Worship, Intercession, and Waiting on God's Strength

Devotional

Day 1: Waiting on God renews and empowers your life.

When you wait on the Lord, your weariness meets renewed strength and purpose; trust the promise that God renews you each morning so you can mount up, run, and not grow faint as you lean into His timing and rest in His power. [53:55]

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: Name one area where you feel exhausted right now; set aside ten uninterrupted minutes to pray, asking God to help you wait on Him, and commit to one concrete rest practice this week (sleep, Sabbath stretch, or scheduled quiet time).

Day 2: Lifted-up Jesus draws all people to Himself.

Jesus promised that when He is lifted up, hearts will be drawn to Him; keep your focus on Christ lifted high in worship and let that magnetize your prayers, your witness, and your hope for others to encounter His love. [24:44]

John 12:32 (ESV)
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Reflection: Identify one person you long to see drawn to Jesus; pray specifically for them today and plan one loving, practical step to show Christ’s kindness to them this week (a call, a meal, an invitation).

Day 3: Praise invites God's presence and brings blessing.

Practicing praise opens the door for God's presence to move and release blessing; intentionally offer genuine thanks and exaltation today as a posture that invites heaven’s blessing into ordinary life. [24:16]

Psalm 22:3 (ESV)
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

Reflection: Write down three things from the last week you can praise God for; speak them aloud right now and watch for one specific way God responds in the next 24 hours—then share that testimony with someone.

Day 4: God faithfully provides for daily needs always.

God sees the everyday needs—clothes, shelter, food—and cares for them; instead of anxiety, seek His kingdom first, trusting that He knows what you need and will supply as you live obediently and gratefully. [25:07]

Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV)
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Reflection: List one specific provision worry you carry; pray Matthew 6:31–33 back to God, then take one practical step today (review a budget, ask for help, or give in faith) that demonstrates trust in His care.

Day 5: Come boldly into God's presence, draw near.

The invitation is to enter the holy place with confidence—draw near to God with a true heart, confessing and receiving His cleansing so you can experience intimate communion in the “holies of holies.” [01:11:49]

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV)
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Reflection: Set aside five uninterrupted minutes today to draw near—confess openly, thank Him, and ask—then write one sentence about how you sensed His presence or what He spoke to you.

Sermon Summary

We gathered as family on this fifth Sunday to do the simple, eternally important things: worship and intercession. I invited us to move closer, not just in our seating, but in our hearts—to close the distance between where we are and where God is drawing us. Before a single song, we lifted our hands and made space for the Holy Spirit, setting our expectation that the God who has kept us all week is present and ready to move. We named Him as big—bigger than our fears, our needs, and our limits. That confession was not hype; it was alignment. When we right-size God, our problems take their proper place.

We practiced the holy exchange: bringing our weakness, weariness, and worry into the presence of a limitless God and receiving His strength. We leaned into the promise that those who wait on the Lord renew their strength—they rise, they run, they don’t faint. Waiting wasn’t passive for us today; it was an active posture of trust, an open-handed “yes” to God’s timing, God’s power, and God’s way. Together we decided to worship like heaven does—without hurry, without pretense, without quotas—because worship is what we were made for and where we become most ourselves.

I asked you to make it personal. Not a crowd moment, but a Jesus moment—to talk to your Savior about the week you just lived and the week you are walking into. We didn’t rush the silence; we honored the whisper. In that space, God met us—drawing us close, exchanging heaviness for hope, and renewing strength for the road ahead. My prayer is that what we practiced together becomes your pattern tomorrow: draw near with expectancy, declare who God is, exchange what you cannot carry, and wait well. He will meet you there.

Key Takeaways

1. Draw near with holy expectancy Expectation is not wishful thinking; it’s trust that God is already present and active. When we move closer—in body and in heart—we signal hunger, and God loves to meet hungry people. Expectancy sharpens attention; it tunes the soul to notice grace in real time. Come ready, and you’ll find He was ready first. [24:16]
2. God is bigger than your limits Naming God’s greatness is not denial of pain; it is the refusal to grant our limits the final word. When we confess His power, fear loses its authority and options multiply where we saw none. Worship re-sizes our world—God becomes large and our obstacles small. Faith grows in the space created by that re-sizing. [26:05]
3. Exchange weakness for His strength Grace invites a trade: honesty for help, emptiness for fullness. Bring the part of you that is tired, confused, or discouraged, and hand it over. Strength does not arrive as adrenaline but as steadying presence and durable joy. This exchange can become a daily practice, not a rare moment. [52:36]
4. Wait on the Lord together Waiting is not inactivity; it is intentional consent to God’s timing and God’s work. In the waiting, roots go down, clarity grows, and strength returns. Community waiting teaches us to borrow each other’s faith when ours runs low. Those who wait find they can run again—and not burn out. [53:55]
5. Turn worship into personal dialogue Worship is more than songs; it’s conversation where you bring specific stories, sins, and needs to Jesus. Speak plainly, listen carefully, and let the Spirit translate your groans into prayer. Intimacy is built in these unhurried moments. What starts in the sanctuary reshapes your Monday. [71:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[18:10] - Church-wide Ugly Sweater Party
[19:13] - Donuts and Cocoa Invitation
[19:58] - Giving and Stay Connected
[23:27] - Call to Gather Close
[24:00] - Ready Hearts for Worship
[24:16] - Expectation for Blessing and Miracles
[24:44] - Open Hands, Open Hearts Prayer
[25:07] - Remember God’s Daily Goodness
[26:05] - God Without Limits Declaration
[52:36] - Exchange Weakness for Strength
[53:55] - Waiting on the Lord Together
[69:36] - Stand and Keep Worshiping
[71:16] - Make It Personal with Jesus
[72:15] - Silent Reverence and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

- Isaiah 40:28-31 — 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 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. - John 12:32 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. - Psalm 147:5 5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

Observation Questions

In Isaiah 40:28-31 what two promises does the Lord give to those who are weak or weary? What images does the passage use to describe the result of waiting on God?
Read John 12:32. What does “lifted up” mean in this verse, and how might that connect to the worship action the speaker invited the congregation to do before singing? [24:44]
The sermon describes lifting hands and “right-sizing” God by naming His greatness. What words and phrases from Psalm 147:5 and the sermon help shape that practice of naming God’s greatness? [26:05]
The speaker invited the church to “exchange weakness for strength.” Which phrases in Isaiah 40:29–31 match that exchange, and which line in the sermon made that connection most clearly? [52:36]

Interpretation Questions

How would a person living under regular stress interpret the promise of Isaiah 40:31—would they hear it as immediate relief, long-term endurance, or both? What in the passage points to each option?
How does lifting up Jesus in John 12:32 function as the means by which people are drawn to him—does the text suggest a public witness, an inward worship posture, or both? How does the sermon connect the act of lifting to being drawn to Jesus? [24:44]
The sermon says naming God’s greatness does not deny pain but refuses to let limits have the final word. How does Psalm 147:5 support that approach theologically, and what tension still remains when someone is suffering?
The sermon links waiting with renewed strength and community support. How does waiting “together” change the dynamics of Isaiah’s promise—what does community add that private waiting might not? [53:55]

Application Questions

Draw near with holy expectancy: This week, pick a time each morning (5–10 minutes) to pause, declare that God is present, and ask God to make you alert for one specific way He might show up. When will you do that, and what will you look for? [24:16]
Name God’s greatness aloud: Identify one fear or limit you’re facing. Practice a short declaration (two sentences) that names God’s greatness over that specific issue and say it out loud each morning. What will your declaration be? [26:05]
Exchange weakness for strength: Choose one area where you feel worn out (physical, emotional, spiritual). How will you practically hand that over to God this week—through a simple prayer, asking a friend to pray with you, journaling it to God, or another action? Commit to the specific step and when you will do it. [52:36]
Wait on the Lord together: Arrange a 20–30 minute time this week to meet with one or two group members to wait in prayer—no agenda, just silence, short prayers, and listening. Who will you ask, and when will you meet? [53:55]
Turn worship into a personal dialogue: At least once this week, during a song or quiet time, speak to Jesus about one concrete story from your week (a success, a failure, a fear, a joy). Write down what you tell him and any impression you receive. When will you set aside that moment? [01:11:16]
Make a habit of “right-sizing” your problems: For one specific problem this week, list practical next steps you can take (actions you control) and then write a one-sentence confession of God’s power over it. How does naming God first change the list of next steps? [26:05]

Sermon Clips

The Bible tells us that if, when the praises go up, the blessings will come down. So as we praise today, be expecting, be expecting for your blessing to happen, for your miracle to take place, for transformation to take place. So let's just take a moment as we are about to enter into the presence of God. We're just lifting our hands. Father, we offer ourselves to you today. Come on, all over the room. Lift your hands. We are open for you to move how you want to move. [00:24:09] (41 seconds) #PraiseBringsBlessings

So as we praise today, be expecting, be expecting for your blessing to happen, for your miracle to take place, for transformation to take place. So let's just take a moment as we are about to enter into the presence of God. We're just lifting our hands. Father, we offer ourselves to you today. Come on, all over the room. Lift your hands. We are open for you to move how you want to move. Lord, you said, if I will be lifted up, that you would draw all men unto you. [00:24:16] (41 seconds) #LiftHimUp

Would you draw us closer to you today? Yeah. Would you draw us closer today? We are here for you. Would you just focus your mind on Jesus for a moment before we sing any song? Would you just focus on Jesus, the goodness of God, how he's kept you all week long? He provided for you. You put clothes on your back, shelter over your head, food on your table. Think about his goodness, his grace, and his mercy. [00:24:58] (31 seconds) #DrawUsCloser

Would you just focus your mind on Jesus for a moment before we sing any song? Would you just focus on Jesus, the goodness of God, how he's kept you all week long? He provided for you. You put clothes on your back, shelter over your head, food on your table. Think about his goodness, his grace, and his mercy. We love you, God. We love you, Holy Spirit. Would you come into the room? Would you move by your power? Lord, we need you. We want you. [00:25:07] (34 seconds) #FocusOnJesus

We love you, God. We love you, Holy Spirit. Would you come into the room? Would you move by your power? Lord, we need you. We want you. We want you. We want you. We can't live life without you. We can't do anything without you. You are a big God. You are a mighty God. Thank you that the Bible reminds us that you are a God that is great and mighty in power. You are a God without limits. There's no limits. [00:25:29] (40 seconds) #WeNeedYouLord

We can't live life without you. We can't do anything without you. You are a big God. You are a mighty God. Thank you that the Bible reminds us that you are a God that is great and mighty in power. You are a God without limits. There's no limits. So whatever you're facing today, know that big, mighty God is bigger than that. He can handle it. He sees you. He knows you. He created the heavens and the earth. [00:25:43] (39 seconds) #NothingWithoutYou

You are a big God. You are a mighty God. Thank you that the Bible reminds us that you are a God that is great and mighty in power. You are a God without limits. There's no limits. So whatever you're facing today, know that big, mighty God is bigger than that. He can handle it. He sees you. He knows you. He created the heavens and the earth. He made our lives bigger than anything. So would you shout for just a moment, God, you are a big God. [00:25:54] (40 seconds) #GodIsBigger

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

How does waiting on the Lord renew strength?

What should we expect as we praise God?

How should we prepare to enter God’s presence?