God Is Working in the Waiting

Written By Léonce B. Crump Jr.

5 Day Devotional

This five-day devotional will be taking a deeper dive into the sermon from this weekend. Together, we will explore themes of waiting, attentiveness, and the surprising ways God redirects us for our spiritual growth and formation. Each day will provide reflection, prayer, and insight to help you slow down and hear God's voice in the midst of life's noise. 

Day 1

Acts 16:1–15 

Today, we focus on the theme of God's redirection in our lives. Just as Paul faced closed doors in his journey, we too encounter moments where God seems to halt our progress without explanation. It is in these moments we learn that a closed door from God is not punishment but a divine redirection toward something greater than we expected. 

Reflect on how this past week, God may have closed a door in your life. Consider how this redirection might be shaping your heart or leading you toward a path you might not have chosen on your own. 

  • When have you experienced a closed door recently, and how did it affect you?

  • In what ways do you see God working behind those closed doors? 

  • How does understanding God's redirection change your view of waiting? 

  • Pray for the patience to wait for God's timing and wisdom to see His redirection.

  • Ask God for peace in times of uncertainty and the strength to remain attentive. 

Day 2

Psalm 1:1–3 

Today we reflect on the posture of attentiveness and how it forms the foundation of our spiritual life. Like a tree planted by the streams, our unwavering faith is nurtured by paying attention to God's presence in every moment, especially in silence and waiting. 

Imagine the strength and resilience of a life deeply rooted in God. Contemplate on how allowing your life to slow down—cultivating a rhythm of prayer and attentiveness—can enable you to be nourished by God's Spirit. 

  • How are you currently nurturing your spiritual roots? 

  • What practices help you remain attentive to God's presence? 

  • Describe a time when you experienced God's voice guiding you. 

  • Pray for a disciplined life that prioritizes time with God. 

  • Seek God's guidance in establishing your spiritual rhythms.

Day 3

Acts 16:6–10 

As we dive deeper, let today's scripture speak of the Spirit's surprising ways. Paul and his companions were redirected not just once, but twice, by the Holy Spirit. It is when they were obedient, choosing not to force the path, that God opened a new door—a vision guiding them to Macedonia. 

Consider the willingness of Paul to listen and adjust to God's plans. Even when frustration must have set in, his faith remained steadfast, highlighting the importance of trust in the divine delay. 

  • What might God be asking you to let go of? 

  • How can you better discern God's will during your personal time of waiting? 

  • Identify ways you might resist God's redirective action. 

  • Ask for the courage to trust God in the unknown. 

  • Pray for openness to new opportunities God may present. 

Day 4

Acts 16:11–15 

Today, we explore the profound impact our attentive hearts can have on others. The welcoming of Lydia into the faith exemplifies how God uses our readiness to affect change. Paul's sensitivity to God's prompting opened a new chapter for the gospel in Europe. 

Let your heart be inspired by Lydia's story, the strength of her simple "yes," and the generosity that followed her conversion. Reflect on how your own openness might create profound ripple effects in your community. 

  • How can you cultivate the kind of attention and hospitality that Lydia demonstrated?

  • What are the challenges in being open-handed in your life? 

  • Who has God placed in your path to invest in? 

  • Pray for the eyes to see opportunities for ministry and hospitality. 

  • Ask for the strength to carry out God's plans through generosity. 

Day 5

Philippians 1:3–6 

The final day encompasses the trust that God is in control and that He is always working for our good, even when we are in the hallway of waiting. Embrace the biblical truth that God, who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion. 

Reflect on all you have learned this week about waiting and attentiveness. Commit to a life that waits actively and prays deeply, trusting in the goodness of the One who holds every door and every pathway in His hands. 

  • What has God taught you during this devotional journey? 

  • How has your perspective of waiting changed? 

  • In what specific ways can you see God’s hand at work in your life? 

  • Give thanks for the growth and the work God is doing in you. 

  • Pray for a life lived out in trust and eagerness for God's unfolding plan.

Léonce B. Crump Jr.
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God Wastes Nothing