Thousands of years ago, a vast army of Israelites were fighting off an even bigger army, the Amalekites. In order for them to secure a guaranteed victory, their leader, Moses, had to keep his hands raised high in the air. The moment he drops them is the moment the Amalekites would win. Due to his age and the amount of time he had his hands in the air, Moses grew tired and weary. To help his hands stay raised in the air, his brother Aaron and the assistant, Hur, helped Moses to keep his hands raised. Because of this, the Israelites defeated their greatest enemy, the Amalekites.
First off, let's shed some light into the situation. Moses raising his hands is a sign of surrender to God. That means, Moses gave God the battlefield, which guaranteed victory for the Israelites. In other words, Moses said, "The battle isn't ours, but Yours!". And second, Moses's dedication to enduring the wait shows us true perseverance.
We all may be struggling in one area or another. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1: 2-4) It's in the waiting that we need God's strength to course through our veins. The greatest test we all will face is the Waiting Test. This test involves enduring the wait between what God promised and the actual promise coming to pass. It's in this middle valley that we have to endure great patience, though others fall away and quit halfway through their own waiting period.
"He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:5) " "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:19). When we hear these words while waiting, we can either get excited or get frustrated. "Okay, God, where is this "new thing" you keep talking about? All I see are same old situations that have yet to change". You see, part of the test is endurance and patience. However, there is another part of the test that hardly ANYBODY talks about: Preparation!
Why ask for something you aren't prepared to receive? If you asked to be an Ambassador for Louis Vuitton, you had better prepare your social media influencing business/career, prepare your closet for a complete overhaul (that means, no hole-y socks or clothes allowed), and prepare your mindset with an air of confidence. Otherwise, the agents of Louis Vuitton will question as to why they should allow you to be their spokesperson for their brand. Louis Vuitton holds a high standard. You must prepare to hold yourself to a higher standard than them. If you don't, you'll never be a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton. The same goes for getting drafted in the NFL. How can you possibly be drafted if you've never touched a football in your life? Or how can you be picked to be a part of the greatest NFL team if you have never trained your body for the intense pushback you will receive from the big players? If your body isn't prepared to get sacked hard, you may end up getting yourself hospitalized; or worse.
Likewise, if God has been pushing you to prepare, then that means you are closer the awaited promise than ever before. How can you tell you're close? You get all kinds of attacks from the enemy: an attack in your health, your finances, your mental attitude, your ministry, your career, your relationships, your marriage, etc. The attacks, in the form of distractions or setbacks, can intensify. When they do intensify, that means you keep pushing and preparing yourself to receive that promise. That means keep thanking God, keep praising Him, keep chasing after Him, keep Him first, and keep doing what He's called you to do. Eventually, you will come upon an open door that will catapult you to your awaited promise: "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." (Revelation 3:8).
Those who wait the longest are the ones who can weather any storm that blows their way. They are also the ones who can confidently rise to their promised position in life, with strength and Kingdom dignity. Joseph, with his coat of many colors, would have missed his destiny if he clung on to his favorite coat. He endured waiting to be vindicated for decades. Little did he realize that his vindication would come in the form of being second in command over all of Egypt, especially during the Great Famine. Esther waited to be the Queen for at least a decade. But in her waiting, the servants of the palace had to prepare her with perfume, cosmetics, and court manners. That's why she was able to win the favor of the king. She didn't have to prove herself to him. She showed up with an air of confidence and strength, two of many traits that captured his attention. And with her bravery and confidence, she saved her people, the Jews, from being killed off by Haman. In our day and age, Steve Jobs waited many years before his Apple computer became known the world over. It all started with something that revolutionized the way we listened to music: the iPod. From the iPod came the iPhone, from the iPhone came the Apple Watch, from the Apple Watch came Airpods, then Apple TV+, then Apple Music Streaming Services, and the list goes on and on (they even have a financing and banking sector in their company). Now, countries all over the world know Apple and its vast array of products and services. The creators of Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, Bentley, Aston-Martin and other high-name car brands started off as small concepts and ideas. They all became known in the luxury car industry because they believed that they can hold themselves to a high standard, prepared to deliver their high quality products, and now the rich and famous ride in these cars, showcasing their luxurious design and features.
In the waiting, it's not the time to twiddle your thumbs and hope that something works out. No, now is the time to prepare what you're praying and believing for. If God prompted you to write a book, go ahead and start writing. If you've been prompted to write and create that song, go ahead and do so. If you've been prompted to talk to that girl and date her, go ahead and do so! The worst thing to ever happen to a person is to miss that window of opportunity after they are gone, then hear God ask them on the day of Judgment, "Did you fulfill the dream I placed inside of you?" To have to tell Him "No" is the worst feeling in all of eternity. Now is the time for you to prepare to step into your destiny. God blesses faith, not doubt. So let His blessings chase you down. Do so by chasing after Him, changing whatever He says needs to be changed, hold yourself to a higher standard of living and thinking, and let God take care of the situations and circumstances that are out of your control. Like Moses, keep lifting your hands up. You are one sword hit away from securing a complete, guaranteed victory! You truly are about to go from waiting to winning, in Jesus's Name!
What are some dream seeds God has planted inside of you to start preparing for? Let us know in the comments below. We'd love to give you some encouragement towards realizing those dreams. Also, be sure to tap on the "heart" icon and share this with as many of your friends, families, and coworkers as you can. We want this message to spread to the millions and billions, so that everyone can be encouraged and inspired to live abundantly and give abundantly! Have a blessed one! Sincerely, TinyBoss Blog and the Blog Team
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