Christian Author Laura Davis

Whenever God is trying to tell me something, He usually has to repeat Himself - several times. I admit it is my own thickheadedness that causes Him to have to resort to various tactics in order to get my attention. I'm very thankful He hasn't given up on me yet. In fact, Come to Me would never have been written if God hadn't persisted in nudging me. He went so far as to have a CD delivered in the mail (one I never requested mind you!) that had one song. Can you guess the name? Yup! Come to Me. It was during a time when I didn't know what to call my book. During that time, the verse, "Come to Me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest", (Matt. 11:28) frequently entered my conversations with people. Many of the books I read back then would also bring up this verse. Our Pastor had a sermon featuring it during that time too! When I got the CD I finally got the hint.

For the last couple of months, I've been seeing the same thing happen to me again. Books I'm reading all have the same theme, conversations are once again focusing on one subject and last week I received something in the mail. It's time to take the hint.

So what did I receive? A card that said, "It's All in the Waiting." I'm not good at waiting. I'm an impatient person. I like to go and get things done, but lately I've been forced to be still and well ... wait. I have been unable to attend church for some time now because I can't sit for long periods without elevating my leg. So I watch the services from home. I am feeling very antsy right now. I don't like to sit and not get things done. But lately, I've been forced to wait. I waited 2 weeks to find out if I have cancer. I don't! I have been waiting 4 weeks to get rid of a persisent cough. It's still there. The day that card came? I was waiting on my cat who was in surgery. The neat thing about that card? It had a cat on the front cover! God also has perfect timing!

So, why all the waiting? What have I learned? That waiting can be sacred. Waiting forces me to abide in Him daily. To spend precious moments silently in prayer, waiting on His directives for me for the day. Waiting is a form of worship that causes us to focus on God. It helps us to look inside ourselves to see those parts that are not in step with the Spirit.

Lent began on February 17. For the next 40 days people all over the world are observing it in one form or another. May I encourage you to take this time to wait on God? To use these days as your spiritual act of worship. To find a quiet place each day to pray, listen and most of all - to wait.

"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." (Isaiah 40:31)