FOLLOW YOUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Standard Operating Procedures stands for SOP. It is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help employees carry out the operations and procedures of the job. Basically, to carry out their duties. The SOP is like a playbook. It is a play-by-play of instructions that you need to follow.

            In life, we go through some challenges and some struggles. And in those times, we wish we had a play-by-play to help us through those tough times. It is in those times when we lean on the Lord to help us through. We call on him to give us strength, to comfort us, to give us peace, and to guide us. We call on him to help us with our finances, with that co-worker who is causing friction, or that spouse who is not acting right. We call on Him for everything, to just be there for us. It is during these times when we call on Him that we want Him to respond immediately. We need Him. We need Him to fix whatever it is right then and now. It is in those times where we need to use patience and we need to follow our SOP, the standard operating procedures, and wait on God. It is in those times in which God is waiting for us to follow our SOP.

            Businesses and organizations are not the only ones that have an SOP. As believers, we have an SOP too. You see our Commander in Chief gave us an SOP, a standard operating procedure. And it is called the Bible. It is God’s Word. That is our standard operating procedure. That’s our playbook. That’s where our step-by-step instructions are detailed. The Mighty Word of God.

            In one set of instructions in our SOP it says in Psalms 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (NIV). Don’t get frustrated, don’t be discouraged. Find peace in the Lord. Find comfort in the Lord. He will meet your needs. Follow your instructions and wait on the Lord.

Another set of instructions says, in Psalms 20:4 “May he grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your purpose” (NKJV). May he give you what you need and may it meet the need it was intended for. You see God wants to bless you. Don’t miss out on your blessing by being impatient and getting frustrated. Follow your SOP. Follow your standard operating procedures and wait on God. His time is not our time.

            Somebody is going through it right now and they need to pick up their standard operating procedures and read it. It is a guide for your life. It brings you closer to your Heavenly Father. It deepens your relationship with Him so you know Him intimately. You need to read your SOP every day. You need to meditate on it every day. If you were feeding on this spiritual food, then you wouldn’t be doubting. If you were meditating on this spiritual food, they would not be impatient. If you were reading the Word of God, you would not be having a hard time waiting for God to answer your prayer. You would not be worrying about what the doctor said. You would not be worrying about your finances. You would not be worrying about your marriage or your children. There is a standard operating procedure filled with instructions for all of those things and more. Get acquainted with it. It is the balm for your life.

            If you look at 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV) it says “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness by his wounds you have been healed”. The NKJV says “Who himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.” So why are you fretting over what the doctor said? Speak the instructions over your life. Let me be specific here, speak God’s Word over your body and receive your healing.

            The instructions in Psalms 27:14 say, “Wait for the Lord be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (NIV) It means you have to trust Him. You have to be strong and wait on Him. Stop worrying. Stop trying to figure it out yourself. Don’t do anything. Be still and just wait.

Oh, and I love this one Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still” (NIV). Boy let me tell you is that not hard for us as Believers to do? We cannot just be still. We may say we are giving it over to the Lord. But how many times have you picked it right back up and tried to fix it or tried to find the answer yourself?  Come on I know many of us have. He is saying he will fight for you. The battle is not yours, it’s the Lords. Stop trying to do His job for Him. What is your SOP saying? Your standard operating procedure. The Word says in Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still”. Follow your instructions, follow His Word, and wait on the Lord.

            I promise you if you follow His instructions and wait on him, he will answer your prayer. I am a witness to that. But you have to trust Him. You must be vulnerable and say I give it all to you Lord and do just that.

            Isaiah 40:31 says “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint” (NIV).

            While you are waiting on the Lord get ready. Read your Word, renew your strength. Continue to prepare yourself and get everything lined up so that when God calls you are ready. He will give you all the strength you need. He is taking care of you like the eagle takes care of her young. Even in the midst of all you are going through he is taking care of you. Follow your SOP and wait on the Lord.

            We need to incorporate a mindset of we don’t mind waiting on the Lord. We don’t mind waiting on the Lord no matter how long it takes. We must trust Him, study His Word, read our SOP, and Wait on the Lord. Do you mind waiting today? Do you mind waiting for your breakthrough? Do you mind waiting for your healing? Do you mind waiting for the signs, wonders, and miracles? Do you mind today?

            He needs you to be patient and just wait for Him. He’s going to answer your prayer. He’s going to give you the desires of your heart. He’s going to give you your breakthrough. He wants to bless you he just wants you to wait. Can you trust Him and just wait? He wants you not to be in a hurry.

I don’t know about your God, but my God is an on-time God, and I don’t mind waiting. Read your SOP, your standard operating procedures, and God’s Holy Written Word.  The Bible is your playbook filled with instructions for whatever you may need. Read your SOP and meditate on it day and night. Trust God.