~ Ladies In Waiting ~

Ladies In Waiting...

This morning as I should have been preparing to go to my Prayer Meeting (spiritually AND physically!) I got side tracked in an online Women's Bible Study I am doing at EmergingLife.org

The study is based on "Becoming a Woman of Excellence" and this weeks lesson was based on Self Control... or more accurately - not giving way to our own emotions and feelings - but to seek out the Will and Way of the Lord! I had spent the morning reading various Scriptures in the book of Psalms, as well as Lamentations chapter 3. I realized it was time to go - with not much time for me to get ready to actually go! I normally spend some time in prayer and worship beforehand - even if it's just in the car on the way there - to ask the Lord what He has planned for us as we meet together... today - I honestly just didn't even think of it in my rush to arrive close to on time?!

I came in and the leader was sharing from Proverbs 24. Verse 5 & 6 say: "A wise man is strong and is better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power;
For by wise counsel you can wage your war, and in an abundance of counselors there is victory and safety." (Amplified) She was talking about how this verse blessed her when she read it and immediately thought of us - this little group of wise women, wise counsel, abundance of counselors... After some time in worship and talking, we began talking about how attacked many have felt the past week... how things have come at us seemingly out of nowhere and attempted to knock us off our feet! I thought again of Lamentations 3. Jeremiah starts out declaring his battered and bruised perspective based on his feelings and emotions. He goes on and on about how he feels about his situation and where he thinks God may be in it all... it does not put God in a favorable light! Then, in verse 20 and 21 he reminds himself and he has hope in God! He reminds himself of truths and testimonies he has had with the Lord!

As I read on, Lamentations says: "It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word]. It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation (the safety and ease) of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:22-26 Amplified)

I heard in my spirit the Lord say, "You are a Lady in Waiting... No! You are MY Lady in Waiting!" Hmmm?! OK!? I am familiar with the saying - but didn't quite know the exact meaning. I came home and looked it up... The Definition of A Lady in Waiting is: "A lady of a court appointed to serve or attend a queen, princess, or royal duchess." I am not all the way clear on this - but I believe that it ties in to what I shared toward the end of the meeting... we are called to be a Body - to be united... we are in a Season where I believe the Lord is asking us to be real with each other - no more games and masks... if you are in need of something - I need to know about it to help you out... and vice versa! We belong to a large church and it is hard to feel connected - but that is where relationships grow and faith is encouraged! We are called to come alongside each other and be honest with each other... to stand together - shoulder to shoulder and make a united front as the battle approaches!

I am sure the Lord will continue to speak to me about being HIS Lady in Waiting... I know it is all about serving Him... but I do believe it is also about serving those around us as well... as if we were serving Him! I pray that you will have a quiet moment or two this week to Wait on Him... to seek His wise counsel, and that it will bring you victory and safety!

Blessings,
~Karrilee~