Faithful Waiting: Magnifying God Amidst Life's Challenges

Devotional

Day 1: Magnify God Over Problems

When we face challenges, our natural inclination is to focus on the problem, which often magnifies our fears and anxieties. However, as Christians, we are called to shift our focus from our problems to God's greatness. By magnifying God through worship, we allow His presence to overshadow our fears and anxieties. This act of worship is a powerful tool in overcoming life's challenges, as it helps us to see our problems in the light of God's power and faithfulness. Worship is not just a Sunday activity but a daily practice that reorients our hearts and minds towards God, reminding us of His sovereignty and love. [06:13]

Psalm 34:3-4 (ESV): "Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears."

Reflection: Think of a current problem or fear you are facing. How can you intentionally magnify God over this issue today through worship and prayer?

Day 2: The Importance of Waiting on the Lord

Waiting on God is not a passive activity but an active expression of trust and obedience. It requires us to be vigilant, confident, reverent, obedient, and expectant. During this waiting period, we are called to press into God's presence, worship Him, and trust His timing. This active waiting involves seeking God's guidance, obeying His commands, and maintaining a hopeful expectation that His plans are always better than ours. By waiting on the Lord, we demonstrate our faith in His perfect timing and methods, knowing that He is working all things for our good. [20:27]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you find it hardest to wait on God? How can you actively trust and obey Him in this waiting period?

Day 3: Dangers of Impatience

Impatience can lead to actions that have long-term negative consequences. The Israelites created an idol when they grew tired of waiting for Moses, and Abraham birthed Ishmael out of impatience. These actions had lasting repercussions, reminding us that our disobedience can create enduring issues. It is crucial to wait on the Lord and trust His perfect timing and methods. Impatience often stems from a lack of trust in God's plan and a desire to control our circumstances. By surrendering our impatience to God, we acknowledge His sovereignty and trust that His ways are higher than ours. [24:57]

Psalm 37:7 (ESV): "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!"

Reflection: Reflect on a time when impatience led you to make a decision you later regretted. How can you cultivate patience and trust in God's timing in your current situation?

Day 4: Supernatural Living Over Natural Living

As Christians, we are called to live by supernatural means, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This means not settling for natural responses like fear and anxiety but accessing the supernatural strength and peace that God provides. Living supernaturally involves relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance, strength, and comfort, rather than depending solely on our own abilities and understanding. It is a call to rise above our natural inclinations and embrace the abundant life that God offers through His Spirit. By living supernaturally, we can experience God's peace and power in every aspect of our lives. [04:58]

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV): "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength rather than the Holy Spirit? How can you begin to live more supernaturally today?

Day 5: God's Faithfulness in Crisis

David's life, filled with crises, teaches us that God remains faithful even in our messes. Our struggles do not disqualify us from being used by God. Instead, they can become testimonies of His grace and power when we surrender to Him. David faced numerous challenges, from being hunted by Saul to dealing with family betrayal and personal sin. Despite these trials, he found solace and strength in God's presence. This reminds us that God's faithfulness is not dependent on our circumstances but on His unchanging nature. In times of crisis, we can trust that God is with us, working all things for our good and His glory. [08:48]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: Think of a recent crisis or challenge you have faced. How did you see God's faithfulness during that time? How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness in your current situation?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate the incredible work done by our community and to delve into Psalm 27 as part of our "Summer in the Psalms" series. We began by acknowledging the anxiety and fear that many people are experiencing in today's world, exacerbated by constant negative news and social media pressures. However, as Christians, we are called to live not by natural means but by supernatural faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 27, written by David during a time of national and personal crisis, serves as a powerful reminder of God's protection and faithfulness. David faced numerous challenges, from being hunted by Saul to dealing with family betrayal and personal sin. Despite these trials, he found solace and strength in God's presence. The Psalm emphasizes that while fear and anxiety are natural responses, they are not where God wants us to dwell. Instead, we are called to magnify God over our problems, enhancing His presence in our lives through worship and faith.

David's life teaches us that waiting on the Lord is crucial. Waiting is not passive but involves active trust and obedience. We must be vigilant, confident, reverent, obedient, and expectant as we wait for God's promises to manifest. This waiting period is not about doing nothing but about pressing into God's presence, worshiping Him, and trusting His timing.

We also discussed the dangers of impatience, using examples like the Israelites creating an idol when they grew tired of waiting for Moses and Abraham birthing Ishmael out of impatience. These actions had long-term consequences, reminding us that our disobedience can create lasting issues. Therefore, it's essential to wait on the Lord, trusting that His timing and methods are perfect.

In closing, we were encouraged to remain steadfast in our faith, magnifying God over our problems and trusting in His promises. We were reminded that God is our refuge and strength, and in His presence, we find the joy and peace needed to navigate life's challenges.

###

Key Takeaways

1. term negative consequences, as seen with the Israelites creating an idol and Abraham birthing Ishmael. Our disobedience can create lasting issues, making it crucial to wait on the Lord and trust His perfect timing and methods. [24:57]
4. Supernatural Living Over Natural Living: As Christians, we are called to live by supernatural means, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This means not settling for natural responses like fear and anxiety but accessing the supernatural strength and peace that God provides.

5. God's Faithfulness in Crisis: David's life, filled with crises, teaches us that God remains faithful even in our messes. Our struggles do not disqualify us from being used by God. Instead, they can become testimonies of His grace and power when we surrender to Him.

### [24:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:13] - Recognizing Volunteers
[02:31] - Addressing Anxiety and Fear
[03:48] - Impact of News and Social Media
[04:58] - Supernatural Living Over Natural Living
[06:13] - Magnifying God Over Problems
[07:32] - Introduction to Psalm 27
[08:48] - David's Crises and God's Faithfulness
[09:59] - Reading Psalm 27
[12:24] - Confidence in God's Promises
[16:05] - Worship Over Worry
[18:05] - Obedience in Small Things
[19:46] - Waiting on the Lord
[24:57] - Dangers of Impatience
[28:50] - Striving vs. Surrender
[32:50] - Example of Moses Waiting on God
[37:05] - Responding in Waiting Seasons
[38:32] - Active Waiting: Five Steps
[44:54] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are some of the crises David faced in his life as mentioned in the sermon? [08:48]
According to Psalm 27, what does David seek most from the Lord? [09:59]
What are the five actions David encourages us to take while waiting on the Lord? [38:32]

Interpretation Questions

How does David's approach to fear and anxiety in Psalm 27 reflect the idea of supernatural living over natural living? [04:58]
Why is waiting on the Lord described as an active process rather than a passive one? [20:27]
How do the examples of the Israelites creating an idol and Abraham birthing Ishmael illustrate the dangers of impatience? [24:57]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you magnified your problems instead of God. How did that affect your faith and anxiety levels? What can you do differently next time? [06:13]
David found strength in God's presence during his crises. How can you incorporate more time in God's presence into your daily routine to combat fear and anxiety? [08:48]
Waiting on the Lord involves active trust and obedience. What is one area in your life where you need to practice more patience and trust in God's timing? [20:27]
Think about a situation where impatience led to negative consequences in your life. How can you use that experience to remind yourself to wait on the Lord in future situations? [24:57]
The sermon mentioned that worship is a powerful tool in overcoming life's challenges. How can you make worship a more integral part of your life, especially during difficult times? [16:05]
Identify a specific fear or anxiety you are currently facing. How can you apply the principle of magnifying God over your problems to this situation? [06:13]
The sermon emphasized the importance of obedience in small things. What is one small act of obedience you can commit to this week to strengthen your faith? [18:05]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "If you're somebody today who battles anxiety, can I say it's completely normal to feel anxious in response to a lot of these things, right? Come on, it's normal. It's normal to feel anxious against this stuff. It's perfectly natural to worry about these sorts of things. But here's the thing. We're not called to natural living. Amen? If we're in Christ Jesus, we're not called to settle for natural living. As Christians, we're called to a higher plane of supernatural living." [04:58] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We don't ever have to settle for natural living when we have access to the supernatural. Can somebody say amen? So while fear or anxiety, it may be something we visit sometimes, hear me, that's not a place that God wants you to camp out and remain. He doesn't want you to settle there and call that place home. But I believe that's the mistake that many of us are making today is we're wearing the label, we're settling in that place, and we're saying this is my destination." [05:38] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We need to be real people serving a real God. Amen? And so he's okay with us just bringing our real concerns, our real heaviness, our real heartache, whatever it is that we're dealing with, to bring that to him. But listen, at the end of the day, we have to be careful what we magnify. Let me say that again. We got to be careful what we magnify because whatever we choose to enhance, we choose to empower." [06:13] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When we lift the name of Jesus, when we exalt him, when we lift him high, all of a sudden he starts to consume our focus and the other things start to diminish in his presence. Whatever we choose to enhance, we choose to empower. And I want to give all power to the King of Kings, right? All glory and power and authority is his forever and ever. Amen?" [06:52] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We can't expect to see the goodness of the Lord manifest in our lives if we're unwilling to wait on him to bring us the victory. Now, for some of you, wait, it might be worse than any other four-letter word I could have said here this morning. Because waiting can be a really hard thing to do, right? It's like when you tell someone, be patient, right? That enrages people, can I just tell you? It makes people really mad." [22:05] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "If David didn't launch a stone at the giant, the story would have had a very different outcome. So what we do with what we've been given, it matters a lot. If you don't gather the stones, there's no giant. It's not going down. Now, gathering stones from a river doesn't seem like a very important task. But obedience, even in the small things, hear me, because some of y'all feel like I'm not in the big things that I'm dreaming for. And God said, but will you be obedient in the small things?" [18:05] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We can't claim refuge in the fortress of God if we run someplace else. There's too many people today, too many Christians who are claiming the protections, of God. Meanwhile, with their feet and with their heart and with their thoughts, they're running completely somewhere else. They're not in the sanctuary of their God. They're not in the safe place of refuge under the shadow of his wing." [19:06] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When we don't have the ability to wait on the Lord, and we try to do his work in our way, and in our time, it's what we do. We end up birthing Ishmaels. And sometimes the impact of our inability to wait on the Lord can produce lasting consequences. They can even extend beyond our own lives. From generation to generation. In fact, can I tell you something? Some of y'all, and I was this way, you were walking or you were walking in a generational curse that somebody else handed down to you." [26:36] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We need to be content in the Lord. We need to rest in his presence. We need to surrender to his will. That's where the peace of God rests is in surrender. It's not in striving for all these things to try to substitute for the peace of God, for the joy of God, for the fulfillment that only he can bring. It's not always desiring unrighteous things though sometimes we want a righteous thing like seeing someone we care about follow God with their life." [28:50] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "In every relationship we can either choose intimacy or we can choose control but we can't have both. Let me say that again for y'all taking notes in every relationship we can either choose intimacy or we can choose control but we can't have both. In fact so many situations in our lives we we try to control the outcome and by doing that it's what we do we try to control the outcome and by doing that it's what causes us to lose patience and then take matters into our own hands." [30:03] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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