Devotion 

Stay and Wait

Frances Taylor 

Wouldn't you love to be able to ask the apostles what they were thinking during these days of waiting? They really had no idea what it would mean. They had all run away when Jesus was arrested. Only John was at the foot of the cross. They stayed in the upper room when they were in Jerusalem, or back in Galilee as Jesus had asked. Now Jesus was leaving them and he told them to wait for something or someone but they didn't have any idea what it would be. What we do know is that they waited, prayed, and chose someone to replace Judas. Sometimes we want Jesus to act in our lives now, and we hate to be told to wait, but God doesn't work in our time frame. Often we need to wait. What do we do while waiting? Do we gather with others to pray with us? Do we ask the Holy Spirit to help us? Or do we try to solve our problems ourselves without waiting for God to be with us? It's easy to think that we can do a better job with taking care of our lives than God, after all, we know ourselves better than anyone, right? Well, how does that work for you? I know it doesn't work for me. Patience is not a gift I have an abundance of. However, I have learned from experience that God does know what's best for me and it would have saved me a lot of trouble if I had waited for his lead. How about you?

Prayer 

Lord, you asked the apostles to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit before they went out to preach. You often ask us to wait for the guidance of the Spirit in our lives as well. Give us the grace to do as you have asked us to do. Amen.