Abide,  Discipline,  Obedience,  Purpose

Instruction – Habakkuk 2:1

I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, and how I may reply when I am reproved.

Go; separate yourself from life’s distractions as a sentinel positioned on a lonely hilltop to inquire after the Lord’s instruction regarding His plans for you.  In the stillness, share with Him the burdens of your mind and the desires of your heart.  Withdraw to a quiet place, and linger there in expectation of hearing a word of knowledge from the Lord.  Follow His counsel to seek after Him, stationing yourself as you wait for Him to direct your path,[1] and as He speaks to you, be attentive to His leading that you may serve Him well.[2]

Do these things, for we must not expect to receive revelation and wisdom in response to a hurried prayer thrown up to heaven as we scurry from one task to the next, thinking that our frenetic activity will produce greater fruit than time set aside to draw near to the Lord.  If we want to know God’s will, so He may work within us and through us,[3] we must spend time in seclusion with Him, making our daily rendezvous the most precious part of our day, refusing to allow busyness to preempt it.[4]  We must quiet our spirits, going into God’s presence with reverence and delight, waiting patiently for Him, trusting that as we do, the Lord will hear our call and answer us.[5]  We must go faithfully, persistently before the Lord, praying for guidance and clear understanding of what He would desire of us.[6] We must go away with Him, seeking His perfect counsel and listening as He responds to our heart’s cry.

Look heavenward, meditating upon the inspired Word of God, allowing it to teach you about the riches it holds.  Listen to the gentle voice of the Spirit in your ear as He guides you in the way you should go,[7] and upon receiving instruction from the Lord, obey it, following Him, performing all that He tells you to do.

Set yourself apart, pray, and wait for the Lord.  Listen, and when His instruction comes, write it down and carry it out.  Do what the Lord instructs you to do, trusting that He will lead you in upright paths, and allow nothing to impede your way or to cause you to stumble.[8]

Stationed upon the lonely wall

Trusting God will hear my call

I wait, watching patiently

Secluded that my mind might see

The vision laying out God’s plan

To hear so I will understand

The words that God in time will speak

Giving the guidance that I seek

And while I seem to tarry there

I give no quarter to despair

For though I long anticipate

I know that God does not come late

And when the word does finally come

I will reply, “Your will be done”

And write it down to thus record

The instructions of the Lord

[1] Psalm 73:24

[2] Isaiah 21:6-8

[3] Psalm 40:8

[4] Matthew 6:6

[5] Psalm 40:1

[6] Psalm 5:3

[7] Psalm 32:8

[8] Proverbs 4:11-13