"What Are You Waiting For?" SWING!

"What are you waiting for?" The team yelled. "RUN!"

Angie, (I think that was her name; it's been 30 years so it's hard to remember) was the smallest member of our softball team. She struck out every time she got up to bat. The coach always instructed her, "Don't swing." But, inevitably, Angie swung and missed...but not that day...that day something incredible happend in Angie's world...she swung and connected. The ball skidded just in bounds of the first base line out to the right field.

For a second, even the opposing team stood and marvelled.

"Run, Angie, RUN!" Angie looked stunned, smiled really big, and then took off toward first base. Her first base hit won our championship game. The bases were loaded...and with Angie's hit...we scored! :)

I know how Angie feels; I constantly fight off the voices to "Give up...To not "swing"...to coast through life." But when it comes right down to it...I just can't help myself; I have to keep on swinging. Many times I swing and miss...many days I walk back to the dug-out, shoulders drooping, head hanging down...but I live for the day I connect with God's will perfectly and score the winning run!

When we've swung and missed, time and time again, it is easy to get discouraged...It is so easy to quit living expectantly... So I ask you...Where are you at emotionally today?

Micah 7:7 says, "But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me."

I love this verse revealing Micah's determination..."I will wait EXPECTANTLY for the LORD. I WILL RISE AGAIN!"

The key, for each one of us, is to wait for the LORD...not wait for our "fleeces" to be answered before we obey...not wait for our "miracles" to occur before we believe...not wait for the check to arrive in the mail before we answer God's call, or for the telephone call, the book deal, the healing, or...or...or...but wait EXPECTANTLY for the LORD.

God will answer us. He will direct us. And unlike Angie's coach, who told her to not swing...GOD encourages us to keep on SWINGING...to run in such a way as to get the prize...to remember our labor for HIM is not in vain.

Each one of us were created for a purpose. We are GOD'S workmanship. Created in Christ Jesus to do good works. God prepared them for us before the foundation of the world. (Eph.2:10) So, shake the dirt from you shoes...raise you bat up high...keep your eye on the ball...AND whatever you do...KEEP SWINGING!

PRAYER: Father, help us to keep swinging. Encourage our souls. Lift up our hope! We need YOU! We wait expectantly on YOU! We put our hope and confidence in YOU! FULFILL YOUR promises. In Jesus name we pray...amen!