In this GodTracker post, Dudley Anderson shares a valuable lesson he learnt form a childhood pet – the need to watch and wait.
My first dog, as a child, was a cross boxer Rhodesian ridgeback named Nibs. He was like a big brown teddy bear. As a small child I could hang on his neck, pull his ears and ride on his back without so much as a whimper from him. Like all dogs, Nibs had the habit of begging for food.
If I ate a sandwich near him, Nibs would sit patiently by my side drooling while watching my every move in the hope that a crumb or two would drop from the table. If I moved my hand left, with peaked ears, Nibs’ head would move left. If I moved my hand right his head would move right. In fact, he wouldn’t take his eyes off the sandwich in my hand. Nibs would diligently watch with intense anticipation waiting for me to toss him a slice of salami.
I remember one time, not too long ago, I was seeking the Lord about a certain opportunity that had presented itself to me. It was a very exciting opportunity that would benefit many people including me. I was, however, not sure of the timing of the whole prospect. I’d been praying about this opening for some time and was convinced that the Lord wanted me to take the leap. However, the burning question was, “When?” One day, while I was still praying about it, the Lord led me to just these four words in the Bible: “Wait for the Lord.” So, wait I did.
Unbeknown to me there were several elements at work within my prospective opportunity that I was unaware of. I waited and watched like a dog watching every move of his master’s hand. One Sunday morning after church, just a few weeks after I had heard the Holy Spirit whisper those four words to me, God opened the way forward to move into this anticipated new venture. God’s ways are not our ways and our ways are not God’s ways but He will always watch over His Word to perform it.
Perhaps there is a new opportunity presenting itself to you at this time. It could be that you have been hoping and praying about it for a while but you’re uncertain of when to act. Perhaps you’re feeling insecure at taking the plunge, as I did. If that’s you then know this, the Lord is your hope and your certainty. He knows your past from your future and His Word to you will bear fruit in His time.
Like a dog watching for a crumb to drop from his master’s hand, set your gaze on God’s Hand and wait for His every move. Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength.
He knows your past from your future and his word to you will bear fruit. Set your gaze on His hand and wait for His every move.
Prayer to help you Watch and Wait
“Dear God, open this opportunity up at just the right time and please help me to make the most of it with all wisdom and grace. Father I know that my times are in Your hands – my business, my relationships, my recreation and my future. I’m sorry that I have taken my eyes off Your hand and looked at my feet while treading this path of life. Only you hold the keys to my blessings and my successes; only you know the exact moment for everything to work out in my life. I choose, therefore, to fix my eyes on Your every move, O Lord. I choose to wait for You and keep Your ways. Dear God, open this opportunity up at just the right time and please help me to make the most of it with all wisdom and grace. Amen.”
READ ALL ABOUT IT(Get into the word of God and get the word of God into you!)
Isaiah 55:8-11 ; Jeremiah 1:12 ; Psalm 71:5-6 ; Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 37:34
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope.
Psalm 130:5
God-tracking is watching every move of your Master’s hand
This devotional is part of the GodTracker series. A weekly devotional by Dudley Anderson, it is based on the premise that God has a plan for our lives. His Word calls us to seek His plan by acknowledging Him in all our ways and by tracking His purposes, in faith.
Read more GodTracker devotionals that will build up and encourage you in your Christian faith. Listen to GodTracker podcasts at, godtracker.co.uk/godtracker-podcasts
Also read: Get firmly set on tracking God’s Plans
Dudley Anderson
Originally from South Africa, Dudley Andersen now lives in the UK where he heads up Sure Reality Media and pastors Cornerstone Family Church in Worcestershire. He is married to Karen-Leigh and has two children, Kerryn and Ryan. Dudley has a background in radio and has worked for Radio Pulpit, Impact Radio and Christian Vision. Since 2005 he has produced diverse content for various Christian stations. He is the author of God-Tracking Through the Year and Overflowing Hope and writes a weekly e-mail devotional called, GodTracker. Dudley is also a worship leader.
