Sacred Waiting by David Timms - REVIEWED

ABOUT THE BOOK:

No one likes to wait. Our irritation level rises in checkout lines, train stations, restaurants, and doctors' offices. We don't have time to waste. But Scripture constantly speaks of waiting: "Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31).

The good news is that waiting on God is much more than watching the clock. Waiting plays a vital role in our spiritual formation as we draw closer to the Lord and respond to His leading. Challenging believers to rediscover this lost spiritual discipline, pastor and Bible professor David Timms reveals the hidden treasures of waiting on God--the peace and joy of being with Him.

The heroes of the faith all waited on God. And just like Abraham, Moses, and David, you'll find that your best moments arise from God's timing, not your own. Every covenant God made came at the end of a season of waiting. God's rewards wait for you when you learn to practice Sacred Waiting.

MY THOUGHTS:

Waiting is anathema to the American culture in the 21^st century. Driving on the highway now requires the skills of a racecar driver as speeds often exceed the ninety-mile-an-hour mark. (at least around Atlanta!) So it is not surprising that our faith has taken on the characteristics of our lightening fast lives. When we come to the Bible and find that God asks us to wait upon Him…we stumble. What does wait mean, exactly? Do we quickly take a spiritual gifts survey and even more quickly plug ourselves into that area of ministry? Do we attend three services, a study-group, a youth outing, a couple’s retreat all woven into the fabric of a two-income family, school activities and a social life?

Wait. Be still before God and listen.

David Timms’ book Sacred Waiting takes a close look at Biblical examples of what it means to wait on the Lord. He begins with characters in the Old Testament - Moses, Abraham and David – then moves on to the New Testament and looks at the life of Christ, His birth, His resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Immersed in Scripture and filled with great understanding and wisdom, this book encourages believers to learn how to wait before God and to relinquish their lives to Him. The rewards are both peace-providing and eternal.

Timms encourages us to look closely at our lives and discern areas where we need to more closely align with the Bible’s teaching. He gives practical application to the examples of Bible characters who also had to learn to wait on God as well as how to live with the consequences of choosing not to wait. (Moses) This was a very timely book for me to read right now, because I struggle a great deal in this area. I plan to go back and slowly go through this, answering the study questions and asking God to teach me to wait.

I highly recommend Sacred Waiting by David Timms!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

David Timms teaches New Testament and Theology and serves as chair of the Graduate Ministry Department at Hope International University in Fullerton, California. Australian by birth, David has been a church planter, pastor, and trainer of pastors for twenty-five years. He publishes an e-zine, In Hope, that shares his reflections on Christian leadership and spiritual formation. He and his wife, Kim, have three sons and live in Fullerton, California.