Embracing Active Waiting: A Spiritual Journey in Advent

Anna's devotion and her recognition of Jesus as the Redeemer of Jerusalem teach us that waiting is not passive but an active engagement with God's promises. It is about aligning our lives with God's presence and purpose, much like Anna did through her constant worship and prayer. [00:04:48]

Waiting can be challenging because it reminds us of our lack of control. In our impatience, we often forget that waiting is an opportunity to grow in humility and trust. It is a chance to learn that our lives are not about reducing waiting time but about serving others and waiting on the Lord. [00:08:37]

Advent waiting is a call to live with purpose, to engage in the world with hope and anticipation. It is about becoming who God wants us to be while we wait. As we wait, we are invited to ask God how He wants us to respond in the present moment, even amidst pain and unanswered prayers. [00:10:28]

Anna is marking all of that in her life coming up to them that is Mary and Joseph at that very moment she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the Redemption of Jerusalem and that little phrase looking forward to is another way of talking about waiting. [00:05:32]

There is a real important difference in Advent between Advent waiting active waiting waiting as opposed to waiting around. There is a quite famous Play It's called waiting for gdau or the Brits pronounce the name I guess GD uh and it features primarily two characters who are sitting and talking on a pretty Barren stage throughout an entire play. [00:06:08]

The message of advent is that someone is coming and therefore our waiting is to be an act of waiting it is to be expectant it is to anticipate it is to believe deeply in life and to embrace it. Ben Patterson wrote one time when you're waiting this is part of the school of waiting the Puritans would talk about the school of waiting. [00:07:39]

We struggle deeply with impulsivity, we don't want to have to wait we want to be in control and part of why we hate to wait is we are reminded when we wait that we are not in control. If you're on a plane and you're delayed the pilot may come on and say I want to thank you for your patience. [00:08:37]

Waiting can be a chance for me to learn again I am not as important as I think I am and it's a real good thing that I am not in control and that my life is not just about reducing the waiting time but waiting on others. You are at a grocery store and you are in line and there's an elderly woman in front of you. [00:09:27]

We all grow and we learn as we're waiting in ways that we don't otherwise so you cannot control if you wait you can control how you wait today wait on God ask God how do you want me to respond in this moment while there is still pain while I don't have the answer to this prayer. [00:10:28]

When we approach the Bible and you know he would often teach it but he would say now there's a way of coming to the Bible just as a human being where I'm not trying to use it to prepare a sermon or anything rather we are waiting for God's word to us it is not a vacuous waiting but a waiting on the basis of a clear promise. [00:11:00]

Often we're so burdened and overwhelmed with other thoughts images concerns it may take a long time before God's word has swept all else aside and come through but it will surely Come Just As surely as God himself has come to men and women and will come again and that's the Advent so right now wait on God. [00:11:46]

If you're not dead you're not done Rejoice favored one the Lord is with you hey thanks for joining us my name is Tim I'm a part of the team here at become new and I live in Minnesota so it's freezing where I am be sure to hit that subscribe button so you don't miss any future teachings from John. [00:12:09]