But those who wait on 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.  – Isaiah 40:31

Tomorrow morning, do you plan on having at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time with the Lord?  I remember a time when I thought reading a quick devotional each morning made me some sort of super-Christian.  Recently, I heard of a particular group of nuns in a particular convent.  One of them said the first five hours of every day is spent in complete silence waiting on the Lord.  One day of the week is spent in 24 hours of silence.  To most Americans, that probably sounds like torture.  Those nuns call it the most important parts of their lives.

I realize most of us reading this couldn’t do 6 fives and 1 twenty-four if we wanted to, but we all know we could do 7 thirty minute days.  The problem is . . . we can’t wait.  I pulled a 14-hour day yesterday.  I spent most of it wanting to be home.  I was constantly checking the time because I couldn’t wait to get home.  Even though I hadn’t physically worked that hard, I was tired.  With about two innings left in the baseball game that I drove that evening, I thought of this devotional.  I walked three laps slowly around the facility and just chilled with the Lord and waited upon Him.  He didn’t really speak with me . . . we just sort of walked together.  You know what ended up happening?  

My strength was renewed.

I’m pondering this morning just what this looks like in everyday life.  Can I teach today without wanting to just mow through these class periods?  Can I walk a little slower and take that time to walk with Him?  I don’t know . . . but I’m going to try.

Lord, the Bible has all the answers.  I just hate that I wasted so many years not reading it after I was saved.  I might could have created patterns and habits that would have profited me greatly over the years.  But we can never go back . . . only forward.  Help me get this right, Lord.  May waiting on You become one of the joys of my life.  Help Christians throughout our country learn to wait.  Show us an America with renewed strength.  Most of all, help us never get tired of walking with You.  Amen.