Introduction
Ever since I was taken up in a glider, riding on the air, catching a thermal, and swirling upwards without any effort or outside help, I have been fascinated by the eagle, the only bird that can do what the glider did.
Eagles fly higher than any other bird, know how to use storms, and build their nests on the highest precipice. It is a picture of glory and victory.
In the bible, God often compares people with attributes of animals. Among them is the eagle.
Here are some bible verses:
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to those who have no might, He increases strength (causing it to multiply and make it abound). Even youths shall faint and be weary, and (selected) young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;
But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”
(Isaiah 40, 28-31) Amplified Bible (Emphasis mine)
I like the King James Version of the last verse, which reads as follows:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.
(Isaiah 40,31) KJV (Emphasis mine)
Imagine the following:
You are standing high above any adverse circumstances, out of reach of any enemy, being able to look directly into the sunlight, and resting until you feel refreshed and able to go forward in full strength.
Would you love to experience this in your life as well?
Then you are in good company, for this is how God sees you: being more than an overcomer; knowing and experiencing yourself secured in His presence; being still and resting in his presence, and going forth in renewed strength.
And the best aspect of this package is: you cannot earn it, it is free.
How can you get hold of this package?
Looking again at the above bible verse gives us a clue: Waiting for the Lord.
In other words, stand still, hold still, sit down, take time out to be with God. God is here. He promised not to leave nor forsake us.
What does it mean to wait on the Lord? It might be an archaic expression. Nevertheless, when you go to a restaurant to eat, a waiter will come, take your orders and serve you all you want, beginning with the drinks, starters, menu, dessert, coffee, and the bill. (lol)
When you wait on God, neither do you serve him a meal nor a bill. But you are there for him. Your whole attention is towards him. You want to see him, look him into the eyes, hear him, feel his presence.
This waiting can occur while sitting down, having your eyes closed, and simply being in a state of pondering about God, His word, or just listening to His still and quiet voice within you.
You can also go about your daily work and remain inwardly focused on God.
I often wait on God sitting down and telling God that I am now fully available, just here for Him. It usually takes me several minutes to let go of things that have occupied my heart and mind and focus on Him. No praying, no searching for answers, just being and hearing.
Results I experienced
Waiting on God, a seemingly inactive endeavor, brought many results in my life: renewed strength when I felt like giving up, it helped me to keep on keeping on, I always received new courage, motivation, and stamina, whenever the going got tough, and I felt I could not stand it.
I received answers to prayers, problems resolved seemingly by themselves, people I ministered to suddenly experienced insights and freedom from what had oppressed them. Often God led me from one bible verse to the next, and within minutes he had downloaded a sermon or precious insights for a loved person. One day, he told me to sell my flat in London, something I had not expected but freed money to buy a house in Germany. It also happened to me that I fell asleep. When I woke up again, it felt as if I had been with God. Sometimes God had to remind me of things that he wanted to change in my life, attitudes, actions, and it was always assured, full of clarity, courage, and total acceptance. Every word God spoke, every impression, thought, or sense of His presence made me feel accepted and loved beyond measure.
God loves taking part in our lives and acting on our behalf. He loves being with us, the crown of His creation. And when we come close to Him, we will encounter Him personally, and His gifts will be ours as a side-benefit. Whenever I sought God to receive something from Him, I got it most of the time. But when I sought God Himself, I got the whole package, God and His gifts.
And it is all free for Christ paid the price for open heaven for us.
The Open Heaven
I love the effortlessly available open heaven aspect because I learned most of the Christian life that I needed to do works for God. Behind this was the assumption that I could lose my salvation if I did not live a biblically correct lifestyle. It placed much pressure on me and made me feel ill at ease and insecure in my relationship with God. I still feared I could miss the mark even though Jesus had paid the price. It was not a walk of freedom but of stepping forward with concern and care.
Waiting on God is something that had been missing from my Christian walk for a long time. Yet countless bible-verses talk about being still, waiting on God, knowing God as God in stillness and rest. Even the Psalmist reminds us time and again to be silent and to think of this when he ends his song with the well-known expression, Selah.
Christ, the Eagle and Us
Waiting on God has the same effect the eagle experiences when it rides on a thermal. No personal effort was involved, catching the wind and being taken up.
Comparing us with the eagle, God demonstrates the great freedom He wants us to live. It is freedom from the burden of obstacles, adversities, and all sorts of problems in our lives. God, Himself enables us not to bow under those but to live as an overcomer. The eagle’s double eye-lid enables it to fly directly towards the sun without getting blinded. We can look into the light of God. We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Jesus, the light of the world, enlightens the eyes of our hearts. When the enemy chases you, flee towards God into the Holy of Holies. In Christ, we have full access to the presence of God. When the enemy pursues, he will have to stop at the door and knock, as he does not have the same access rights as you do. Who will open the door? Not you, God will. The enemy will be astonished, and you will laugh back there, sheltered in the presence of God.
Selah. Think about these things.
Closing words
Through Christ, our Rock of Salvation, we are seated in heavenly places to the right hand of the Father. Our perspective of life changes. Problems appear small and insignificant in comparison to the glory and light that surround us.
Our focus can be on us, our environment with its problems and joy, or it can be on God.
God loves being with us. A relationship with another can only flourish if I do not make myself the constant focus of attention but instead consider the other an equally important and valuable person.
Power and strength, standing on the rock who is Christ, soaring the eagle above all adverse circumstances, running to God for safety are the results when we target our being still and waiting wholeheartedly on God.
Bibleverses to ponder
It might be of value to look these up yourself and see them in context.
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
(Hebrews 13,5b) NIV
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
(Exodus 14,14) NIV
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
(Psalm 46,10) NIV
“And hath raised us together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
(Ephesians 2,6) KJV.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
(Ephesians 1,3) KJV
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ that loved us.”
(Romans 8,37) KJV
“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no-one will fall by following their example of disobedience.”
(Hebrews 4,11) NIV
Elijah heard the still, small voice of God.
(1. Kings 19,9-12) KJV
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
(John 10,27) KJV.
“But we all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
(2. Corinthians 3,18) KJV
“So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
(John 8,36) NIV
“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
(Colossians 3,4) NIV
Scripture is from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright © 1958,1987 by The Lockman Foundation, used by permission.
Authorized King James Version, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, U.S.A.
Scripture quotations from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Internationa Bible Society. Used by permission.
