lord
There are two aspects to our waiting on the Lord:
The first has to do with our withdrawal from all activity. Through this separation unto God, we enter into a consciousness of His presence. This consciousness can be described as an attitude of anticipation and worship. So the first step in beginning a true seeking of God is for us to set aside time in which we quietly wait to hear His knock upon the door of our spirit. The enemy of our soul will also be knocking, however. Remember, this is a very important point: The devil will always attempt to distract you with thoughts, to turn your mind away from things above (see Colossians 3:5).
The second aspect of our waiting on the Lord is learning how to continuously abide in His presence no matter the activity at hand. This continuous abiding hinges on the first experience of withdrawal:
“Therefore whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31).
It is possible for us to be separated unto God, “shut in” with the Lord, in the midst of activity (see Matthew 6:6). This will take time, as it does not come easily, or at once. The devil – the foe of your soul – will attempt to steal your intimacy with Jesus. He will distract and disturb you anyway he can with the goal of disrupting your seeking God.
This higher level of relationship begins with our entering our set-apart place and then waiting on the Lord during specific times, times which are set aside for this purpose. Then we can carry His presence out with us to abide in all that we do.
Never forget: True prayer is an audience with the KING!
ElijahList Prophetic Resources
Assure Your Heart of His Presence
It is reported concerning the early disciples that they were ignorant and untrained; however, it was evident that they had been with Jesus (see Acts 4:13).
Reassure your heart that God is “omnipresent.” He is always with you, attentive to your every thought and feeling. Consider Jeremiah 23:24:
“‘Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?’ says the Lord; ‘Do not I fill Heaven and earth?’ says the Lord.”
We can encourage ourselves with the fact that the Lord is present, no matter how we may feel. This is a tremendous truth, and will greatly help us – once it captures our heart. Our remaining conscious of the fact of His presence as we wait on the Lord is like recharging a battery: It is a renewing process of His life flowing into our lives and a joining of our spirit with the Lord through faith. His presence will gradually become our delight.
Another way to understand this is that we, being a branch, are to draw the life of the vine into our spirit.
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
As our mind is renewed by waiting on the Lord, it is brought closer to His mind – and we come to understand His ways. Consider I Corinthians 2:16: “…But we have the mind of Christ.” This truth is worked into our spirit as we spend time in the Lord’s presence, waiting upon Him.
Be Determined To Wait
The only way for us to enter this relationship of His abiding presence is to begin waiting upon the Lord on a regular basis, with a determination not to stop until we have met with and supped with Him.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2)
As we seek first the Kingdom of God, the blessings and overwhelming benefits of God flood our lives (see Matthew 6:33). The overwhelming bliss and joy of a soul prospering in the favor of God is a noble quest. A truth we must grasp is money and material things do not bring lasting satisfaction and joy of soul.
As we become relentless, determined not to stop, as we meet and sup with Him, both our waiting and our abiding in His presence will become our highest joy (see Psalm 16:11)!
Bobby Conner
EaglesView Ministries
Email: manager@bobbyconner.org
Website: BobbyConner.orgBobby Conner: This “Gentle Giant” is uniquely anointed with refreshing humor and razor-sharp prophetic accuracy, which has been documented around the world. Bobby’s dynamic capacity to release outstanding demonstrations of the miraculous – healings, signs and wonders – reveals the very heart of the Father toward us! Surviving a dramatic abortion attempt by his mother, being rescued again by the hand of God from drug dealing and suicide, the story of Bobby Conner is a display of a man who now walks in his God-ordained destiny to set others free! Highly esteemed as an internationally acclaimed conference speaker, Bobby has ministered effectively to over 45 foreign countries as well as here in the States for many years.
No comments yet.