The Scriptures tell us a remarkable five times that Caleb followed the Lord fully: Numbers 14:24; 32:12; Deuteronomy 1:36; Joshua 14:8; 14:14. The first reference (Numbers 14:24) says, "But My servant, Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it."

The context of this verse is Yahweh telling Moses that the unbelieving Israelites would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

Of the generation that was delivered from Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb would be allowed to do so.

Not only would Caleb's faithfulness be rewarded personally, but his descendants would also be rewarded and "take possession" of the land.

Caleb had to wait forty-five more years before beginning the campaign to take his inheritance (Joshua 14:7, 10).

The war to conquer the land took several years, and some believe Caleb waited five years of that time before he actually was able to possess his mountain, Hebron, making his total wait time fifty years!

That is a lot of time to hang out with the "lack of faith" folks, waiting for them to die off so you can possess your inheritance. It must have been very challenging for Joshua and Caleb to do so with good attitudes.

Moses waited forty years in the desert before God resurrected his calling. Joseph waited a good while, possibly sixteen years, before God delivered him and fulfilled His promise to him. After being anointed by Samuel, David waited fourteen to fifteen years before becoming king over Judah, and another seven before becoming king over all of Israel, a total of over twenty years. Abraham and Sarah waited twenty-five years for Isaac.

Scripture tells us that a thousand years is like a day to Him and a day like a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8). In other words, He is not in time. He lives in eternity. Don't try figuring that out—you never will! (Photo via Unsplash)

Waiting is a little more challenging for us time-bound humans. Paul listed patience as one of the nine fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23. I think I prefer the King James word long-suffering; it just seems to capture the concept, if you know what I mean.

My point is this: Waiting can be very difficult, but being able to do so is very important.

I began seriously pursuing the Lord in 1973. I knew relatively soon thereafter that I would give my life to full-time ministry. I began by doing youth ministry, leading worship, and going on several foreign mission journeys. I then went to Bible school, followed by thirteen more years of doing various aspects of ministry, which took me to 1991. This adds up to eighteen years.

I knew Holy Spirit was using a play on words from references in John, where Jesus said (or it was said about him), "My time has not yet come" (John 2:4; 7:6, 8; see also John 7:30; 8:20). For me, I knew the words meant that it was not yet time for the next phase of my ministry to be launched. He did not want me saying or doing anything that would cause someone there to promote me in any way, nor did He want me in their fraternity or inner circle.

Five years later, I wrote the book Intercessory Prayer (1996) and became a leader in the emerging, worldwide prayer movement.

Four more years (2000) and the Lord released me into my calling to America.

From 1973 to 2000 God was faithfully preparing me for my true purpose. The waiting wasn't always easy, but it was very necessary.

Father, when our lives are finished here on Earth, we want You to be able to say of us (as You did Caleb) that we followed You fully. We want to be those who wait for "our time," for Your Word says that our times are in Your hand (Psalm 31:15).

You said You were opening portals in this nation through which the winds of Your Spirit would blow.

We declare the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord as the water covers the seas (Habakkuk 2:14).